by Dr. Christy Rodriguez de Conte

From the darkness comes light, and Claire Osborn is there to capture it with her paintbrush. Take in the creativity and artistry that runs through Osborn’s exhibition, “Deep and Wide: A Creation Study,” on display at the Artport Gallery through March 20.

To commit to a daily practice of any kind is to commit to oneself. Whether arriving on your yoga mat or perching in front of a blank canvas, the mindfulness one can obtain from such meditative practices is transformative.

For painter Claire Osborn, establishing a daily practice has given her a profound sense of the joy of creating. Her goal is not necessarily to create something from start to finish within a set timeframe, but instead, to show up and practice.

“My home studio is in the middle of our house, so it’s very easy to access. This means that sometimes my dogs brush their tails through a wet painting or my son draws over a drawing,” Osborn said. “It often involves the whole family, but making art is a daily priority.”

Osborn comes from a long line of artists who encouraged creativity by providing lots of art supplies and insight into using them. She credits her eldest sister for her initial foray into the world of art.

“One of my earliest memories is of the mural my sister and I drew in crayon on the underside of the coffee table. Mom wasn’t as excited about that project,” Osborn said. “She made sure we always had paper to draw on after that!”

Today, she continues to find inspiration from her three sisters and husband, whose artistic talents include writing, acting, music making, and illustrating. She values the work of all kinds of artists and how each can learn from the other.

Osborn carried this collective approach through her artistic studies and into her early professional degree. While earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Arkansas State, she worked with Roger Carlisle, whom Osborn describes as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. His use of brilliant colors in his landscape, to create a striking and dreamlike painting, is a technique passed down to Osborn’s work, even today.

She found discipline in college, then worked as a graphic designer for 15 years, designing home decor for major retailers. Combining both artistic avenues has given her a comprehensive understanding of composition; the need to create under-paintings, take advantage of negative space, and focus more on light and shadow are practices she has carried with her.

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