Page 178 - July ONLINE VERSION

room. I have started creating again where
By Hailey Osborne
ABIDING ART
The light of creativity may dim, but never extinguish.
Hailey Osborne shares her passion for art with ZGP Magazine
and her love for the everlasting impact art can create.
As far back as I can remember, I've drawn,
created, stitched, painted, or hammered
out something beautiful (to me) with what
was available to me. My early childhood
was problematic, uncertain, and with
some very challenging memories. I think
that's when my imagination became my
go-to, my safe place in a chaotic world.
During this time of
uncertainty, I start-
ed to draw my dream
world, make clothes for
my stuffed bear from
available materials.
We did not have a lot
growing up, so I had to
be ingenious with the
materials at hand. My hopes for a Barbie
never came to fruition, so my bears would
have to do.
I remember spending hours and hours
designing ball gowns and wedding dress-
es. My friends would book me in advance
- way in advance as I was only six at the
time - to design their gowns. While, I was
very young at the time, in my head, the
world was my oyster. I was going to create
beautiful things and make lots of money.
Life became stable around six, with my
father gaining custody of myself, and two
brothers. I remember feeling relieved even
though I didn't understand what that truly
meant. I just knew the chaos was gone. I
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maintained my creative outlet and contin-
ued to illustrate my dream world.
I have always been drawn to color. I've
been to a number of museums in several
countries, and while I can love and ap-
preciate the work and beauty of the vast
landscapes and portraits, color was where
my heart lay. Looking for
the image that seemed
incomprehensible, I liked
to stand for hours and try
to see what the artist was
trying to say.
During Art College, self-
doubt started creeping
in, and I realized passion
would only get me so far but did I pos-
sess any real talent? It didn't help that the
principal of our Art School took a more
dictatorial, subjective approach to the
student's artwork, rather than an open-
mind, objective one. I truly believe art is
free-spirited but, he thought he had the
answers, and debate wasn't an option. This
difference of opinion created a frustrating
barrier for me. For a while, I did not create
much art, and I was terribly unhappy.
Later, I went back to school to study sil-
versmithing and thrived. My artistic ten-
dencies always leaned more towards prac-
tical as opposed to just decorative, though
I love both. Silversmithing was similar to
my early years of designing dresses, in that
ZGP Magazine
The Earth
without
art
is just,
Eh.
- Demetri Martin
I was creating something from nothing,
with merely sheet metal, and wire. I was
working with blowtorches, metal working
tools, pliers, hammers, you name it. Most
days, I was covered in polishing dust and
looking like I'd descended into coal mines
and emerging with a piece of jewelry. I
was creating jewelry that I could wear and
that others would pay me to own. I found
my thing!!
While living my dream, tragedy struck,
so significantly painful that I hope never
to endure anything like it again. At that
moment and for nearly two years, I put
down my tools and didn't touch anything
in my workshop. Later, when I packed up
everything, there was a half-finished piece
on the bench pin. I never thought I would
create anything ever again.
While the world was dark from the ravag-
es of COVID, a new light of creativity was
emerging within me. My husband and fa-
ther to my son and daughter, and I moved
into a new home with walls as beautiful as
any blank canvas. The creative energy is
alive as I see large murals in the children's
room or a fluid art painting in the living
ZGP Magazine www.zoegracepublishing.com
it all began, in my imagination. I can see
beautifully crafted interior designs for
each room, and hand-painted sign work,
perhaps working my way back to my love
for sheet metal and wires.
Life is about the good we leave behind—
my art and my children, markers that I
existed and was an example of love and
kindness. When I'm no longer here,
hopefully, my presence meant something
and that I mattered to people that I loved.
When memories are all you have, the mo-
mentoes they left behind - marks on paper,
pictures they drew - means everything to
me now and brings me peace.
Hailey Osborne is
originally from England.
She has a passion for
creating beautiful jewerlry
and colorful artwork.
Osborne is a kid mum,
pitbull mum, a wife, and a
artist and interior
designer.
Brit
Vintage
Designs
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