Just wanted to share some info and pictures on Bursa, with it’s snow-capped mountains, rolling hills, and deep-rooted sense of history, the city casts a quiet spell on any visitor. Archaeological evidence traces human presence here as far back as 2700 BC, and Bursa has also played host to numerous civilizations over the centuries.


 One of the most pivotal moments in Bursa’s history came with the Ottoman conquest, which followed a 23-year siege. Remarkably, the city was surrendered peacefully by its governor on the condition that his people be granted safe passage to Constantinople—an agreement honored by the Ottomans. With Bursa now under their rule, the Ottomans began shaping the city into a cultural and spiritual center. One of the first grand gestures was the construction of the Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque), built between 1396 and 1399 in just three years. Often called the “Hagia Sophia of Bursa,” the mosque boasts 21 domes and two impressive minarets, and is a masterpiece of early Ottoman architecture.

Just a short walk from the Ulu Cami are the tombs of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire. Also nearby is the famous Green Mosque and Green Tomb, which were truly impressive with their intricate tilework. The Green Tomb, in particular, was completed just 40 days before the Sultan’s passing—an incredible feat of precision and dedication.

As a history enthusiast, I found every corner of Bursa rich with stories. The longer I stayed, the more the city grew on me. Its ancient bazaars are full of character, the locals are warm and welcoming, and the the desserts here deserves its own pilgrimage...For I may have to visit the dentist after all the baklavas!

Stay tuned for the ancient city of Ephesus and Athens.

After an nine-hour flight ahead of New Jersey time, I landed in Istanbul, Turkey — a city often described as the heart of the world, and it’s easy to see why. Once I adjusted to the time difference, I began to explore, and words truly fall short of capturing the beauty and complexity of this place.

Istanbul is a city that straddles two continents — European on one side and Asian on the other — and the richness of that dual identity is felt everywhere. Its architecture is a living work of art, layered with the histories of the Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and modern-day Turkey. The presence of these civilizations is not just preserved but vibrantly alive in the city’s atmosphere.

Out of all my travels, I can honestly say Turkey is one of the safest and cleanest countries I’ve visited. The people are humble, kind, and welcoming, and getting around is incredibly easy thanks to an efficient network of metros, buses, and ferries — all of which are impressively clean. It's also surprisingly affordable: a ferry ride costs just 27 Turkish Liras (around 50 cents), and a scenic 75-minute boat tour was only about 200 Liras (roughly $5). An absolute steal! Turkey also stirred memories of my birthplace, Marrakech, Morocco. There’s a familiar energy and warmth here, but on a much grander scale.
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I’ve only scratched the surface of what Istanbul has to offer, but soon I’ll be heading south to Bursa, the first Ottoman capital. From there, I plan to explore the ancient cities of Kuşadası and Ephesus, followed by the Turkish Riviera — before finally crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Athens, the birthplace of democracy and the foundation of the Western world.

A couple of weeks ago, my older sister brought home some orchids and placed them on the kitchen table. At first, I glanced at them and thought, “Hmm, interesting shape.” But as the days passed and I kept walking by, curiosity started to kick in—and before I knew it, my pencil was wandering across the paper.

Orchids have such a geometric, symmetrical structure—unlike most flowers I’ve seen. Each petal ends in a sharp point, and at the center, the column stands upright, housing the reproductive organs: the anther and stigma. There’s something quietly commanding about their form. The word orchid comes from the Greek órchis, meaning “testicle”—a reference to the shape of the plant’s tubers. There are also around 30,000 known species of orchids, making them one of the largest flowering plant families. And here’s another fun fact: real vanilla flavoring comes from the pods of the vanilla orchid, a species that thrives in warm, tropical climates.

I’ve always loved the science behind things—especially in nature. A few of my favorite artists often say, “Everything you need is in nature,” and I couldn’t agree more. True inspiration starts there, especially when creating from both life and imagination.

Below are images of the studies along with some quick woodwork. Holler for any questions!

It’s no surprise that April can be a bit soggy and cloudy. Just a week ago, we had the first day of spring—warm temperatures, sunshine all day—it really felt great. But now, the rain is rolling in, with barely any sun in sight. As the saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers," so if you’re like me and can’t wait for those warm, sunny days, just be patient and let nature do its thing!

Below are some images of quick 1- to 2-hour alla prima paintings I worked on this past week. Once they’re all dry, I’ll make some frames, and hopefully they’ll find a new home.

As always, thanks for reading and keep creating!

It’s been a while since I last wrote on here, and I feel an obligation to keep up with my website and maintain this blog. It’s the least I can do, considering I can never get a grip with social media or maintain a presence on there.. Honestly, I just want to paint and do my work! Haha

Today I drove to Red Bank, NJ. With no traffic, I got there in about 45 minutes to drop off my painting for the upcoming Still Life exhibit at the Oyster Point Gallery. The Town of Red Bank has great energy and vibe to it—being so close to the water gives the town a wonderful atmosphere, and If I lived a little closer, I’d definitely be doing some plein-air painting over there! The architecture of the Oyster Point Hotel was impressive to see in person, and everyone’s work looked fantastic as well.

