Grief Cartoons
The cartoons on this page are coordinated by Grief Matters’ Co-Cartoonists-in-Residence, Susan MacLeod and Savannah Tries.
Susan and Savannah create visual narratives (or cartoons) with Grief Matters in the hopes that they can help ease us into the topic of grief, together with others and within ourselves.
A bit about their creative process:
Each comic begins with a conversation. We interview people about their experiences with grief and then use these conversations to develop a script as well as “roughs” or “thumbnails” of the visual story. This draft is further refined, with input from both the interviewee and the Grief Matters’ team, until the words and images come together in the final comic.
It is our hope that these visual stories help support grief literacy in our communities. We are all grievers. To talk with and see one another in our loss is to walk beside one another in companionship and mutual support.
Follow Susan’s work on Instagram @susanmacleodstudio and at susanmacleod.ca
Follow Savannah’s work on Instagram @savannahtriesart
Please get in touch if you have ideas for future cartoons, or you are interested in contributing to our cartoon page.
A Mother, A Son, A Psychiatrist and Grief
In today's hectic medical world, not many physicians have - or make - the time to mourn with grieving patients and families. Here's a different story, full of heart, meaning and revealing many facets of giving care.
Drawings done in the dark during the film, In the Realm of Death & Dreaming
Our Grief Gatherings week was full of people coming together in rich ways to discuss dying, death and grieving. Here are some drawings done live from the film, "In The Realm of Death and Dreaming: Does Consciousness Continue After Death?" produced by Grief Matters partner, When You Die. (whenyoudie.org)
Margaret and Ruby
We've all heard people say of a pet owner's loss, "But it's just a dog!". When Margaret Angus's dog Ruby died, she knew she lost much, much more . . . . Thank you, Margaret, for sharing.
Creating Your Own Visual Obituary
Creating your own visual obituary offers a way to think about your life and death in a calming, reflective way. We are happy to welcome a guest cartoonist, Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D., this month. Jill is a contemplative chaplain/spiritual companion who facilitates workshops where people reflect on their lives, choose what they wish to memorialize, and create visual obituaries.
After Bill Died…
Robbie McGinn’s partner of 32 years recently died after a long illness. In this cartoon, she generously shares the many ways grief is coming to her. She also shares the varied and valued ways the community, Mi'kmaw and non-Indigenous, are supporting her. "Grief is becoming gently embedded into my being," she notes. She also notes she particularly enjoys the chocolate croissants people are bringing over!
Cooking for Dead People
“Cooking for Dead People" is more than an intriguing name for a YouTube channel; it's a deep dive into one slow and meaningful way to experience grief and form a new kind of relationship with a lost loved one. Emma Palumbo, the show’s host, tells us more.
Sharing Grief With Strangers!
When Stephanie Levac's mother invited her to a musical about death in Toronto, "In Dreams", she leapt at the chance. Roy Orbison! Live Theatre! Death! Stephanie is a musician and a trained hospice volunteer; her mother is an oncology pharmacist. As experienced as they are with grief, they were surprised at all that can arise when grief is shared in a public space.
Grief is much more than one person, alone...
Our Grief Matters initiative, in part, aspires to move grief from the personal realm to the community space.
We see our social, public lives and spaces as essential hosts for grievers and for creating a common understanding of grief and its complexities. (This is explained in more detail in this month's blog.)
Introducing Susan MacLeod, Cartoonist-in-Residence at Grief Matters!
Recently, my drawing practice has turned to creating grief and death stories in the hope my cartooning can lessen my real fear of death, grief, and loss as I age. I’ve been drawing people in nursing homes for well over ten years now.
*Photo by CBC