"Erin & Craig." Acrylic on wood, 36" x 48".

A woman named Erin commissioned this painting as a Christmas present for her and her husband. She invited me into her home and showed me the spot where it would hang. She had a dark windowless corner over her fireplace. I was talking to her for the first time and found her to be sunny, positive and reaching for the sun. So I extrapolated how her and her husband must tower over their two small children, aged 3 and 1. I placed their reaching growing yellow heads against the watery blue sky that is Portland. Erin said she liked the picture. I was glad.

"The Man Behind the Bindi."

Watercolor over ink on paper, 12" x 9".

I call the Third Eye the Bindi.

This is a portrait of my friend Tony, who is blind, but who's third eye is incredibly insightful.

I actually saw it beaming from his forehead.

Wikipedia says: "The area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the sixth chakra, ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom". According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration."

Some sources say that in the ancient traditions of India and Nepal, only women can wear the bindi. I bend traditions.