My conversation with Ayla was a first in two ways. In a rare twist, Ayla unexpectedly turned the tables on me. She was the first to ask more questions of me than I of her... and it was lovely. To set the tone, as another first, we both tuned into a station featuring her favorite musician, Sade. This was a really powerful way to drive the ebbs and flows of the painting. I found myself in a wonderful flow state, drawing inspiration far beyond the words spoken. Typically guarded knowledge was shared, both of love and heartbreak. This was truly a discussion held without borders or boundaries and the completed piece benefitted greatly as a result.