When grief hits, it can feel overwhelming and isolating. Traditional forms of healing like talking about your loss are important, but sometimes words just aren’t enough. That’s where art therapy comes in.
By using creativity as a form of expression, you can explore your feelings, find new ways to cope, and start your healing journey in a deeply personal way.
What is Art Therapy and How Can It Help with Grief?
Grief can feel like a heavy weight that’s hard to lift.
Maybe you are grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or even a significant life change- whatever it is, it’s crucial to find gentle ways to process your emotions.
Art therapy offers a unique and healing path for this. By using creativity and self-expression, art therapy allows you to explore your feelings, honor your memories, and find moments of peace during difficult times.
That’s why art therapy is so powerful and I absolutely love it. Art therapy doesn’t require any artistic skills — it’s all about connecting with your feelings in a safe and supportive way.
From drawing and painting to sculpting and collage, the process of making art can bring deep emotional relief and help you navigate the complex landscape of grief. That’s why I really hope you’ll enjoy the art therapy activities that we will talk about in this post. So let’s get started.
Make sure to also check out my page with free Art Therapy templates!
Here are 10 Art Therapy Activities to Help You Heal from Grief
These 10 powerful art therapy activities can be done in no particular order. Pick an exercise that resonates with you! They are all meant to help you express and process your grief:
1. Create a Memory Box
Decorate a small box with paint, photos, or meaningful symbols. Fill it with mementos, letters, or objects that remind you of your loved one or the chapter of your life you’re grieving. This can be a safe space to honor memories and keep them close to your heart.
If you are a visual learner and need more guidance, check out this short video of sesame workshop that shows you how to create a memory box with objects that help children and adults remember a loved one.
2. Gratitude Collage
Cut out images, words, or colors from magazines that remind you of what you’re grateful for — even during grief. Creating a gratitude collage can help you focus on hope and the positive memories that bring light to your journey.
3. Paint Your Feelings
Grab some paints or markers and let your emotions guide you. Don’t worry about what it looks like — just focus on expressing how you feel in color and shape.
Great image by Kamie Naputo
4. Letter to Your Loved One
Write a letter to the person or situation you’re grieving, and then decorate it with artwork that captures your feelings. This can be a powerful way to say what’s in your heart.
5. Mandalas for Healing
Create a mandala — a circular pattern that represents wholeness. Fill it with colors and shapes that bring you comfort. Mandalas can help bring calm and focus to your healing process.
Grief image by Treese
6. Clay Sculpting for Release
Use air-dry clay or playdough to sculpt something that represents your emotions — maybe a shape, a figure, or even something abstract. Working with your hands can be incredibly grounding.
7. Visual Timeline of Memories
Draw a timeline that includes significant moments, memories, and milestones related to your grief. Illustrate it with colors or symbols that help you tell your story.
8. Healing Affirmation Art
Create an artwork that includes positive affirmations like “I am strong,” “I am healing,” or “I carry love in my heart.” Display this piece somewhere you’ll see it every day.
9. Art Journaling
Start an art journal to combine writing, drawing, and collage. Use it as a safe space to pour out your thoughts and feelings as they come up. Look up whatsmygrief.com for more art therapy ideas specifically for art journaling during a grief period!
10. Light and Dark Painting
On one side of the paper, paint your darker, heavier feelings. On the other side, use bright colors to represent hope, healing, and growth. This can help you see both sides of your journey and remind you that light does exist, even in the darkest times.
Need inspiration? Here is a full Pinterest board by Onyx and Fern that focusses on Grief art.
Final Thoughts: Healing Through Creative Expression
Grieving is a deeply personal journey, and there’s no right or wrong way to navigate it.
Art therapy offers a gentle, non-verbal way to explore and honor your emotions.
I hope the 10 art therapy activities I mentioned today can help you find comfort, express what’s in your heart, and take meaningful steps toward healing.
Remember: you don’t need to be an artist to benefit from art therapy. All you need is the courage to create and the willingness to feel. Take your time, be gentle with yourself, and trust that healing is possible — one brushstroke, one shape, one color at a time.
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