Goodnight’s bright and cheery paintings now on display at Ozark County Volunteer Library


The famous Hodgson Mill is the subject of this painting by Lisa Goodnight. It is for sale at the Ozark County Library for $75.

The artwork of Gainesville resident Lisa Goodnight is now displayed at the Ozark County Volunteer Library as part of the organization’s visiting artist exhibits. 

The paintings, all acrylic on framed stretched canvas or wood tile, feature adorable animals, folksy countryside landscapes, still life and more. 

“I didn’t take art in junior or senior high school because I have never been able to draw. Stick figures for people and circles with ears for dogs was all I could accomplish,” Lisa’s artist statement explains. “My son Austin [Rhoads] picked up painting from out of the blue, and it intrigued me how he could do that.”

Goodnight says on one particular occasion, she saw the depth of what painting could mean. It was the night before her grandson had open heart surgery. In the turmoil of anxiety, worry and stress of the upcoming procedure, Austin sat down and put brush in paint, creating a beautiful and moving piece. 

“I was so impressed,” Goodnight said. 

After a couple months of tossing around the idea of getting her own art supplies, Goodnight took the plunge and bought the bare minimum needed to create an artwork. 

“I didn’t know a filbert brush from a flat brush and had no idea where gesso came into play. The only thing that I was absolutely sure about was that I needed a paper plate for paint and a cup of water to rinse brushes.”

She sat down and created her first ever painting. And it felt exciting.

“My first painting wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t good either. I got to know terms and techniques and the feel of paint on the brush,” she said. She decided to delve further into the craft by joining an online painting group that provided instruction, lessons and ideas, along with fellowship and friendship with other painters, for an annual paid subscription. She says it’s one of the best investments she’s ever made. “My membership in the group has been valuable. Now all I want to do is paint,” she said. Now that Goodnight has begun painting, there’s no looking back. 

“I love to create. Painting is a constant play with lights and darks, brightness and shadows and a whole world of different colors. I can spend hours at the easel watching my paintings come to life, and there is no stress,” she said. “What’s not to love about that?”

Many of the displayed paintings are for sale ranging from $40 to $125. Information on purchasing Goodnight’s paintings can be obtained by emailing her at lisajanegoodnightart@gmail.com or by visiting the library desk during open hours. The Ozark County Volunteer Library, located at the corner of Second and Elm Streets in Gainesville, is run by volunteers and operates completely on donations. It is not tax funded in any way.

The current open hours are Monday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The library is closed on Thursday and Sunday. 

For more information on the visiting artist program and how to participate, contact Lisa Atkinson at lisacatkinson@ gmail.com or call the Ozark County Volunteer Library at 417-679-4442. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423