Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Pick Up a Paintbrush
- Jacqueline Supra
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
The science is in, the trends agree, and your community is ready. Here's everything you need to know about adult art classes in 2025 and why Hawke's Bay locals are choosing to create.
March 2026 · 6 min read
Somewhere between the busyness of daily life and the quiet wish that we did something just for ourselves, most adults quietly wonder: "Would I even be any good at art?" Here's the thing that's entirely the wrong question. The real question is: what might it give you?
Whether you last picked up a paintbrush in school, or never have at all, adult art classes have become one of the most talked-about ways people are investing in their wellbeing, their social lives, and their sense of self. And the research backing this up is genuinely compelling.
We've pulled together insights from art educators, health researchers, and community organisations across New Zealand and beyond and what emerges is a pretty clear picture. Art isn't a luxury for the talented few. It's a practice for everyone, and the benefits start from day one.
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The Wellbeing Case for Making Art
Let's start with the science, because it's impossible to ignore. Creative activity painting, drawing, even guided mark-making has a measurable effect on our mental and physical health.
Research published in the American Journal of Public Health reviewed decades of studies and found strong, consistent evidence that engaging in visual art and creative activities reduces stress, lowers anxiety, and supports emotional wellbeing across age groups and experience levels. A 2025 UK survey by Jackson's Art Supplies found that making art reduces cortisol (the body's stress hormone) and promotes positive mental states, effects seen regardless of skill level or experience.
46% of adults use creative activities specifically to relieve stress or anxiety, according to an APA poll of over 2,200 adults
21% of artists say making art helps them feel relaxed
20% say regular art practice boosts their confidence and self-esteem.
Mayo Clinic researchers note that creating visual art can increase serotonin levels and boost blood flow to the brain's pleasure centres. The American Medical Association puts it more simply: it's about self-discovery, and you don't need to be at any particular level for those benefits to kick in.
For older adults, the gains are even more specific. Arts participation has been linked to reduced rates of cognitive decline with studies showing improved memory, focus, and mood among those who engage regularly with creative activity. Fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and even emotional resilience all show measurable improvement.
Active participation in the arts such as painting, ceramics, or drawing enhances a person's sense of purpose.
A 2024 New Zealand study found this holds true right here in New Zealand.
That last finding comes from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, using data from the New Zealand General Social Survey. Active arts participation doesn't just feel good — it demonstrably improves how people experience their lives.
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It's Not Just About the Art - It's About the People
One of the most consistent threads in everything we've read is this: the social dimension of art classes is often just as transformative as the creative one.
As adults, most of us find it genuinely hard to make new friends. The easy social structures of school or university are long gone, and work friendships rarely go deeper than the role. Art classes are one of the few spaces where you sit next to a stranger, focus on something together, and find yourself laughing about a mistake with someone you'd never have otherwise met.
Research from Arts Access New Zealand confirms that community arts participation builds social capital, fosters trust, and creates a measurable sense of belonging, particularly in smaller cities and regional communities like ours here in Hawke's Bay. The arts and creative industries contributed an estimated $16.3 billion to the New Zealand economy in 2024, and much of that value flows through exactly this kind of community connection.
At The Seasons Art Class, we see this every single term. Students arrive as strangers and leave as friends. Some have been coming back for years — not because they're becoming professional painters (though some have surprised themselves!), but because Tuesday morning is their morning, and their people are there.
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What's Trending in Adult Art Education Right Now
The art education landscape has shifted meaningfully over the past few years, and the themes are genuinely exciting for adult learners. Here's what the research and commentary from art educators worldwide is pointing to in 2025:
01
Choice-Based Learning: Students want voice, autonomy, and the ability to pursue what genuinely interests them. The days of cookie-cutter step-by-step classes are giving way to more exploratory, personalised instruction which is exactly the model Seasons Art Class has always championed.
02
Colour Theory & Emotional Expression: Colour theory is one of the most in-demand topics in art education right now and it's easy to see why. Understanding how colour creates mood, depth, and emotion unlocks something remarkable in everyday painting. It's one of the most requested topics in our current terms.
03
Mixed Media & Texture: Artists everywhere are moving beyond single-medium work. Combining paint with collage, texture, and layered materials creates work that feels alive and gives beginners more freedom and less pressure than traditional techniques alone.
