(Noun) A person who exhibits a high level of creativity and skill in employing various coping mechanisms to deal with stress, disappointment, or difficult situations. Unlike the average individual who might turn to standard coping strategies, a cope artist blends reality with a touch of denial or exaggeration, almost elevating the act of coping to an art form. This person might use humor, elaborate rationalizations, or an intricate web of half-truths not just to shield themselves from discomfort, but in a way that can sometimes seem impressive or even entertaining to others.
After getting laid off, Jamie turned into a real cope artist, spinning the situation with so much positivity and elaborate plans for the future that you'd almost forget the gravity of it all.