This diptych was inspired by my recent trip to Chefchaouen, Morocco known as the “Blue City," and depicts an elder figure in traditional clothing at the threshold of an archway. These small works capture the vibrant and almost hypnotic blue colors the city is known for, the rich textures and built-up layers of peeling paint on the buildings, and unique energy of this area, captured as jewel-like moments of beauty in this pair of paintings. I decided to paint them as 5" x 7" panels not only for the challenge of painting small, but to create an almost postcard-like souvenir feel ...and what I loved most was how they complimented each other so well. In one, the figure stands in meditative stillness; in the other, he turns back with a quiet gaze. I feel that at a symbolic level, the pair reflects prayer and answer... the inward journey and the outward return.