

Pat Forbes
6.2K posts

@Power_WithinU
Unleash your spiritual power: Our actions bind us. Embrace love, empathy, and compassion to transform the world and connect deeply with others through art.











I recently entered three paintings into a Juried Art show. One of the three paintings was accepted. I was surprised. It was the one painting I didn't think would be accepted. I assumed it would be my seascape painting of Huntington Beach at dusk, or the Mohave Desert at dawn. The painting selected was my colorful lion portrait,—which is referred to as “Lion on Acid” by my son. To be honest, it bugged me. What bothered me was that the painting chosen was one I did on a whim. The paintings that held deep emotional stories of my life, were rejected. It felt personal. It wasn't personal. My art is not about skill, perfect composition, or correct perspective. It is a visual story of my life written on canvas, with dramatic colors and hidden meaning. It doesn't matter if it was chosen, it only matters that I write my story in my voice. When we commercialize for others, we might look good on the outside. Yet, who we truly are is the hidden gold. It was a good reminder to stay true to myself and not let others' opinions real or imagined change our story.