🎨 Painting for Peace in Times of War and Uncertainty
The world or at least the US (or some of the US) is aching.
From violent conflicts and war, to natural disasters to political division, many of us feel overwhelmed, powerless, or numb. During such times, what can we possibly do?
We can paint for peace.
Painting may not end wars—but it can be a radical act of healing and inspiration. It allows us to process grief, transform anger, and move from despair to hope. It grounds us when the world feels like it’s spinning. And in sharing our peaceful creations, we inspire others to seek calm, connection, and courage.
🧘 Why Painting Helps in Times of Crisis
Painting is great form of meditation or being present in the moment. When painting is practiced mindfully, it:
Reduces stress and anxiety
Creates space for emotional processing
Connects us to our breath and body
Becomes a form of prayer or intention-setting
🕊 5 Ways to Paint for Peace
1. Create a Peace Mandala
A mandala—circular and symbolic—is a sacred representation of harmony. Fill yours with calming patterns, flowing lines, dots, and peaceful colors.
Yesterday I was part of a big group painting session that was focused on community intuitive painting with many prompts around spiritual positivity with a female and/or goddess focus. It wasn’t about peace per se, but in one of the sessions I painted this mandala.
Stay tuned for so future mandala painting events.
2. Paint a Prayer or Set Intentions for Your Painting
Let each brushstroke become a silent prayer or intention. As you paint, focus on a word like healing, unity, safety, or compassion. I sometimes paint or draw my intentions for my painting putting these words down as the first layer on my painting. You could paint these words, or use a paint marker, or event pencil, chalk, or crayons to do this.
3. Use Peace Symbols
Include recognizable or intuitive peace symbols:
Peace Sign
Dove(s)
Olive branches
Candles
Spirals
Hands reaching toward each other
Mountains (symbolizing stability)
Circles (wholeness and unity)
4. Express a Vision of Hope
Art has the power to imagine the world we want to live in. Use your painting to visualize healing, togetherness, and care—even if it feels far away right now.
5. Paint Together
Invite others to co-create art with you—virtually or in person. Consider community murals, peace flags, or family painting nights. Shared art fosters shared humanity.
Yesterday I was a part of a community painting event that was over 300 people in attendance and part of the goal behind Whitney Freya’s 24 Hour Paint Jam 2025, is putting out positive healing energy for ourselves and for the world at large with a focus on feminine power. It wasn’t about world peace per se but it was something to join in community and paint together for 24 hours.
✨ A Prompt for You
Choose one peaceful word that matters to you today—like hope, stillness, justice, or solidarity.
Paint a piece inspired by that word using colors and shapes that express your feeling. Let it be raw. Let it be real.
🎨 A Legacy of Peace through Art
Artists throughout history have responded to war and conflict with brushes instead of bullets:
Pablo Picasso’s Guernica remains a haunting anti-war statement.
Faith Ringgold’s story quilts blended art and activism.
Today, Ukrainian artists continue to create amid war as acts of resistance and remembrance.
You don’t need to be famous. You only need to be true to your heart. Your art matters.
Want to learn a bit about Picasso’s Guernica anti-war painting for ideas or just better understanding? Have a watch!
💌 Final Thoughts
Let painting be your refuge and your voice. In every color you choose, in every mark you make, you can plant a seed of peace.
Peace begins with presence.
And presence begins with paint.
Want to join my Mindful Paint Club to discuss and share art in community? Check us out today!
Some more thoughts on Peace in Paintings…
This is an interesting look at paintings of peace but most importantly shows what internal peace looks like even within chaos. Enjoy!
