peach-studios

[peach-studios]

[peach-studios]

Adventures in Art Therapy

Hi All!

After years of exploring, evolving, and refining my style, message, and purpose as an artist, the path forward has become much clearer for me. It’s time to combine my passion for healing trauma, mental health, and the transformative power of art into something greater—pursuing a career in art therapy.

I’m thrilled to share that I’m going back to school to earn psychology credits, with plans to pursue a master’s in counseling and art therapy. It feels like a natural next step to integrate my artistic journey with a deeper commitment to helping others heal through creative expression.

This is just the beginning of a new chapter, and I’m excited to see where it leads. The art in my portfolio is bound to have a renaissance of its own, stay tuned! :)

-Niki Peach

[peach-studios]

So happy about the new prints in my shop! Check them out on Etsy.

And a big thank you to the supporters who've made a purchase already.

Etsy Shop

I have so many more fun designs & pieces in the works.

Stay Tuned.

~Niki Peach, Peach Studios Co.

[peach-studios]

A New Direction: Dopamine Art

What is Dopamine? Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter, which is a chemical messenger that transmits signals in the brain and other areas of the central nervous system. It plays a key role in many important functions, including:

Reward and pleasure: Dopamine is often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter because it is involved in the brain's reward system. It is released during pleasurable activities, like eating, exercising, or even engaging in social interactions, giving you a sense of enjoyment or satisfaction.

Motivation and goal-directed behavior: Dopamine is also linked to motivation. It helps drive us to pursue goals, make decisions, and work toward rewards. The anticipation of a reward often causes a release of dopamine, encouraging us to keep working toward that goal.

Movement and motor control: Dopamine is critical in regulating movement. The loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain is associated with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease, where symptoms such as tremors and stiffness arise due to the depletion of dopamine.

Cognition and learning: Dopamine is involved in attention, memory, and learning. It helps to focus attention on important tasks and is also linked to reinforcement learning, where actions that lead to rewards are strengthened.

In short, dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter for a wide range of functions, including mood regulation, motivation, movement, and cognitive processes. Disruptions in the dopamine system are associated with various conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, and addiction.

How can this idea of a dopamine response be used in art to produce feelings of joy and happiness? Perhaps through a new trend called "dopamine art" which has tones of revitalization of expressionism and impressionism.

Dopamine art refers to a type of artwork or creative experience designed to trigger the brain's release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation, and reward. The concept is often used to describe art or experiences that aim to create an instant, satisfying emotional response, which leads to a pleasurable "hit" or rush of dopamine.

Some examples include: visually stimulating and highly satisfying art, themes of expressionism and impressionism, abstract art, engaging art, neon or vibrant art, or art with positive messages.

Stay tuned for more content related to Dopamine Art.

:)

-Niki Peach

[peach-studios]

Hello, I'm Niki Peach, of Peach Studios Co. I'm an artist and designer trying to find my niche, and experimenting with new ideas, with an overarching theme of positivity & mental health. Thank you for viewing and being a part of the journey (more of my work can be found on Instagram & Etsy, link in bio.)

-Niki Peach