Meet Paige Forbes | Creative

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

Hi Paige, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For ten years I bounced from one job to the next, restaurants, customer service, retail, administration and even corporate. Each job drained me and left me feeling unfulfilled, and every night I would come home and paint to escape and drown out the monotonous experiences of the day. I never lasted more than a year in each job. My life felt pretty empty without art and that’s how I realized I had to make art my life or I would always feel that way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I decided to go back to school for the last time, I promised myself that I would put all of my effort in. I knew if I utilized school, I had a better chance of pursuing a career in art afterwards. Academic learning had always come easily to me, but I lacked a community in art and I knew I had to push myself out of my comfort zone to build a network. In my first semester I tried something new to me and introduced myself personally to every one of my professors and to the gallery director on campus. I was terrified and embarrassed, wondering if I was doing the right thing. But I kept it up every semester and to my surprise, it worked and my network grew. I stayed in touch with the gallery director and she eventually offered me a job. Years later, I felt the reward of putting myself out there. Despite still being introverted and extremely anxious, I continued the pattern in my life after graduation. I took my resume of new experience and false confidence out in my new city and networked until I found another opportunity. Even though I still feel extremely uncomfortable most of the time, I haven’t stopped pushing myself to build new relationships. And to my surprise it keeps working! The biggest lesson I have learned is don’t let one bad interaction deter you from meeting new people, there are so many others left to meet.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s so much to explore in Los Angeles! I would have to start in my favorite place, Hollywood. I love shopping the vintage stores on Melrose, and I always check the newest collections of Doc Martens at Posers. There’s tons of great places to eat in and near Hollywood. Vegan spots have my heart, – Nic’s On Beverly has the best brunch around, Doomie’s has a perfect fried chik’n sandwich, and if you’re seeking a sultry feel Crossroads pasta is to die for. Next I’d check out Santa Monica, the weather can’t be beat. Bergamot Station Arts Center hosts a community of some of the best galleries in Los Angeles, particularly Rose Gallery, Galerie XII and Richard Heller. I always stop by Urth Caffé for some vegan chocolate cake and the best portobello panini. Then I’d go from the westside to the eastside in Pasadena. On the second Sunday of every month the Pasadena Rose Bowl hosts the best swap meet around, just get there before 8am to see the coolest stuff! At night, I love live music. The Peppermint Club in West Hollywood is a unique 60s inspired music lounge with an intimate feel and great lineup, and the uniquely circular Palladium is a bit louder if you like EDM like I do. Above all, the best aspect of Los Angeles is the diversity. There’s an adventure in every neighborhood of this large city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe my success to my mom for supporting me and finding me teachers and classes in my youth. I would like to thank every teacher and professor who believed in me and showed me the magic to art and art history. Thank you for bestowing your knowledge and for showing me your tricks.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdidddyy/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-forbes-287b0b180/