From a toddler picking up a crayon for the first time to someone carefully sculpting a statue, knitting a scarf, designing a web page, or crafting a film’s storyline, some people seem to gravitate toward creativity.

Whether your creative abilities are expressed through hobbies or in a professional capacity, your propensity to pick up a paintbrush in the first place may be influenced by your genes. AncestryDNA + Traits can shed light on whether you've inherited genetic markers associated with creating art.

Benefits of Artistic Expression

Whether your DNA indicates that you’re more or less likely to have inherited a natural sense of creativity, making art can still be enjoyable and beneficial. Numerous studies reveal that artistic expression improves mental health, well-being, and physical wellness. For example, doodling for 20 minutes can reduce cortisol levels, regardless of skill level or creative experience. Art as therapy can also help:

• Stress reduction
• Pain relief
• Depression in people with Parkinson's disease
• Stimulate adults with dementia

So, no matter what your DNA says, finding ways to develop your own form of creative expression could still positively impact your overall well-being.

Is Being Artistic Genetic?

Creating visual art, such as painting or sculpture, or expressing other forms of creativity by playing an instrument, dancing, or crafting, are skills most humans can perform. The ability to create art comes from a capability for thinking abstractly—something that’s encoded in the human genome. It means we’re genetically capable of coming up with ideas that represent or suggest other things, such as a painting that evokes harmony, a photograph that indicates introspection, or a sculpture that suggests sorrow.

So, does that mean there’s a gene for being able to create art? Actually, the trait of creativity has many genetic influences. For example, some dopaminergic and serotonergic genes can influence people's capacity for creativity.

Ancestry scientists seeking more insight have identified over 1,530 DNA markers connected to creativity—confirming its complexity as a genetic trait. These markers come from comparing the DNA profiles of over 1,191,000 people who responded to the question, "Do you paint, draw, craft, or create other types of art?" These DNA markers were then used to calculate a polygenic risk score (PRS), a statistical tool to predict how likely you are to possess a particular trait based on your DNA. Does your family tree include people in artistic professions—jewelers, potters, silversmiths, or fraktur artists, for example? Is wood-carving a skill passed down from one generation to the next in your family?

What Else Does Science Say About Creativity?

While studies on creativity suggest some degree of heritability, Ancestry scientists found that only a small amount of the variation in this trait between people could be explained by differences in their DNA. That means there are also significant environmental factors at play. So even though genetics may facilitate the potential for creative ability, without fostering that trait, the capacity or opportunity for creative expression may not develop.

Environmental influences on creativity are especially significant during childhood. It’s a trait that can be encouraged, especially at a young age, by trying something new regularly. For instance, a parent who frequently urges their child to engage with new things can help stimulate their curiosity—a major component of creative ability.

However, even adults who are more willing to experiment with new experiences and ideas tend to be more creative than those who prefer to stay in their comfort zone.

At any age, self-confidence, especially regarding creativity and ideas, is another factor that can influence creative expression. Those who believe in themselves are more likely to take a creative idea, explore it, develop it, and apply it.

More Ways to Improve Creativity

The artistic process starts with creative thinking, which requires both the brain's default and executive control networks. Those neural networks create and evaluate ideas, as well as intertwining memory with imagining the future. However, science has not yet identified how to improve creativity in the long term.

Yet some activities have been proven to help facilitate short-term creative expression. For example, whether or not you’re genetically inclined to be artistic, specific technical skills can be learned. Acquiring and practicing those skills can, in turn, boost self-confidence. Research shows that taking art classes can be beneficial in many ways—in addition to developing or refining specific skills—because being in a creative environment with other creative people can boost your creativity. Relaxing and letting your mind wander may also help unlock creative tendencies.

The beauty of art is that it's deeply subjective and as unique as the person creating it. Anybody is capable of expressing themselves creatively regardless of skill level or the end result. You don't have to be the next Henri Matisse, Ai Weiwei, Banksy, or Faith Ringgold to enjoy creative expression or to benefit from it.

If you're curious about what your DNA suggests about your artistic tendencies and other personality traits, an AncestryDNA + Traits test can provide you with tailored insights. If you've already taken an AncestryDNA test, your trait results are waiting for you with an Ancestry subscription.