Have you ever looked at a painting and felt a sudden shiver? Heard a piece of music that gave you goosebumps, or watched a film scene that made your skin tingle? That physical reaction – the little wave of electricity down your spine – has a name: frisson.
Also known as aesthetic chills, frisson (pronounced free-son) is a French word meaning "shiver" or "thrill". It's the body's response to something deeply moving, beautiful, or unexpected – often triggered by music, but also by visual art, poetry, dance, powerful memories, or even a stunning natural landscape.
It's that catch-your-breath moment when your brain lights up and your body follows.
Scientists believe frisson happens when something catches us off guard in the best way – like a surprising musical chord, a dramatic visual contrast, or an emotional revelation in a story. When it hits just right, the brain floods with dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical, as a reward. In short: your body knows when something is powerful, and it tells you in the form of chills.
It’s one of the purest forms of emotional connection – and part of what makes creativity so powerful.
At Paintvine, we’ve seen frisson in action. It might be the moment someone steps back and realises they actually painted that, or when the final few brushstrokes suddenly bring a scene to life. Sometimes it’s the joy of colour, the thrill of trying something completely new, or simply the energy in the room – the music, the laughter, the relaxed atmosphere that makes people feel at ease.
So if you’ve ever left a Paintvine event with goosebumps, a proud smile, or that unexpected emotional buzz … that’s frisson. A little spark of joy, brought on by creativity, connection, and a canvas. And we think it’s a pretty magical side effect of painting with us.
