Dealing With Loss

Bailey models my painting several years ago.

My heart has been heavy the last several months as I face the loss of my dog to Lymphoma.  He is growing weaker and I know it is not much longer...  I am thankful for the many blessed years I have had with this fury angel, he truly has been one of the greatest gifts in my life.  He and I have been inseparable since he was placed in my arms at 10 weeks old.  I am not sure how to do life without him, but I will learn.

Grief is a funny thing, it has many gifts and lessons in spite of all the sadness.  As the lessons begin to unravel, I am reminded of how our pets lives are too short, and this I believe is the first gift.  I know this might sound crazy to some, but because our time with our pets is very limited in years compared to an average human life span, we have the opportunity to experience the life cycle speeded up.  In having this opportunity to love and be loved, care for, laugh, play and cry with my dog over the years, there is a strong family like bond.  To have the opportunity of seeing youth turn to old age, sharing in his health and helping him in his sickness, it is a great reminder not to take the people or animals we love for granted.  It is a beautiful reminder that every thing is always changing and to remember to be thankful for health and happiness when we have it, and to be present and thankful for the experience of love that we have been given.  It also prepares us for dealing with the grief of losing family members and friends when the time comes, helping us to learn coping skills and understanding the feelings that come with loss.

My art is the best constructive way that I know how to release my feelings.  I started a painting with a single tree, a solitary place made for dreams.  A place to connect with those that have passed on, those that we miss and love.  I find that because of my sensitivity to loss right now, I have a much more heightened sense of compassion for all those who have lost a person or animal they loved... and this unravels another great gift of grief.

Life Energy, Sarah Goodnough Painting

Life Energy (36 x 48) Sold,  Prints Available

 The source light is in all things, it is everywhere.  

Hand Embellished Prints with great Quality

Getting ready to hand embellish giclee canvas prints for a client.

My canvas giclee prints are in limited editions, they are printed with 100+ years archival ink and laminated with a UV protective finish in gloss or matte.   I do hand embellish a small number of prints in each edition, which are labeled as artist proofs.  Prints come with a certificate of authenticity and all are signed by yours truly.

When embellished with paint, the print really has an extra punch of texture and color, making it look more like an original piece of art.  As in the case of the above embellished prints, they are all being tweaked to meet the color palette the client wants...bringing down the pinks and reds and adding more rust and peach tones.

Many artists these days are making prints of their work, it has truly leveled the playing field for people being able to have affordable art.  I love the idea of art being available for everyone to enjoy.  Although I have been approached by several licensing companies over the last couple of years to produce my work on a mass scale for retail chain stores in open editions,  I have decided not to go this route.  I find it resonates with me to keep my images special to the people that really want them by limiting the quantity to a small number.  The pricing of my prints reflects their originality and limited quantity.   If the giclee print is embellished by me, although still a print, it is a one of a kind piece of art that will look like no other. 

The Arts and Healing

Arts and Healing have long been closely intertwined.  In the years before Hippocrates, the healing temples of ancient Greece surrounded patients with paintings, sculpture, gardens, fountains, music, poetry and storytelling.  An environment rich with art was seen as therapeutic, providing a means to alleviate physical discomfort and emotional distress.

Florence Nightingale, in her book Notes on Nursing, described the patient's need for beauty, even to look out a window or gaze at a vase of flowers: "People say the effect is only on the mind.  It is no such thing.  The effect is on the body, too."

If you, or someone you love, is sick physically or emotionally, consider beautifying the space around you or them with flowers, a water feature, art or peaceful music.... it really does make a difference.

Returning Insight    (30 x 48)   Giclee Prints Available

Hummingbirds, Sarah Goodnough Paintings

Being Present (40 x 40) - Original Sold, Giclee Prints Available

Flicker In Time (30 x 30) - Original Sold, Giclee Prints Available

Beyond Limitations (30 x 30) - Original Sold, Giclee Prints Available

Joyful Abundance (40 x 40) - Original Sold, Giclee Prints Available

These paintings combine flora and fauna, integrated in a magical way that I hope evokes the feeling of divine energy all around us. Hummingbirds are a connection to spirit for me. When I see them it always seems to be at a time when God is saying "everything is alright".

Love Story, Sarah Goodnough Painting

Love Story - 36 x 48 Acrylic Painting on Canvas - Original Sold - Giclee Prints Available

Love Story was a romantic piece that came about because of my passion for roses. I have had the idea to paint roses for awhile and decided to add the birds in a tree to this contemporary impressionist painting. I can just imagine looking up at the moon while sitting with my loved one in this old English garden.