Although not a “people person,” I have always been drawn to portraiture. I am fascinated by the ways artists choose to represent their subjects’ unique qualities and how they pick both obvious and subtle techniques to best exhibit those qualities. In Nicholas’s portrait, I wanted to reflect the hard and soft dichotomy that I see in his personality. I painted an expression that may seem gruff initially, like he does when you meet him, but is full of concern and deep feeling. — Dana Corbo