Resilience in Art: The Quiet Strength Behind Creative Growth

”Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fall, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.” ~ Yasmin Mogahed

Resilience in art-making is not just about finishing a piece of art; it’s about understanding that the process itself is valuable. It’s about recognizing that the challenges we face in our creative work are opportunities for growth, both as artists and as humans.

I just finished a commissioned portrait that I have been working on all summer and it was a true test of my resilience. Now that I’m done, I feel like I’ve strengthened my resilience muscles and am ready for whatever comes next.

My experiences with commissions always push me out of my comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong, I embrace a new challenge, but combining it with the pressure of it being a ‘paid job’ with a personal request—my last two commissions have been a book cover for an author’s autobiography and a portrait of someone’s wife—is hard.

I started and covered this portrait twice before reaching the final version. Not long before finishing it, I almost messaged the client to say I couldn’t do it. But my partner, seeing what I was about to do, simply said, “No, you can do this.” So, I didn’t give up. The next day, I returned to the canvas with renewed determination—that’s resilience in action—and worked until I reached a point where I liked what I saw. I could finally see how the finished painting would look in my mind, and I liked it.

When you struggle this much to complete a piece of art, the payoff is huge. It’s a triumphant feeling like no other and this resilience you build in art can carry over to other challenges in life.

As for the painting, I’m not sure which part I love most—the patchwork jean jacket, the flowing, flowery skirt, the background that reminds me of Turkish carpets… and then there’s the cat. I love them all. Both the client and his wife, who is the subject of the portrait, loved it too. Phew! I think, now that it is behind me, I just loved the experience.

In the journey of creating art, there are moments that feel awkward and difficult. A piece doesn’t come together, doubt creeps in, and the urge to abandon the work can be strong. But resilience is about staying with the process, even when it feels uncomfortable. Pushing through these tough stages is necessary and rewarding. It allows the work to evolve, often into something more powerful than you first imagined.

The satisfaction of finishing a piece that once seemed impossible is so worth it. It reminds us that the creative process is not always smooth, but with resilience, it can lead to deep fulfillment.

Art often mirrors life’s challenges. Just as we face obstacles in our personal lives, we encounter similar hurdles in our creative work. When a painting feels stuck or off-balance, it’s like life when things don’t go as planned. In both cases, resilience is key. It’s about pushing through and keeping at it, even when the outcome is uncertain.

In a recent interview with Amie Kelson, host of Creative Life Redesign, we explored how art fosters resilience.

During our conversation, I shared how I use art to navigate life’s challenges, using creativity as a tool for emotional resilience. I talk about how my art practice isn’t just about making art; it’s about using creativity to process and overcome difficulties. Art becomes a form of therapy, helping us build emotional resilience by giving us a safe space to express and explore our inner worlds.

I also discussed my work with youth at a mental health centre, where art helps build confidence and overcome adversity. For these individuals, art is more than an activity; it’s a lifeline. It offers a way to express feelings that might be too difficult to put into words, helping them build resilience in the face of their challenges.