Painting expressive portraits brings me deep satisfaction, creating the life story of my muse as they take shape on my easel. After seeing a striking photograph of a seafarer, I knew he would be a perfect subject. He did not disappoint. As I searched for the right color palette to use, I was inspired by The Great Wave, a famous woodblock print by Japanese artist Hokusai. Turning his beard into a wave was a big technical challenge for me, but I think it was worth the effort!