Mindfulness Meditation and Art Making: Implications for Art Therapy
Susan Kathleen Mahl
ODU Digital Commons September 23, 2026 DOI: 10.25777/et2r-ks49 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Self-study using heuristic methodology Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | The researcher |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation art making written reflections |
| Duration | 7 weeks (meditation practice: 3 weeks at 30-60 minutes twice weekly, 3 weeks at 45-60 minutes three times weekly, 1 week at 1 hour five times) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The author reports that practicing mindfulness meditation followed by art making resulted in more expressive artwork, increased well-being, deeper spirituality, and a more positive regard for their work. The author suggests these findings have implications for using mindfulness meditation in art therapy to reduce stress by inducing calm. |
Abstract
Meditation is being integrated into various fields to aid with healing, especially mindfulness meditation as it focuses on total awareness of the present. This thesis describes a self study that used a heuristic methodology to investigate the effects of mindfulness meditation on this researcher. I progressed through the six phases of heuristic research in a period seven weeks. At the beginning of the study, mindfulness meditation was practiced twice a week for a time period of 30 minutes to one hour for three weeks, followed by art making and reflections. Next, I practiced mindfulness meditation three times a week for a time period of 45 minutes to one hour followed by making art and written reflections or responses for three weeks. Finally, I practiced mindfulness meditation for one hour five times the final week with art making and kept a journal of written responses. A variety of art materials and media were used in response to my tacit-intuitive awareness at the time of meditation. The meditation resulted in more expressive art work, increased well-being, deeper spirituality, and a more positive regard for my work than I had experienced before the self study. Further research is needed, although as a result of this personal exploration, there are clear implications for the use of mindfulness meditation in art therapy as an approach to stress reduction by inducing peace or calm within the meditator.