I Sold a Painting… and Then It Was Sent Back

Hey, hello there, friend!

There’s nothing like the feeling of waking up to a surprise sale. Especially when it happens through a platform filled with thousands - millions - of incredible artists from around the world. It makes you pause and think, Wow, someone chose my art. Out of everyone—they picked me.

That’s exactly what happened a few months ago. One of my favorite paintings sold through an online art platform I’ve had great experiences with before. I was over the moon! I carefully packaged it, shipped it off to San Francisco, and celebrated that little spark of magic that comes when your work finds a new home.

But during my trip to Brazil, I received an unexpected email: The painting was on its way back.

I won’t lie - at first, I was shocked. In nearly a decade as a professional artist, I’d never experienced a return like this. It felt strange. Foreign. Like something had gone… off.

But instead of spiraling or taking it personally, I paused. I sat with it. And then I did something that made all the difference - I asked.

I reached out to the art platform and simply asked:“What happened, and how can I improve next time?” Their response was so validating. The buyer genuinely loved the painting, but they had also ordered a few options for an interior design project. In the end, the designer made the final call—and my piece didn’t quite fit their vision.

That’s it. No drama. No rejection. Just a practical design decision.

And honestly? That gave me so much peace. It reminded me that once my work leaves the studio, it begins its own journey. Sometimes that journey leads to a new forever home. Sometimes, like in this case, it makes a quick round trip.

But what matters most is how I feel about it—and I still love this piece with my whole heart.

If anything, this experience reaffirmed something I already believe deeply: Art is energy. And energy always finds its match.

So now this painting is back in my arms (hanging in my room). And maybe it just wasn’t meant to be there. Maybe it’s waiting for the right soul, the right wall, the right moment.

And I trust that when the time comes, it will align again - just like it always does.

Let me tell you why.

I painted this piece - "Hermosa Pride" - in July 2021, inspired by one of my most iconic works: the one that changed the course of my career when it was featured on the cover of a local newspaper. This painting holds that same spark and energy - but with its own vibrant identity. The hues are bolder, the composition more evolved, and it features something truly special: the Pride Lifeguard Tower.

The most iconic Drica's work: the one that changed the course of my career ;)

If you know Hermosa Beach, you know this tower.

The 13th Street Lifeguard Tower was painted in rainbow colors in June 2021 to honor Pride Month. The gesture came in response to the burning of a similar rainbow-painted tower in Long Beach earlier that year, a heartbreaking act that stirred a powerful wave of solidarity throughout the community.

Drica Lobo | 'Hermosa Pride' | Acrylic on Canvas | 24" x 24" | Signed July 2021

The Hermosa Pride tower was initially meant to be temporary. At the end of summer, it was scheduled to be repainted its standard blue color. But something beautiful happened. The community showed up, voices were raised, and the message was clear: this tower matters. It became more than a visual symbol - it became a landmark of love, inclusion, and resilience. By September 2021, the rainbow-painted tower became a permanent structure on Hermosa Beach.

Painting this moment into my work felt like an offering. A way to honor my called home, and a local icon that reminds us to stand tall in who we are. So when Hermosa Pride returned to me, it didn't feel like rejection. It felt like a full circle.

Maybe its journey isn't over yet. It could be meant to come back so I could share the story with you.

Now, it's here - recalibrated with love and ready to be claimed.

If you feel something stirring in your heart when you see this piece, maybe it's because it's meant to live with you.

🖼️ Hermosa Pride

 Acrylic on Canvas | 24" x 24" | Signed July 2021

 Inspired by the Hermosa Beach Pride Lifeguard Tower

💌 I'm infusing it with fresh energy, love, and intention. If it calls to you, let's connect.

This painting is available and ready to find its true home.

👉 Collect 'Hermosa Pride' HERE

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Color Your Life!

Drica