"There is always a point in my painting where the colors, composition, are all so wonderful that I don't want to touch it but it is obviously incomplete. So I have lunch while thoughts, ideas, colors, images continue to flow through my mind. Afterwards I put in the last bits that lend that sense of spirit and life that makes my patience with the process so worthwhile. " S. Middler, artist

Can Art Be Slimming?

If you are putting weight on around your middle you may want to take up visiting art galleries or become an art collector. Not only is art a good investment but viewing it can reduce stress. Stress hormones can cause weight gain.

An art study carried out by the University of Westminster confirmed that viewing art had a positive effect on reducing stress hormones such as cortisol. Apparently after less than an hour of viewing art, people rated their stress levels as 45 per cent lower. Saliva samples provided concrete evidence that these perceptiions were correct.