We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hailey Sullivan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hailey below.

Hi Hailey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

This year, 2023. I got a forwarded email from my sales representative about a local exhibition. The deadline for submissions was a little over a week away but luckily had a smaller drawing I could use. To have better understanding, I’ll go back in time of why it worked out the way out did.

The pencil drawing I mentioned was a small – 5inch by 7inch – but detailed image of a horse galloping. Something that was rather simple but elegant to the eye. My sales representative, Gabrielle, asked me to have it drawn up for another project we working on. To my surprise, I would be able to recycle that drawing for multiple pieces. I came from being self taught, but had tunnel vision on the potential of what I could create with my art. So because I had this piece finished, and with Gabrielle’s artistic experience, she told me I could have it printed and add other medias to it.

We decided to have my horse drawing printed on a large white 30inch by 30inch canvas. Gabrielle and I hold very different styles, to where she awakened the directions of where this piece could go. The next step was to add movement and color. With the combination of my traditional black/grey realism and her suggestion of abstract, expressive methods, came to be a beautiful experience. It became more than a piece of art to me after that point. I drove 20 minutes to her studio a couple times a week to work. First I had to cover just the horse with masking tape so that when I splattered paint, you would be able to see the sketch. The process of taping alone took a good 10 minutes. This is where the realization came that I was getting out of my comfort box. I was no longer doing what I thought I knew. The next step of splattering paint on a perfectly white piece of canvas was next. This part was the most uncomfortable for me. Not that I have never done it before, but I’m the type of artist that favors realism, which requires the upmost control and obedience in your hand. I had to learn to let go (quite literally) and let the paint do its work. I spattered colors like neon pink, orange, red, teal, and gold.

Basically, this drawing became so much more than just a submission. I learned the importance of getting out of routine, comfort, appreciation what it is I actually do as an artist. The time it took just for prep and dry time for the paint humbled me very quick. For the longest time, I thought that if I wanted to have a larger than life drawing, I would have to draw it by hand in that size and that would take me months. There is so much beauty in community and that you don’t have to be alone. I would have never known this if I didn’t take the risk of having Gabrielle represent me and be receptive of knowledge.

Hailey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For as long as I can remember, drawing has always been a part of me, my safe space. I recall being told I would be found asleep with a crayon in my hand as a kid. Along with that, my passion for domestic animals, especially horses, nurtured as I grew older. Both have been in my life one way or another and that is where I get a lot of my inspiration from. Although the Equine is my forte, my capability is not hindered for other animals. These include Canines, Felines, and more.

My goal is to recreate the horses’ power and feeling of euphoric emotion you get from their presence realistically as possible. I specialize in creating custom graphite pencil drawings of one’s beloved animal to cherish forever.

When people first meet me, I get asked often if I went to school for my ability. As a former Wisconsinite, I underwent my Freshman year at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2015, but after a couple of months, I felt my creative growth was not progressing in an academic arena. I am now 26 and since 2017, I stepped away from higher education and relocated to San Diego, California for further inspiration.

It sounds cliche but I packed up my car to make the move just from a gut feeling I had. I feel lucky to have the advantage of being gifted but I’ve been growing my business on my own since the beginning. I’ve practiced trial and error with posting on social media, reaching out to brands for interviews, companies whom I use their products. This whole experience has been simply learning on my own time. This year I’ve really tapped in to my inner self and why I operate the way that I do. I’ve made it a non negotiable to be forgiving of myself when the waves of negativity come within business. The most rewarding part has been sharing my journey because no ones is the same.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The past year I’ve been doing a lot of internal shadow work. As a lot of artists can relate, the struggle of comparison and feeling of not doing enough has taken a toll to the point where I will no longer tolerate it. I took action by beginning my journey of sobriety as of January 1st 2023. I’ve struggled with drinking over the years and although I’ve accomplished movement in my artistic career, I’ve felt the act of drinking got in the way. I would run myself within the cycle of self sabotage and eventually I think it just clicked with me that that way of life did not give my life value. Ever since I chose to choose my discipline over temporary relief, I know that I have been able to take action to opportunities that were presented to me. I believe that there is opportunity everywhere, but because I gave myself clarity, I could follow through with them.

Now I like to portray these experiences through social media because I think it is important that artists are human and can offer relatability. It’s the storytelling of struggles that are just as important as the wins for potential clients. yearlike to incorporate the journey of the spirit and present news on the online space.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Reese Hilburn and her podcast mind of reese

I worked for Reese as one of her assistants during the summer of 2022. I had admired her for her talent and success as a tattoo artist but then I found out about her podcast on spiritual healing and energetic healing in business. Completely elevated the way I handle myself within those portals as well as my personal life.

Tory Dunlap’s Financial Feminist podcast

I’ve had this feeling that if I envision the kind of money I know and would like to make from my art, I must act like I already have it. I didn’t even know everyone has a relationship with money and she offers endless hours of content to save, manage, and overall boost your confidence within yourself as an investor.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.hmsfineart.com
• Instagram: @hailey_sullivan_art
• Facebook: @hmsfineart