Diane Tuckman and Cecile Spiegel fled religious persecution with WWII conflicts at their heels. Separately, from Egypt and from Germany, each leaped continents, cultures, and languages as a refugee before finding a new home in the United States. Hiding in plain sight in France, Cecile eluded capture by the Nazis, but lost many dear to her. Diane came of age there, far from the Mediterranean idyll of her childhood in Egypt. They relied on family, faith, and resilience to overcome the otherness felt by displaced peoples. As they dictated their memoirs to one another, Diane and Cecile discovered the anatomy of their friendship in their parallel odysseys and the optimism of 20th-century American womanhood.

Painting on silk, in its millennia-old traditional form and also in contemporary form, has become increasingly popular. With this guide, be inspired by the nearly 500 images, the visual demos, and the aspects not covered in other books. Starting with the basic skills and techniques, here is guidance on every element of the art, including setting up your studio space, painting on preconstructed clothing, and framing your art. Most importantly, enjoy learning unusual, innovative frames of mind to intensify your creative freedom, bringing new energy to your work. A special chapter, "Color: The Workshop Experience," offers exercises for harnessing the variety of silk dye hues. Complex layered looks, plein air painting and landscapes, critiquing, seeking authenticity, intuitive improvisation, and much more are included. The authors, founders of Silk Painters International, give thorough guidance on how to push yourself out of your comfort zone to evoke emotions in your art.

Diane Tuckman and Cecile Spiegel fled religious persecution with WWII conflicts at their heels. Separately, from Egypt and from Germany, each leaped continents, cultures, and languages as a refugee before finding a new home in the United States. Hiding in plain sight in France, Cecile eluded capture by the Nazis, but lost many dear to her. Diane came of age there, far from the Mediterranean idyll of her childhood in Egypt. They relied on family, faith, and resilience to overcome the otherness felt by displaced peoples. As they dictated their memoirs to one another, Diane and Cecile discovered the anatomy of their friendship in their parallel odysseys and the optimism of 20th-century American womanhood.