I was inspired to paint this face by my friend, Don Crowe. Don is an artist himself, and has been one of my biggest supporters and has helped me so much by boosting my confidence to keep going and just do what needs to be done. He told me that a portrait doesn't necessarily have to look exactly like the individual you're painting, it just has to be your representation of that person. I thought about that and Don as I painted this painting and even though it doesn't look like Don at all (well, he does have blonde hair), I think of him whenever I look at it.

My friends Reza and Katrina Sadri chose this painting to hang in their Irvine, California home.