I am a long time meditator. I recently took a class where we had an instructor come in and teach us painting. I was amazed at how quickly painting put me into the same non-mental state as my meditation sessions.
Now I understand why painters paint.
That is a very interesting observation. It confirms some things for me.
Studio art or even bench crafting is good for the soul. It changes how one looks at the world, and what one is on the inside, PROVIDED it is an exploration. An academic, by the numbers approach will kill it dead.