The Evolving Emotion of Grief: An Art Journal
Suggested Age Group(s): Young, Middle, Teen
Purpose: To reinforce to the group that grief is not a single emotion, but a reaction to loss that is comprised of dozens of different emotions.
Task/need: Moving toward the pain of the loss
Activity Setup Ideas: Discuss with the group that grief is not a single emotion, but a reaction to loss that is comprised of dozens of different emotions that can arise in the months and years after a death.
Ask the group about some of the emotions they had coming to the Caring Place initially and how they feel now about coming. How did they feel when they found out about the death? How have their feelings changed since the death?
Materials: Colored tissue paper, a journal or some paper, Mod Podge or other decoupage, paint brush
Description:
- Have the group members each create a list of emotions/feelings. Assign a color of tissue paper to each emotion on the list.
- Create a key page in your art journal showing each emotion and the color you have assigned. Keep a second page, or the back of the page, where you can add new emotions that come up in the future.
- Pick the emotions you are feeling on that particular day and find the related color. Tear up pieces of tissue paper associated with that emotion. If you are feeling more of one emotion, tear up more of that color tissue.
- Following the instruction on the decoupage, paint it onto your page. Place the different colored tissues on the page, in differing amounts to represent how much of a certain emotion you are feeling that day. Paint more decoupage on top of the tissue paper once it has been placed.
- Complete the entire page to represent the current combinations of emotions you are experiencing.
Activity Wrap Up Ideas: Invite the group to share their journal page for that day.
