Expressing Grief Through Art

By Patrice Nerone, MDIV, MAPC, LPC

A hand holding a paintbrush and painting with watercolors on a sheet of paper

Expressing Grief Through Art

None of us escape the tragedy of loss. In the throes of our grief, it can seem like we'll never be able to function again. You just want to crawl under the covers and stay in your bed. Coping with the death of a loved one is often challenging and can affect each of us differently. The creative process of making art allows us to express the depths of our sorrow in a unique and personal way. Artmaking is a powerful tool and is especially effective for those of us who aren't comfortable talking about our feelings since it provides a nonverbal means of expression. Reflecting on artwork can lead to greater self-awareness and emotional healing. Creative activity facilitates coping and is known to provide many health

benefits. It reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation, fosters connection, and improves mood, to name just a few. While there are any number of modalities to choose from, it's important to experiment with a variety of them to see which techniques work best for you. You don't need to possess any special skills; it isn't about producing a work of art suitable for hanging in a museum, it's about the emotional release provided while engaging in the creative process. Try this simple yet impactful technique. You'll need some paper and markers or crayons.

Expressive Scribbling: This method bypasses the conscious mind and taps directly into raw feelings, making it particularly effective for individuals grappling with grief. The process involves grabbing a drawing instrument, closing your eyes, and letting your hand move freely across the page. There's no expectation of creating recognizable images. Instead, the movement, pressure, and speed of your scribbles are an external representation of your internal emotional state. After scribbling, you can reflect on the created patterns and even find shapes or images within the chaos, assigning meaning or narratives that resonate with your current feelings of loss and hope.¹

You can enhance the experience by assigning certain colors to represent specific emotions. To the left are some colors and their commonly associated feelings, though your associations may differ due to cultural influence and personal experience.

If you are interested in trying other expressive art techniques, here are some suggested activities you might like to experiment with:

Creating sculptures, collages, or memory books
Dancing or other forms of movement
Drama or improvisation
Journal writing, or reading or writing poems, stories, or songs
Listening to or creating music
Painting, drawing, or sketching
Photography
Yarn crafting

¹ 8 Best Art Therapy Exercises For Grief Recovery. (2024, Jan 22). Retrieved Feb 2025, from

Scholistico: https://scholistico.com/8-best-art-therapy-exercises-for-grief-recovery/?srsltid=AfmB0or/V6afVJwa3zQium7UonBfE-GXkRhtZXNQ0RGzXEAbJAZ_B0Za#expressive-scribble-drawings

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