<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the role of the creative painting process in transforming emotional awareness through the expression, reflection, and interpretation of personal experiences. A descriptive qualitative approach based on a literature review was employed. Data sources consisted of scholarly articles and academic materials selected purposively for their relevance to three key areas: visual art as a medium for emotional expression, the creative process as a mechanism for emotional regulation, and the therapeutic or educational implications of painting. Research instruments included a literature review matrix and a data extraction sheet; data collection involved searching, selecting, documenting, and classifying sources, while analysis was conducted thematically through data reduction, thematic grouping, interpretation, and synthesis. The results indicate that painting does not merely produce aesthetic objects but provides a non-verbal medium for externalizing emotional experiences, observing symbols and visual choices, reflecting on experiences, and constructing new meanings. Recent empirical findings demonstrate that painting can reduce anxiety more effectively than non-creative control activities, while systematic reviews highlight the benefits of art therapy for emotional regulation and psychological well-being. Thus, the novelty of this study lies in its synthesis of the emotional awareness transformation process—conceptualized as a sequence of expression, reflection, meaning reconstruction, and psychological integration—rather than focusing solely on art's cathartic function.]]>
