Soren Patchell

I was inspired to paint the underwater painting because I find solace in the ocean. Being fully submerged in saltwater and feeling the energy of the waves passing overhead is the best feeling. The concept that you can be happy and hopeful in any circumstance also inspired me. I titled this painting, “light reaches the depths” to convey that there will be tender mercies in your life, no matter what you are going through, just like how light rays can extend down into the depths of the ocean.

The notion of refusing to define oneself by piecing together the opinions of others was my inspiration for my second painting. The subject in this painting is in the action of turning her back on the world’s perception of her (represented by the newspaper scrapings) and daring to achieve individualism with a determined mindset.