For many people, “follow your heart” is a naively optimistic slogan on a motivational poster. For artist Mian Situ, it’s a proven life philosophy.

“I have a daughter,” he says. “She’s in college, and she always talks with me about what she’s going to do. She’s in her junior year, and she still doesn’t know what she’s going to do. Every time she asks for my opinion, I tell her, ‘I can’t tell you what to do; you have to do what you like. Other people will tell you what has good earning potential, what will make you lots of money, what will get you a job. But you have to follow your heart. If you follow your heart, if you have a passion for what you’re doing, you’ll find success.’”

Situ, who followed his heart from China to Canada to the United States in order to pursue his passion for art, knows whereof he speaks. He has seen both lean times and great success, and he has experienced discouragement and heartbreak, as well as triumph on the journey.

Mian Situ (California)

Fetching Water
Oil
34″x30″
“Moving westward on the Oregon Trail, the pioneer women would see and experience hardship like none they had ever imagined. They would also find out how strong they could truly be.”

Mian Situ (California)

Firewood Gang
Oil
32″x45″
“Years ago, when I visited the remote area in Yunnan Province, I came upon a group of children carrying firewood on their way to school. There, during their school days, the children, whose homes are far away, sometimes have to cook their own meals in school. They usually bring with them to school the firewood and vegetables, enough for a week. Collecting firewood is part of their routine at home, as well as other chores for the families.”