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Harnessing the Brain's Most Dominant Sense

Approximately 50% of the brain is directly connected to the eyes, but significantly more is connected to sensing and interpreting what we see. Even more is engaged in doing something with what we see. Harness the power of art – creating it, not just looking at it – and you connect the whole mind and body in the learning process

neurology of art and creativity

neurology of art and creativity

Nonprofit impact stories at RICH Learning International
  • More Than Just a Picture

Why Art Matters

The visual centers of the brain trump every other sense. Neurologically, the brain is not so much “the mind’s eye” but “they eye’s mind.” The brain is sensing and sorting:
  • Edges
  • Spaces
  • Relationships
  • Lights and shadows
  • Gestalt (seeing the whole as greater than the sum of its parts)
  • Memories
  • Imagination
  • For many children, expressing complex ideas or difficult emotions with words is a major challenge. In traditional education, art is often treated as a “soft” skill, separate from core learning. RICH Learning treats art as an essential, non-verbal language. Creating art is a powerful tool for processing the world, building self-esteem and developing the creative, flexible minds needed for the future.
Note: There’s more on the brain’s visual memory powers in learning in the free book “RICH Learning: Brain-based Learning on Arts-based Platforms at Youtube .

The Difference Art Makes

  • Google the results of teaching with art and you will find measurable and profound improvement in learning. Plus, you create happier kids
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Increase in emotional self-expression

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Improvement in creative problem-solving

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Teachers report higher student engagement

  • The RICH Method: Express, Explore and Connect

How It Works

Art for Deeper Learning

RICH Learning incorporates art at the core of every subject – from language to math to science to health to virtues and Music. Grounded in Neuroscience, this multi-sensory approach helps children visualize complex concepts, improve observation skills and anchor learning in concrete physical objects that continue to teach long after they are gone.

Building Critical Thinking

Creating art develops a series of critical communication skills. What do I want to say? How do I want to say it? What do I want the observer to see, feel or know? Creating art turns every child into a teacher, not a passive spectator or audience. The artistic process encourages experimentation, adaptation when things don’t go as planned and a myriad of choice challenges. It builds communication skills, insight, resilience and flexible problem-solving abilities.

Art for Emotional Literacy

Drawing, painting and sculpting to interpret a lesson are safe, non-verbal outlets for students to identify, process and communicate feelings. This approach plays a vital role in child development, leading to greater self-awareness, empathy and emotional insights.