For thousands of years, artists of all kinds have used their work to express their sadness, anger, fear, love and hope. Of course, there is no painting or poem that can ever bring back our loved one, but the arts can help us process those feelings of grief.

When a loved one dies, your world can seem like it’s been turned upside down. Creative outlets can help bring back a sense of control by allowing yourself to make choices over art mediums, colors and the creative process. The ‘making’ activity helps to fill the void when you may feel lost and unable to do much. It also acts as a vessel in which to safely express thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be overwhelming. When creating art to help with the process of grief, you don’t need to worry about anyone else seeing it or whether it even looks like anything. Through artistic expression you are able to tell your personal stories of connection to your loved one.

Here is a list of some creative exercises to begin your artistic expression:

• Poetry
• Creating music
• Dancing
• Journaling
• Writing letters
• Drama/Theatre
• Planting a garden
• Drawing/Painting
• Creative Writing
• Scrapbooking
  

Remember, when making art, it’s not about making something that will impress others. It’s about the process and letting your thoughts and emotions run free.