I cocreated this work with countless others, seen and unseen, people whom I now know only as part of my distant past, and people who live very vividly in my present. In profound gratitude, I must name at least a few. For fierceness and guidance of all kinds: Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts. For transforming my strange fleeting vision into a book: Megan Lynch, Helen Atsma, Miriam Parker, Sara Birmingham, Martin Wilson, Sonya Cheuse, Meghan Deans, and the talented staff at Ecco/HarperCollins. For essential writings that helped shape my imaginings: Josef Albers (whose seminal book Interaction of Color is quoted in these pages), Rudolf Arnheim, Anne Truitt, Mark Bray, and Brian Greene. For allowing me into their minds and studios: Franklin Evans, Elizabeth Meyersohn, Sebastiaan Bremer, Margot Glass, Susannah Auferoth. For support and solitude, the generous benefactors of the MacDowell Colony. For sparkling inspiration and endless encouragement: Ann Lewis and Edie Meidav. For early reading, kindness, faith, and love: Deborah Legge Lewis, Kahane Corn Cooperman, Kandy Littrell, Miliann Kang, Mic Farquharson, James Hynes, Mimi Mayer, Alison Smith, Michael Ravitch, Nerissa Nields, Sandra Scofield, the Immergut and Marks families. For all of these things and more, always, John and Joe Marks.