Practicing Art While Developing Intuition Makes Us Smarter

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” – Albert Einstein

In her seminal book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Betty Edwards illustrates how engaging the brain’s right hemisphere—responsible for visual and spatial processing—enhances our ability to see and reason more accurately.

This approach contrasts with the left hemisphere’s propensity for assumptions and interpretations. By tapping into both hemispheres, we cultivate whole-brain thinking, leading to increased intelligence, improved problem-solving, and better decision-making.

The Science Behind Whole-Brain Thinking

Recent research supports that intelligence isn’t confined to specific brain regions but emerges from global brain connectivity.

Studies have shown that cognitive intelligence relies on the interaction of multiple neural networks across the brain. This suggests that integrating intuitive and analytical thinking contributes significantly to our cognitive abilities and can even aid in vocational rehabilitation.

Intuition: The Right Hemisphere’s Contribution

Intuition, often described as a “gut feeling,” is a rapid form of cognition that doesn’t rely on conscious reasoning. It’s our brain’s way of making swift decisions based on accumulated experiences and patterns. Intuition taps into the more profound abilities of our already existing senses.

The right hemisphere plays a crucial role in this process, enabling us to process information holistically and recognize patterns quickly. Listening to these internal cues can be incredibly valuable, especially in creative fields where decision-making is often fluid and instinctive. Strengthening intuitive skill also helps move through creative blocks.

Art as a Path to Whole-Brain Thinking

For artists, daily creative practice is more than expressing ideas—it is a workout for the brain. Engaging in art strengthens neural pathways, improving visual perception, problem-solving, and adaptability.

When we create, we activate the right hemisphere’s ability to see relationships, understand composition, and recognize patterns, while the left hemisphere helps us analyze, refine, and make intentional choices.

This dynamic interplay enhances overall intelligence and equips us with the cognitive flexibility to navigate life’s complexities.

How Art Improves Decision-Making

Practicing art regularly cultivates:

• Observation Skills: Training the eye to see rather than assume strengthens perception, leading to more informed choices.
• Pattern Recognition: Artists develop an intuitive grasp of composition, balance, and flow, which translates into better problem-solving skills in daily life.
• Emotional Intelligence: Creative work fosters self-awareness, empathy, and a deeper understanding of human emotions, all essential for making thoughtful decisions.
• Resilience and Adaptability: The creative process involves experimentation and iteration, which teaches artists to embrace uncertainty and refine their approaches—skills that are invaluable in everyday problem-solving.

Practical Steps: Creativity Cultivates Left/Right Communication

1. Draw or Paint Daily – A quick sketch trains the brain to observe, analyze, and make intuitive choices.
2. Experiment with New Mediums – Challenge your brain by engaging with unfamiliar artistic techniques to strengthen neural connections.
3. Engage in Mindful Creativity – Let go of rigid expectations and allow intuition to guide your work, fostering both right-brain creativity and left-brain analysis.
4. Reflect on Your Work – Review your artistic process to recognize patterns in your thinking and decision-making, reinforcing whole-brain engagement.

By practicing art daily, we refine our creative skills and develop sharper intelligence and more effective decision-making abilities.

Whole-brain communication, nurtured through artistic practice, empowers us to navigate our creative journeys and everyday lives with clarity, intuition, and insight.

Another skill that builds the access to an expanded experience of intelligence is a revolutionary methodology that builds on blindly following intuitive hunches combined with documenting data.

To learn more, click > TransDimensional Mapping created by Birdie Jaworski

References:

1. Psychology Today emphasizes the importance of listening to these internal cues, especially in an age where external information can be overwhelming.
2. Greater Good Magazine discusses how relying on intuition can foster creativity, though it’s essential to balance it with analytical thinking to avoid pitfalls like conspiracy theories.
3. ScienceDaily found that cognitive intelligence is a whole-brain phenomenon, challenging old theories that localized intelligence to particular areas.