The inspiration for Finwe is my middle child Nicholas...who prefers to be called Nick. Nick, from the moment he was born, ...(and quite honestly, since before he was born)... has always been a rascally character! I often use photographs for references in painting. Below are two photos I used to create Finwe...which, by the way, is the name "Nick" in the language Elvish. Nick at age 4, and a tree trunk from an ancient forest in the backyard where we vacation in Lake Tahoe .....