Meet DeLoné Osby | Artist/Healer

We had the good fortune of connecting with DeLoné Osby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DeLoné, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I actually didn’t pursue it at first. I never went into creating art as a way to make money. I didn’t even want to show it at first. It was a tool to help me heal. It wasn’t until MUCH later when I realized other people connected to my work. Then people would ask to buy something I created. That blew my mind. So I sold a bit here and there. Then when the pandemic hit, I found myself jobless. There were a lot of feelings last year that I put to paper and canvas and wood, and it resonated with others in a huge way. And for the first time in my life, I realized I could actually do something I truly loved for a living AND help people.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The main focus of my art is centered around healing. There is a message in every piece. I have a very unique creation process because I am very spiritual and truly believe my ancestors speak to me. I would say 90% of my work is based on a dream I had where there is a message or meaning behind it. It started as a way to heal from a miscarriage, and from there I used it to heal some of my childhood trauma and the generational trauma in my family. I feel like when I started focusing on that healing, that’s when my work truly blossomed. The art came easy to me but learning how to put myself out there and dealing with impostor syndrome was really hard. I still have times where I wonder if I’m good enough, or I compare myself to someone else. Learning to acknowledge that feeling, but then see it for what it is, has always been difficult. The biggest thing I’ve learned is I am not supposed to create like this person or that person. I create like me. I won’t be for everyone. My art is not pop art and that’s okay. Followers and likes really aren’t the goal. My goal is to connect with the people who do need my art so they don’t feel alone. I just want people to be inspired by my story through my work. I should be a statistic. I should not even be here, but something kept me here. I have a bigger purpose for being here outside of the trauma I endured. I wish I could go back and tell 10 year old me what our life is like now. That all that doodling she did to escape turned into something beautiful. I want her to see that THIS is what trauma can look like. Since I can’t go back in time, I hope my art and my story reaches someone who needs to see it does get better. So much better.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If we are in DFW and the pandemic was over, I would HAVE to go to Six Flags. I know that sounds funny, but I’m still that little girl who wants to ride all the roller coasters over and over. As far as food, I’m vegan so I would probably just end up cooking for us. I love cooking. I feel like it is another form of art. I do also love the Dallas Aquarium. I think I was a mermaid in a past life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a HUGE shoutout to David Russell aka Daaru and Polis Creative. When I first really started to show my art here in Austin, he gave me a chance. He invited me to show my work during East Austin Studio Tour, and invited me to live paint at an event. If it wasn’t for the create nights he curated, I wouldn’t have met the people I have who have been instrumental in me being the artist I am today.

Website: www.paintbydelone.com

Instagram: @pain_t.by.delone