Have you ever tried using your less dominant hand to brush your teeth or pick up a pencil? Feels weird doesn't it? If you've ever decided to use the other hand, you know the feeling! There's a reason why using your other hand is tricky but there is also a benefit.
Let's explore our latest challenge shall we?
During our last meeting we decided upon an interesting experiment of sorts. One of our members suggest we try using our other hand to draw or paint. Like most people, my first reaction was, "This isn't going to end well!" I imagined any attempt would end up looking like a kindergarten student drew it. I'm sure I wasn't the only one. Seeing as I'm a novice drawer at best with my good hand, I shudder to think what the left hand will do.
Here are a few results thus far:
C.M.
J.C.
D.T.
P.S.
L.R.
One of our members had an interesting comment, "I don't know what using the opposite hand does for you artistically." I decided to do some investigating. There's no sense in doing an experiment if you don't know why! I found some interesting information from this article: The Benefits of Using Your Opposite Hand | Grow Brain Cells (goodfinancialcents.com)
Let's look at a few interesting facts:
- Using your opposite hand will strengthen neural connections in your brain, and even grow new ones. It’s similar to how physical exercise improves your body’s functioning and grows muscles
- The brain is in charge of keeping you functioning and it does that with predictability. It understands the way our bodies work and behaves in the world, but when we try writing with our opposite hand – it confuses the brain and it’s efficiency.
- The non-dominant hand is actually linked to the non-dominant hemisphere in your brain – the one that isn’t exercised as often. There are studies that show that when you use your dominant hand, one hemisphere of the brain is active. When you use the non-dominant hand, both hemispheres are activated, which may result in thinking differently and becoming more creative.
The summary of the information states that using your non dominant hand creates new patterns for the brain to learn. You can practice every day activities using your non dominant hand it this helps create new pathways un the brain. The old phrase, "If you don't use it, you lose it" comes to mind. We are all actually capable of using our other hand, it's just not as efficient and most likely never will be. If you practice enough, you'll get better. It's like anything in life... skill takes repetition. Repetition creates new pathways in the brain. The more you do it, the better you get.
I now look at this challenge in a whole new way. We understand that using the opposite hand is beneficial to art. It opens up new pathways in the brain. It allows us to use more of our brain which is otherwise dormant.
Here's to using the other hand!
