Who says those who study the law can’t also learn from the arts? Colorado Lawyers for the Arts believes that lawyers who study art make the best lawyers out there. Today, we are examining whether lawyers who spend time looking at paintings, or other forms of art, are better off in terms of brainpower and the ability to process information quickly.
People study art for many different reasons, but art is often considered a “hobby,” rather than a necessary endeavor. We believe that all people should really study art extensively, but we definitely believe that lawyers should study art. It has been shown that art stimulates the brain in several different ways, and this can make you a better lawyer.
How Does Looking at Art Help Your Brain Function?
A lawyer at Craig Swapp & Associates pointed us to an article put out by Ashford University. The article talks about how our brains are wired to find patterns and meaning in abstract or incomplete information. By looking at a wide variety of art on a regular basis, your brain is getting practice in identifying connections, patterns, expressions, meaning, and many other things.
How could this help you as a lawyer? When you are working on a case, your brain will be better able to see the connections in missing information; it will be better able to find solutions and answers in what might be a disjointed array of information. By using these skills your brain has developed, you could be better at problem solving and be able to better serve your clients.
Art Can Affect Our Emotions
Another way that looking at art can help you in your job is that it actually makes you feel emotion. When you look at something beautiful or thought provoking, the visual stimulation can elicit powerful emotions from you. You might be able to place yourself within the painting’s context, and feel what is there.
If it’s a visual representation of a human, you might be able to feel empathy for the person and put yourself in their position. If it’s a different type of work, it might be able to make you feel other emotions. These emotions can make you a more empathetic person overall. You should understand that an ability to put yourself in others’ shoes would make you a better attorney.
There are many other effects of viewing artwork on the brain. Viewing art also makes you think deeply about different subjects, sometimes things you don’t think much about. It can make you change your ideas, behaviors, beliefs, etc. It can help you to process visual stimulation more quickly, as well. All of these effects can benefit the work you do as a lawyer.
It’s Okay to Believe in the Power of Artistic Expression
If you believe that art can transform your brain and make you a better lawyer, you aren’t alone. Colorado Lawyers for the Arts is dedicated to showing those in the legal profession just how much art can make a difference in their jobs. You can use art, and the study of art, to change your life and to better serve your legal clients.