diff --git a/light9/paint/solve.py b/light9/paint/solve.py
--- a/light9/paint/solve.py
+++ b/light9/paint/solve.py
@@ -1,2 +1,47 @@
-def solve(painting):
-    return 0
+from light9.namespaces import RDF, L9
+from PIL import Image
+import scipy.misc
+import cairo
+
+class Solver(object):
+    def __init__(self, graph):
+        self.graph = graph
+        self.samples = {} # uri: Image array
+        
+    def loadSamples(self):
+        """learn what lights do from images"""
+
+        with self.graph.currentState() as g:
+            for samp in g.subjects(RDF.type, L9['LightSample']):
+                path = 'show/dance2017/cam/test/%s' % g.value(samp, L9['path'])
+                img = Image.open(path)
+                img.thumbnail((100, 100))
+                self.samples[samp] = scipy.misc.fromimage(img, mode='RGB')
+
+    def draw(self, painting, w, h):
+        surface = cairo.ImageSurface(cairo.FORMAT_ARGB32, w, h)
+        ctx = cairo.Context(surface)
+        ctx.move_to(0, 0)
+        ctx.line_to(100,30)
+        
+        ctx.set_source_rgb(0.3, 0.2, 0.5)
+        ctx.set_line_width(20)
+        ctx.stroke()
+        # then blur?
+        surface.write_to_png('/tmp/surf.png')
+                
+    def solve(self, painting):
+        """
+        given strokes of colors on a photo of the stage, figure out the
+        best light settings to match the image
+        """
+        self.draw(painting, 100, 80)
+        return 0
+
+
+    def simulationLayers(self, settings):
+        """
+        how should a simulation preview approximate the light settings
+        (device attribute values) by combining photos we have?
+        """
+