Create an illustration that reflects one of your deepest mental or emotional struggles; your struggle may be anxiety, depression, low self esteem, etc. In other words, allow yourself to make your struggle visible or tangible. 

These questions may help guide you through this art-making process. 

• How do you envision your struggle? Do you see it as a living creature or a human being? Does your struggle have a face or a body? Or, is your struggle an abstract shape or image?

• What colours, shapes, or textures reflect the nature of your struggle?

Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to interpret this art prompt. You know your own struggles and experiences better than anyone. Try to focus on the experience of this art making process rather than the finished product. Your art piece does not have to be beautiful or inviting; in fact it may be dark and messy. This is completely okay. 

 

Write/ illustrate the things that are bringing positivity into your life. It could be coffee, a pet, a book, an activity - anything that is positive for you!

 

Illustrate your safe space. This could be your bedroom, your backyard, a place in nature - anywhere where you feel at peace. 

If you feel comfortable, you can also consider what it is about this space that makes it feel safe. Is it a smell? Is it the sounds that accompany it? Is it the company or lack thereof?

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Write or draw something that represents a struggle in your life. This may be something that is causing sadness, stress, confusion, anger, or other difficult emotions. Now, allow yourself to take out these emotions on your art piece; this may look like drawing scribbles all over it, painting over it in black, ripping it up into pieces, etc. The goal is that it provides a therapeutic release of emotions. How does this make you feel?

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Make an art piece that incorporates positive affirmations. You may want to make a collage using quotes/ affirmations from magazines, or you may want to make a painting that includes your favourite “go to” affirmation. 

When it is complete, you may want to keep this piece in an accessible place; that way, when you notice invasive or negative thoughts arising, you can try to challenge these thoughts by going over your positive affirmations. 

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Grab a paper and a pencil, a crayon/ pencil crayon, a marker, or a paint brush. Before you start, close your eyes for a few minutes and try to clear your mind - if you find your thoughts wondering, try to bring them back to the present. Now, let yourself freely create, with no plan or destination in mind - don’t overthink it, just let your subconscious take the lead. 

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Think about the things in your life that you want to work towards letting go of- you may want to let go of your fear of disappointing others, your self doubt or your inner critic - draw or illustrate how you would let go of these things in a tangible way.

● Maybe you want to put each thing inside of a balloon. You can then

imagine releasing the balloons and watching them fly away. You can

watch as they disappear behind the clouds.

● Maybe you want to put each thing into a rock. Maybe some rocks are

bigger or smaller than others, depending on the space that they take up

in your mind. You can imagine throwing the rocks into the ocean, one

by one. You can watch as they disappear under the surface of the

water.

● Maybe you want to pile all of these things into a boat or flotation

device. You can watch it float away, until it is out of sight, relieving

you from the weight of the things that were holding you down.

 

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