The Healing Power of Art and Drawing

Stuck one evening in heavy traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard, exhausted physician Kurlen Payton, MD, noticed a green-and-gold ficus tree glowing under streetlights. At the time, he was in the early stage of his career as a neonatal intensive care specialist at Cedars-Sinai and raising two young children. That brief moment inspired him to make a quick sketch—and that single drawing marked the beginning of a lasting habit.

From that point on, Payton began sketching regularly: curling branches, city sidewalks, Hollywood pedestrians, even objects as ordinary as a wrinkled shallot. Over time, drawing became a way for him to slow down and observe more carefully, almost like a form of meditation. It helped him notice small details in everyday life that are often overlooked. After producing more than a thousand sketches, Payton—now medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s—says this creative practice has given him a deeper sense of wonder and helped him manage the pressure of medical work and daily life.

He often describes it simply: “Everyone can benefit from microdosing creativity.”

Art as a Healing Force

Both for healthcare providers and patients, artistic activity can act as a powerful form of emotional support. Research suggests that creative expression strengthens adaptability, social connection, and positive self-perception, while also helping reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. Because of this, art therapy is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for coping with trauma, illness, and emotional distress.

Studies also indicate that engaging in artistic activities may improve cognitive function, support memory, and even help slow decline in people with dementia. Participation in the arts has additionally been associated with better physical health, including benefits for the heart, lungs, and immune system.

A 2021 Neuropsychologia study using brain imaging found that drawing activates regions of the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum—areas involved in attention, planning, decision-making, and memory processing.

Rediscovering a Childhood Passion

Payton originally loved drawing as a child. At around age five, he even created a 40-page illustrated scene of a military convoy. However, once he entered medical school, art gradually disappeared from his life. It wasn’t until about 15 years later that he returned to drawing again.

He later described sketching as “like taking your brain to the gym,” noting how quickly it helped reduce stress and expand mental clarity. Even brief creative moments, he said, can change how a person experiences the world.

Scientific Evidence of Art’s Benefits

Research from Drexel University further supports the connection between creativity and well-being. In one study, participants spent just 45 minutes engaging in collage, clay modeling, or drawing with markers. Results showed that 75% experienced a significant drop in cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress.

Other findings suggest that artistic expression may lower blood pressure, improve heart rate regulation, and support recovery after cardiac events. It may also help reduce inflammation and strengthen immune responses.

According to art therapist Louvenia Jackson, creative activity allows individuals to process complex emotions such as grief, anger, and trauma that are often difficult to express verbally. She emphasizes that humans have an innate need to create.

Art in Healthcare Environments

Even in serious illness, art can play a supportive role. While it is not a medical cure, engaging in creative activities—whether through making art or simply viewing it—can help patients with cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory conditions better manage symptoms like pain, fatigue, and nausea.

Emerging studies also suggest that arts-based programs, including expressive writing, may reduce hospital stays, decrease medication use, and lower the need for frequent medical visits.

At Cedars-Sinai, more than 4,000 artworks are displayed across healing gardens, patient rooms, and public spaces. These pieces are intended to create a calming environment that supports recovery and emotional comfort.

For healthcare professionals, art also serves another purpose: it can help reduce burnout, improve emotional resilience, and enhance communication and listening skills.

Integrating Art and Medicine

Payton believes strongly in combining art with science and medicine. In 2023, he helped launch the Cedars-Sinai Visual Arts Program, which encourages staff to draw, exhibit, and discuss creative work.

The program, housed within the Center for the Arts and Humanities in Medicine, organizes regular sketching sessions and community art events. According to physician and program director Elias Aboujaoude, art has the ability to deeply move people—either through beauty or powerful emotional meaning.

Everyday Creativity Matters

One of Payton’s favorite sketches shows a woman he once noticed at a busy Hollywood intersection. She tilts her head slightly upward, wearing a hat with a drifting magenta flower. The mystery of her identity led him to repeatedly redraw the scene, reflecting on her possible story and feeling a connection to something larger than himself.

He explains that this sense of curiosity can quiet the body’s stress response and create a feeling of perspective and calm.

Importantly, he emphasizes that artistic practice does not need to be complex or professional. Simple activities like doodling, crocheting, or quick sketches can provide similar benefits.

Even just a few minutes a day, he suggests, can make a difference: start creating, and observe what unfolds.