Processing Grief Through Art
Grieving over a loss is normal, and there is not a right or wrong way when it comes to processing grief. We are all different, and we respond to loss in different ways. One thing that has proven beneficial for a lot of people is to process their grief through art.
It’s so important to be supportive and understanding when someone we know and love experiences loss, like the loss a beloved pet, for example. We never know what that loss is like unless we’ve been there—and even then, there is no set way to respond to it. That said, many people have found the arts, like painting, writing, poetry, music and other art forms, to be a powerful tool in the healing process—not just in creating the art, but in experiencing it. Here are some reasons why this might be the case:
- Art is a reflection of emotion. Art is often governed by rules, but art is not rational—and in many cases it isn’t even verbal. Art has a way of expressing things that words alone cannot. Even creative writing or poetry has the freedom to put words into an emotional context. When we create art, or experience art that relates to how we feel, something cathartic seems to happen in our souls. Grief is highly emotional, so it makes sense that art and creativity can be part of that process. (This is one reason why counselors ask children to draw pictures as part of their counseling—it helps things come out that kids can’t verbalize.)
- Art is therapeutic. As that catharsis I mentioned earlier takes place, something seems to reset inside us. Besides that, there is something calming and soothing about inspirational art—it brings comfort when other things cannot.
- Art is a sign of life. Art is creative, and creativity in general has to do with creating something new. When art is created, something is brought to life. This can really help bring balance when we have experienced loss and death.
The whole concept behind the Loving Hearts Tribute Series—the limited-edition giclee prints we offer here, containing the cremains of your pet—was actually born out of the grieving process. The original artist turned to her own art to process the loss of her own pet, and found it to be a therapeutic experience. As she began creating these works for others encountering loss, she found it to be therapeutic for them, also—even though they weren’t the ones doing the painting. There is definitely something to be said about processing grief through art. What better way to do that than to include the remains of a pet into the very piece of art being created in honor of that pet?