Back in my studio, I’ve been busy working on a large narrative figurative piece of Icarus (an homage to the Michelangelo work) I’m really enjoying working on the torso and all the feathers on the wings. The idea of flight and the story of Icarus have always inspired me. At first, I sketched Icarus alongside his father, Daedalus, but I ultimately felt that Icarus alone was poetic enough. The  drawing is about 3ft x 5ft and only took a couple of days to complete. For these large preliminary drawings, I tend to stick to soft vine charcoal, red and white chalk, and sanguine, which give a soft, lively flow to the composition. The underpainting is nearly finished, and I’m moving on to the dead-color phase. Once this dries, I’ll do one last round of color, and the painting will be complete. This technique closely follows that of Jacques-Louis David, whose early works are fascinating to study.

Alongside painting, I’ve also been carving a small stone sculpture and working on some jewelry pieces. I find that sculpture complements my paintings and drawings in a unique way and keeps my thoughts fresh.  I’ll try to update my website with more of my work (I have waayyy to many pieces that still need to be photographed!)

Be sure to keep an eye on my archive/shop page, as I’ll be adding more available works for sale. As always, thank you for reading and for your support!

I'm happy to share that one of my still life painting, Towards the Infinite, will be showing at The Oyster Point Walls in Red Bank, NJ! The exhibition is curated by Ellen Martin—an artist, artist advocate, and independent curator who organizes shows for the Oyster Point Gallery. Ten artists will be featured, and I’m excited to see all the works in person and connect with fellow creatives. The show opens on Friday, April 11, 2025, and is free to the public.

I always encourage people to experience art in person—no photo can truly capture the essence of a painting or sculpture. Seeing a piece up close allows you to feel its presence and connect with the artist’s vision on a deeper level.

Hope you can make it—I look forward to seeing you there!

I’ve always worked with different materials for my sculpture work, primarily clay. Clay offers a lot of freedom since you can either add or subtract material to achieve the final form. It gives you room to breathe and fix mistakes along the way. 

A couple of years ago, I started sculpting with stone—or more precisely, carving Italian marble. Working with stone is a thinking man game because there’s absolutely no room for error. For example, if you’re carving a nose and strike the hammer too hard, than that nose is gone, and you have no choice but to cut deeper into the stone, moving everything back to make space for a new nose. This is the subtractive process—there’s no adding stone back once it’s removed, It’s simply carve, carve, carve until you reveal the form. As Michelangelo famously said, “Free the form from the stone.”

The process itself is labor-intensive but quite magical. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing the form slowly emerge and watching the finished piece take shape. like stone, wood carving requires the same careful approach as stone. You have to remove the unwanted material to reveal the form, and if you make a mistake, there’s often little you can do to fix it. But with time and experience, you develop a sense of what works, and the process starts to flow. Eventually, you’re fully in control, shaping exactly what you want while removing everything unnecessary.

I consider myself fortunate to be a teacher assistant to Randolphlee McIver, one of the best, if not the best, figurative artists today. His knowledge and expertise in anatomy is nothing short of spectacular. Based on Randy's notes and sketches, I composed my own replica of the pelvis, all based on his calculations. Randy set up 6 points on the pelvis:

1-Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS or front point)
2-Wide point
3-High point
4-Reenting point
5-Posterior superior iliac spine 
6-Inferior superior iliac spine 

Displayed below are step-by-step visuals of the pelvis. The initial portrayal showcases a simple, symmetric block, capturing the essence of the pelvis's form. The six points mentioned earlier are visibly marked on the clay, facilitating precise measurements for accuracy. With each measurement and meticulous removal of clay, the intricate details of the pelvis gradually unfold. The medium used for this is oil-based clay, known for its non-drying properties compared to standard clay.
Along with the pelvis sculpture is a handy ink sketch to tie everything together.
Thank you for reading!

I'm always on the lookout for new frames, frame sales, and even antique frames at thrift stores. However, I soon realized that most of the frames I found weren't what I was really looking for. They lacked the intricate details and carvings that I desired. As someone who enjoys watching woodworking videos, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create my own frame.
To begin I purchased essential tools such as gouges, chisels, and a good hand saw. For the wood itself, I opted for Australian Pine, a soft wood that is ideal for beginners.
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With precise 45-degree cuts and careful assembly, I constructed the frame. Next, I sketched a floral pattern onto the wood and began carving away. Initially, achieving a clear outline of the pattern proved challenging, but I discovered that using a V-gouge greatly simplified the process. From there, it was a matter of meticulously carving out the negative space and refining and reshaping the intricate patterns. As I continued, I noticed that not only did the process become easier, but I also became faster and more proficient.