Drawing On Grief

Title: Drawing On Grief
Exploring loss through creativity
Written by: Kate Sutton
Pub Date: 12 Apr 2022
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group –Leaping Hare, Leaping Hare Press
Genre: Health, Mind & Body | Self-Help
Goodreads review:https: //www.goodreads.com/review/show/4664211384?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This is a book that aims to help those who are struggling with grief to use drawing as a means of expression. The writer Sutton found that it helped after the death of her mother. When Sutton's self-destructive behavior could no longer distract her from her grief she realized she needed a healthy way to deal with said grief. This lead Sutton to create this book.

Sutton uses her own story as a guide to show readers how to use this book. There are tasks to be done and this allows the reader to confront their own grief. The writer takes extra time to include self care in the tasks. The art included shows how small and basic or large and elaborate the reader can be.

Unfortunately for me I did not have the same kind of loving relationship with my mother who, like the authors mother passed from cancer so a lot of the book didn't help my feelings about her passing. But some tasks would lend to facing that, or the passing of other loved ones. Some sadly just do not apply for one reason or another. I would have loved to use it for the grief of my father''s passing but I was too young to remember him which made the memory tasks a little upsetting but Sutton admits that not all the tasks work for everyone.

In the end I found it beautiful and inspiring. I would try the self care tasks if nothing else. However I don't think it would be helpful those who had toxic parents.

Never the less I do think there are benefits from trying this book.

Drawing on Grief was a fantastic book! Although the subject matter is a bit heavy, I can honestly say that I think everyone should read it. The book is a creative journal full of prompts that encourage using art to cope with grief. I loved that Kate recommends drawing more rather than writing. Throughout the book, Kate shares her experiences with grieving the loss of her mother. The book also contains an excellent list of resources for readers to look up and use. Those resources are books, websites, podcasts, apps, and social media accounts of other people/groups/communities. I've researched several resources and have already put some of the books on hold at my local library.

I absolutely love the concept of this book. For people who are artistic or are not very experienced but willing to try, this could be a great way to express their feelings and make something out of it. I love the writing/drawing prompts and the quotes and illustrations throughout the book. There’s so much validation and encouragement to feel your feelings and let them out.

Kate Sutton's book has arrived at exactly the right moment in my life. Struggling with my beloved Dad's sudden death from cancer, I was looking for some way of expressing my grief beyond journaling or reading, and this book hits the mark. Sutton's drawings are wonderful, sweet and clear without being intimidatingly good, and her prompts have been very helpful. It was agonizing to relive some of those memories, but the book feels like a support, leading a clear path through. I will likely revisit some of the prompts again and again as the non-linear process of grief continues. Thank you.

This book captures the complexity of grief and the way that it touches all aspects of your life extremely well. The author shares her story in a very relatable and empathetic way, while also allowing space for the reader to engage with their own feelings. I really appreciated the visual components of the book and the emphasis on healing being a non-linear process.