Art About Grief: 5 Things to Know Before You Buy a Painting That Holds Loss

A painting about grief can catch your eye before you know why. Perhaps it’s the colours, the movement, or a feeling in the image that seems familiar. You may also be looking for a way to remember someone or make space for a difficult experience.

I understand that pull. I’m a Pacific Northwest artist based in British Columbia, and my work explores the connection between nature and human emotion. My collection, There Will Be Calm Within the Storm, grew from personal experience with loss and from the moments of chaos, stillness, and disorientation that can follow it. The full collection will be shown together this November in Nanaimo, and I’ll share the details further down.

If you’re considering buying art about grief, there is no single right way to choose. Here are five things I hope will help you find a painting that feels right for you.

1. Notice how the painting feels to you, not what it’s supposed to mean

Grief does not look or feel the same for everyone. A painting might bring up recognition, sadness, anger, tenderness, or a sense of quiet. You might not be able to name your reaction at all. That’s okay.

Before deciding, take a little time with the work. Look at its colours, shapes, and textures. Ask yourself whether you feel drawn to return to it, or whether you’d prefer some distance. You don’t need to be able to explain your response or match it to a particular stage or story.

In my semi-abstract figurative art, nature often carries part of the emotion. A suggestion of a forest, a shifting horizon, or a figure within a landscape can leave room for you to bring your own meaning. The work doesn’t have to tell you exactly what to feel.

2. Choose the kind of connection you want to live with

Some people are drawn to a painting because it reflects a particular loss. Others want something less literal: a landscape, a colour, or a movement that gives them room to remember in their own way. Neither is more meaningful than the other.

If you’re choosing a painting for yourself, consider what kind of presence you want it to have in your home. Would you like a clear reminder, or something that can hold a feeling without naming it? If it’s a gift, remember that grief is personal. When possible, ask the person what they would welcome rather than assuming a grief-themed painting will feel right.

3. Look closely at the materials and the way they shape the work

Materials affect how a painting looks and feels. I paint on linen using oil and mixed media, and I incorporate natural materials such as sandstone pigments and tree bark. These elements bring their own textures and histories into the surface.

When you look at a painting, notice how the surface, brushwork, and materials contribute to its atmosphere. In Denial – The Fogged Forest, the forest imagery reflects a period of fog and disorientation after loss. The natural setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s part of how the feeling comes through.

If you’re considering an original, it’s also reasonable to ask about its materials, dimensions, and care. You can explore more work on my artwork page or originals page.

4. Think about where, and how often, you want to see it

A painting’s place in your home can shape your experience of it. You might want it in a room where you can sit with it, or somewhere you pass without having to stop. You might prefer it in a personal space rather than a shared one.

There’s no need to make the decision permanent. You can try a painting in one place, live with it for a while, and move it if your needs change. A work that feels welcome today might feel different during another season of life. That doesn’t lessen its importance or mean you have to respond to it in the same way every time.

5. Let your response change over time

A painting can hold different meanings at different points in your life. It may offer recognition on one day and feel simply like an image you appreciate on another. It can be a reminder, a companion, or something beautiful to look at, without needing to do all of those things at once.

Research into visual-art approaches with bereaved people has reported experiences such as meaning-making and continuing bonds, while finding the evidence on reducing distress to be mixed and limited. I think that distinction matters. A painting can offer a way to reflect or remember, but it can’t promise a particular outcome. It is not a replacement for professional mental-health care.

An invitation to There Will Be Calm Within the Storm

I’d be glad to welcome you to There Will Be Calm Within the Storm: an immersive exhibition and a 6-piece collection exploring grief as a lived, evolving journey. Inspired by the natural world, the paintings reflect emotional landscapes that can follow loss: chaos, stillness, disorientation, and quiet breath.

Artist: Kelly Ann Phipps Date and time: November 27, 2026, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Location: Pacific Arts Market, #100-460 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC

The works in the collection include Barely Hanging On and The Fogged Forest, both shown above. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine and light snacks while exploring the collection. If you’re nearby, you’re warmly invited to spend some time with the paintings.

Choosing at your own pace

When a painting holds grief, the most useful question may be a simple one: Would I like to live with this? Take your time with the answer. You can be drawn to the work for its colour or texture, its connection to a personal story, or both.

I hope the painting you choose, whether it’s one of mine or another artist’s, offers a meaningful point of connection, in whatever way feels right to you.