Art & Design,Visual ArtJAN 5, 2017

136 Artists Reveal the Dark Reality of Depression Through Drawings

Vaiva Vareikaite, Rutuja Dumbre and Emma A. Smith

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Chances are, some of your friends or relatives are coping with depression. Sometimes, the best start in helping the suffering person is stepping into their shoes for a moment. Depression symptoms have no face. But, understanding these two things: what does depression feel like and how undermining it is, can show the guidelines for help.

However, not everyone is gifted with such great empathy. That’s why we are here! The compilation of depression drawings that we have gathered below might give you a glimpse of what this mental illness feels like.

What is Depression Drawing?

Depression drawing is the artistic expression of people suffering from depression. When such individuals express themselves through depression drawings, it can help them cope with their emotions and improve their mental health.

The artists behind these gloomy drawings have first-hand experience dealing with mental illnesses, and their drawings illustrate it in a very relatable way. From monsters living in your head to feelings of complete loneliness, depression is way more debilitating than one might think.

Compilation of Depression Art with Deep Meanings

Scroll down for these depression artworks by various artists and see how they feel or imagine this mental illness.

Living with depression is hard, but it is treatable, so if you think that you might be suffering from it or spot the first depression symptoms with your relative or a friend, don't ignore it. Get help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 and provides free, anonymous, and confidential support. If you or someone you know needs urgent treatment for depression, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call 988 or dial the helpline at 1-800-662-4357, or visit their official website to chat with Lifeline.

#1 Brain Sick

Robert Carter

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156points

#2 Mind Devour

The painting describes a person with mental problems such as schizophrenia, insanity, depression, or other mental health problems. His endless screaming makes his own mind eat him up.

I have periods in my life where I feel like this. I wanted to make an illustration of my thoughts and my pain within.

Sebmaestro

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148points

#3 Depression

Ajgiel

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131points

#4 Colorful Depression

artedelle

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109points

#5 Depression Drawings

Spagheth

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97points

Why do Depressed People Make Art?

As we said before, depression has no face. And the people suffering from it find it difficult to express what they are going through. But art is a medium through which they can express themselves. In fact, art therapy is a popular type of therapy that helps people in exploring and expressing their emotions to cope with stress and improve their mental health.

If you are suffering from depression, getting help is always the first step. But you can also try to express yourself through art. Start with depression drawings, easy ones initially, and let your mind flow. It might help you in a way. You can also draw inspiration from the artwork in the list below!

#6 Major Depressive Disorder

Shawn Coss

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92points

#7 Depression Artwork

EmilyClark

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87points

#8 Teen Depression

carts

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85points

#9 Falling

A figure sketch from "Falling" a unique art project I worked on from 2010-2014 about my experience with depression.

claralieu

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83points

#10 Broken Soul

John Holcroft

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72points

How do You Illustrate Depression?

Illustrating depression has no rules. You just explore your mind and try to express what you are going through using drawings and illustrations. So, give your mind free rein and let your emotions flow through the art.

#11 My Depression Looks Like This

On my 27th birthday my depression was finally just too fucking much. After many years of silently treating the severe recurrent episodes of my major depressive disorder, I gave up. I was not well and I needed to take the time to deal with how bad it had truly gotten. So I basically "came out" as the big faker depression had been telling me I was... no more masks,

madNbrooklyn

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70points

#12 My Demons

Zary

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68points

#13 Can't Escape

Unknown

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65points

#14 Fading Into Depression

KuleshovEvgeniy

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60points

#15 Falling Into Depression

ZarinaSitumorang

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55points

What Represents Depression in Art?

Many symbols represent depression in art. As you can see in this compilation, monsters, darkness, tears, and clouds are a few of the symbols that express depression.

#16 Empty

Sekhmet17

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53points

#17 Falling Sketch No. 55

This depression in art project is a visualization of personal experience with depression and anxiety. The condition brought on frequent episodes where I felt emotionally and physically out of control. Unable to “release” myself from these episodes, I waited for the physical limitations of my body to end them. Recounting the affected years, I realize how accustomed I became to depression’s influence; many emotions and feelings belonged to it and not my own personality. After an extended, untreated struggle, a diagnosis brought relief, and the process of unearthing myself from the disease began.

Clara Lieu

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47points

#18 Evanesce

Margarita Georgiadis

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46points

#19 Cancer Of The Mind

Depression is like a cancer of the mind.

Krains

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45points

#20 Black Dog

Lenka Simeckova

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45points

Is Drawing Good for Depression?

Yes, drawing or art therapy is good for depression. It is a way to cope with your emotions and express your internal struggle. It might also help in improving mental health.

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