Words and artwork by Emily Scally
As an autistic person who has struggled with my mental health my whole life, I don’t always know how to deal with my emotions. But, drawing and creating art has been a therapeutic hobby that has kept me resilient over the years. Since childhood, I’ve always enjoyed drawing, especially dogs. I grew up with dogs in my family and found them deeply comforting during my schooling years. I struggled to connect with my peers at school, but at home with my pet dog there was never any pressure to be anything but myself.
I went through a short-lived phase of trying to draw people, realistic portraits and cartoon-style human characters, but it never gave me the same excitement and warmth that drawing dogs and animals did. It felt boring, and I think I was only trying because I believed people would be more impressed if I were skilled at drawing people. Luckily I realised it’s a waste of time creating something purely to impress others.
I stopped drawing completely during high school, partly because my mental health was so poor, but also because I had an art teacher that drained all the joy from art and being creative. Art wasn’t fun anymore when it felt so controlled (to the point of my work being physically drawn or painted over by my teacher) and being so hyper-fixated on perfection that what I created never felt good enough.
After beginning therapy and medication at nineteen, I finally felt motivated to draw again. I slowly unlearned the anxious, perfectionist mindset shaped by high school art classes and reconnected with how drawing made me feel as a child. Now I focus on how the lines, shapes, colours, and animal characters make me feel, and what emotions I want the finished piece to evoke. I love the meditative process of adding small details – stars, sparkles, hearts – and choosing gentle, kind words to accompany the artwork.
Some of my biggest inspirations are comforting characters from my childhood, such as Blue from ‘Blue’s Clues’, Snoopy from ‘Peanuts’, the Care Bears, and ‘Pokémon’. My art is a mindful way to self-soothe, calm my thoughts, and ground myself when daily life feels overwhelming. I draw in a quiet, controlled space where I can focus fully on the present moment and express myself creatively.
My artwork almost always includes text, usually reminders to myself. For many people living with mental illness, healing isn’t a single turning point or a moment where everything suddenly improves. It’s an ongoing practice of caring for yourself using the tools you’ve learned through therapy and lived experience. I want to encourage others to live unashamed in being sensitive, and that needing help, supports or accomodations in your life does not make you weak or a burden.
It’s been over seven years since I started drawing again. The most important thing that has helped me stay consistent in my creative practice is being non-judgemental. I believe creating art should be a space that allows for flexibility, growth, room to experiment, make mistakes and learn without judgement. Art only became truly therapeutic for me once I allowed my art to be imperfect and shifted my focus to the mindful process of creating rather than the outcome.
Art can be an effective tool of mindfulness, self-expression and healing if you allow it to be. When you let go of societal pressure to create something perfect, you are able to express yourself authentically. I hope you can reconnect with your inner child and welcome a creative hobby into your life, whether that’s using a colouring-in book like ‘Cosy Kindness’, scrapbooking, crocheting, sewing, painting, jewellery making, or anything else that brings you joy.
