By Noriko Ostroy
Before a mural is unveiled, or prints hit the tables at art shows, and before the bold, surreal colors of Las Vegas artist Sara Godbout’s pop-art pieces come to life, her two daughters’ handprints find their way onto her work.
“They’ve grown up watching me do this,” Godbout said, “every mural I’ve ever done, they’ve placed their handprints on everything—everything I’ve ever printed they were the first to get, at every event I’ve set up at they’ve been right there.“
Moving out of California in 2017 to start her career as an artist in Nevada, Godbout, otherwise known as her alias “Laaazybonezz,” has been steadily gaining momentum in Vegas’ art scene, first introducing herself to the community doing commissioned work before expanding her business by breaking out her original pieces and participating in her first showcase March 2021, outside Saturation Gallery.
“I got tired of that,” Godbout said about the restrictions that often come with working on commission. “So I was like, I want to see what happens with my original work. So I started to sell that.”
Winning awards for art projects beginning in preschool, Godbout seemed destined to be an artist from an early age. However, it wasn’t until becoming a mom and immersing herself in the Las Vegas Arts District, did she decide to take her passion and talent to the next level. Within the first month of selling her original work, she realized if she stayed consistent with creative endeavors she could balance motherhood with being a full-time artist.
Creating alongside her daughters gave Godbout a new perspective on ways to approach art. Where she once strived for realism like her sister who’s also an artist, she found a less inhibited way to create in the often colorful, imaginative and messy world of kid-art.
“When I started creating art with my kids, especially my oldest daughter, I was like, ‘oh, it doesn’t have to be that [realism art] to be beautiful. It can be free, it can be fun, it could be silly and still be great,’” Godbout said.
Inspired by creatives such as Tim Burton, Lisa Frank and Alex Pardee, Godbout’s usage of vivid colors and lines, often entangled with various elements of artistic mediums to create psychedelic, spooky and playful themes with a punk rock-tinged, define her style of work.
When it comes to her creative process, Godbout embraces spontaneity and intuition. Starting off with a specific concept or intention, her pieces tend to come together organically—sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
“It’s all happy little accidents. Like, every single piece you’ve ever seen of mine has an original intention and then once I’m going, it just kind of falls out of me,” Godbout said, pointing at a piece she made for the Industry Supporting Industry Group last year.
She’s also been a featured artist at First Friday, a monthly event by the First Friday Foundation, a major platform for local creatives to showcase their work.
Another milestone Godbout reached last year was a collaboration on the high-profile LosVGK mural with the Graffiti Park Foundation, located on the side of restaurant Casa Don Juan, in the Arts District. The experience, being only her second mural project, solidified her even more as a fixture in what she calls a very close-knit, collaborative community.
“I don’t think I could’ve done what I’ve done here in Vegas, if I had stayed home [in California],” Godbout said, reflecting on all the opportunities she’s had since moving.
With her passion for art and motherhood as a motivator and muse, Godbout has a slew of projects in the works. She is currently showcasing at Arts after Dark, on Utah Avenue, has a residency at Berlin Bar, is scheduled for a mural project at Gather House on Fremont Street, and is slated to release her first coloring book, “Happy Days,” in July.
