EXAMPLE PAGES A ROOM WITH A VIEW With this painting, I have indulged myself in a nostalgic and philosophic reverie. In the background is Moscow city life today seen through a window of my home. In the foreground is a bust of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti atop a stack of well-thumbed ancient tomes. It seems impossible to realize that she lived over 3,000 years ago! This ageless symbol of beauty is almost brought back to life in the light of a single candle, and her magical allure is emphasized by its mysterious glow. A plain antique vase holds sheaves of wheat and dried twigs. They appear both dead and alive, as if to query us, "What is death, and what is life?" Other aging artifacts include family pictures and stacks of tattered letters, blending our family heritage with the history of the world. These are the treasured roots of our past, informing us who we are and what we might be. Beauty and art are immortal, and will be with us always as our legacy to future generations. SUMMER REFLECTIONS During Amsterdam's summer, I love to paint this beautiful city because its charming museums and architecture conquered my soul. It rains there in all seasons, washing the streets and buildings and brightening the colors. The bicycles wait patiently at curbside for their riders to return, even in the rain!