The project began with eight identical panels, a gallon of gesso, a packet of charcoal, some graphite sticks, a digital camera with tripod of time lapse shutter control, the need to find the center (of myself, of the picture), and the following quote:

"When you start working, everybody is in your studio-the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas-all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you're lucky, even you leave."
-John Cage