Joe Sorren. My professor in college introduced me to Joe Sorren's work and I've loved his work since then! He actually knew him in college and emailed him when I used him for inspiration for my final piece of the semester (I did a life size version of the drummer, I'll have to find pics from way back in the day)! Joe has an amazing way of capturing someone's personality through their eyes yet makes it dream like. And the color is absolutely amazing, so rich but subtle and not overpowering. I aspire to be a free as him when it comes to objects to paint. I ALWAYS want my piece to look like the actual subject and his work inspires me to think differently. Your art doesn't need to look exactly like your subject, but needs to present them in someway. LOVE HIS WORK!