Strongest Emotions of the Week
Art Prompt: Reflect on three of your strongest emotions from this week. As you think about each one, create an image that represents how that feeling looks, moves, or feels within you. Work on one emotion at a time, noticing what comes up as you express it visually.
Materials: Chalk Pastels (beginner), Chalk Pastels (professional), Pastel Paper
My Art Response
This week, I noticed three emotions showing up more than anything else, ones that felt familiar but carried different weight this time. As I began, I selected colors that felt connected to each emotion and carefully decided how much space each one would take. Some emotions filled wide areas easily, while others stayed small and concentrated.
Using chalk pastels, I blended the edges within each section and allowed some to blur into one another. As I worked, I found myself sitting in each feeling, thinking about where it came from and why it felt so strong this week. The act of blending became its own quiet reflection, a way to see how emotions don’t always stay contained.
I thought about the parts of my week that had brought these emotions forward, about the balance between them, and about why one seemed to take up more space than I expected. By the time I finished, I realized I wasn’t trying to change how I felt, I was simply observing it. The art became a space to notice without judgment, to pause inside each emotion instead of rushing through it.
Journal Prompts
What emotions have been the loudest in your life lately, and what might they be asking you to pay attention to?
When you slow down enough to name what you’re feeling, what tends to happen next, do you resist it, accept it, or try to fix it?
Which emotions do you find easiest to sit with, and which feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar? Why might that be?
Think about the moments this week that stirred something in you, what do those moments reveal about what matters most to you right now?
If your emotions could speak, what would they say about what you need more (or less) of in your life?
Disclaimer: The prompts and reflections shared here are intended for personal exploration and creative expression. They are not a substitute for therapy or professional mental health support. For the best use, explore these directives alongside your therapeutic work. If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Tips for artmaking can be found on the main page of this blog.