04
Nature, Landscape & Local Identity: Here in Hawke's Bay, we're surrounded by extraordinary landscapes, vineyard light, coastal drama, the wide plains of the Heretaunga. Nature-inspired work is trending globally, and we get to paint ours from life. That's something most art students in the world can only dream of.
05
Slow Art as Wellbeing Practice: In a world saturated with screens and speed, deliberately slow creative practices are having a cultural moment. Art class is increasingly being positioned rightly as a wellness activity alongside yoga, walking, and mindfulness.
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But I'm Not Artistic…
This might be the most common thing we hear. And it's also the most persistent myth in adult education.
The idea that artistic ability is something you either have or you don't like height or eye colour has been thoroughly debunked by art educators and neuroscientists alike. Drawing, painting, and mark-making are skills. They respond to practice, guidance, and a supportive environment. Everyone starts somewhere.
What we've noticed over years of teaching adults is that the people who surprise themselves the most are often those who walk in most convinced they can't do it. There is something quietly radical about sitting down with a blank canvas and discovering that your hands know something your inner critic does not.
You don't have to be a luminary to explore your creative side. Just have fun with it. Practice makes perfect and the joy is in the journey.
Seasons Art Class Hawke's Bay is structured for all levels, whether you have never touched a brush or you've been painting privately for years and want to develop with guidance. There's no grading, no comparison, and no pressure. Just your work, your pace, and a room full of people doing the same.
What to Expect From a Term
Our terms follow The Seasons franchise model developed in the UK which has won global recognition for the way it structures adult creative learning. Each session builds on the last, introducing new techniques, materials, and approaches in a way that feels natural rather than prescriptive.
You'll work across different styles and media from watercolour and acrylic to drawing and mixed media. Your tutor is there to guide, encourage, and challenge when you're ready. Most importantly, you'll be part of a group that becomes its own little community.
Terms run throughout the year and there's a clear entry point at the start of each one so it's never a matter of "I've missed the beginning." If you're thinking about it, the best term to start is always the next one.
Our current term is already underway, but enquiries for the upcoming term are open now. Spaces are limited, and they do fill. If you've been thinking about it, now's the moment to stop thinking and start creating.
Hawke's Bay: A Place Made for Making Art
There's something particularly fitting about art classes in Hawke's Bay. This is a region with a strong creative culture, a love of beauty, craft, and community that shows up in everything from our wine to our architecture. The Art Deco character of Napier, the galleries of Hastings and Napier, the galleries and studios dotted throughout the region this is a place that takes creative expression seriously.
Joining an art class here isn't stepping outside the mainstream. It's stepping into something very much of this place. And when your subject matter is the golden hills of the Heretaunga or the light on the bay, you've already got a head start on inspiration.
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Ready to Start Creating?
Find out about upcoming terms, class times, and how to secure your place at The Seasons Art Class Hawke's Bay.
Jacqueline Supra: Franchise Owner · The Seasons Art Class Hawke's Bay · Community Leader
References
Benison, T., Le, T., & Grimes, A. (2024). The impact of participation in arts and cultural activities on personal wellbeing. Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, Working Paper 24-04. motu.nz
Toi Mai Workforce Development Council. (2024). New Zealanders value arts for wellbeing benefits. toimai.nz
Arts Access Aotearoa. (2025). The arts, bringing people together. artsaccess.org.nz
Jackson's Art Supplies. (2025, March). UK survey links creativity to better mental health. Jackson's Art Blog. jacksonsart.com
American Psychiatric Association. (2023, July). New APA poll: Americans who engage in creative activities at least weekly report better mental health. psychiatry.org
Sonke, J., et al. (2009). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2). ajph.aphapublications.org
Mayo Clinic Press. (2024). The intersection of art and health: How art can help promote well-being. mcpress.mayoclinic.org
National Endowment for the Arts. Arts and health. arts.gov
De Masi, L. (2023). Mental health and the creative arts: How does being creative help with mental health? louisedemasi.com
Agora Gallery. (2026, January). Top art trends for 2026. agora-gallery.com
Art in Action. (2025, July). Top 2025 arts education trends to start the school year strong. artinaction.org
The Art of Education University. (2025, July). Trend watch: What's hot (and teacher approved) in art ed. theartofeducation.edu
Lots to think about but looking forward to my art classes