Atlas Cultural Foundation

My time in Zawiya Ahansal, Morocco, reshaped the way I think about art, community, and education. In partnership with the Atlas Cultural Foundation, I worked alongside local residents by teaching art classes, learning traditional stone masonry while helping build a community center, planting crops that support local agriculture, and exploring the surrounding landscape through plein air painting. Since then, I’ve developed my own art curriculum to share with the community.

Group of children and a woman in a classroom holding up drawings of rainbows.

Teaching Through Art

People sitting and relaxing inside a natural rock formation or cave with large openings, overlooking a desert landscape under a clear blue sky.

Plein Air Studies & Textiles

Sustainable Agriculture

Architecture & Traditional Masonry

The Atlas Cultural Foundation serves remote mountain communities where access to educational and creative opportunities can be limited by geography and available resources. My experiences there inspired an ongoing commitment to creating sustainable educational tools that continue to grow beyond my time in the High Atlas Mountains.

More about the Atlas Cultural Foundation

Teaching Through Art

In partnership with the Atlas Cultural Foundation, I developed a modular visual arts curriculum for youth in remote communities of the High Atlas Mountains, where formal visual arts instruction is often unavailable. The idea grew directly from my experience teaching art classes with local children and seeing how art could bridge language and cultural differences while fostering creativity, confidence, and connection.

Designed to extend that community experience into a sustainable resource, the curriculum combines lesson guides, instructional videos, and classroom supply kits. Modules include sketchbook making, observational drawing, oil pastel still life, and air-dry clay sculpture.

Learn more

Art Curriculum Modules

Pencil Sketch

Develop observational drawing skills by learning how to draw an animal using simple shapes, proportion, shading, and texture.

English
Still Life

Explore color, value, and form by creating a vibrant still life using layering and blending techniques with oil pastels.

English
Clay Sculpture

Sculpt a three-dimensional artwork from air-dry clay before painting the finished piece to explore form, texture, and surface design.

English
Make a Sketchbook

Create and paint a personalized sketchbook while learning the fundamentals of color, composition, and creative expression.

English

Download Art Curriculum

Person with a backpack walking into a room with open doors and a wall decorated with a tree and framed picture inside.

A person with curly hair, earrings, and a dark jacket appears to be painting or writing on a piece of paper or canvas on a table, with their head tilted down.

A woman and a man are standing at a table with canned goods in a classroom with yellow walls decorated with educational and cartoon characters, and several children are seated at tables watching them.

People standing in line inside a building near a staircase with a green door frame and a decorative wall with a flower and 'WELCOME' sign.

Inside a room with yellow walls and fluorescent lighting, children are sitting at long tables while adults stand at a table near the door, which is green. The adults are preparing or distributing items, with various supplies and a makeup palette on t

A classroom room filled with a group of children and several adults. There are tables, some with art supplies and books, and colorful wall decorations including a bear and a cloud with words. The room has yellow walls, green window frames, and brown

A young person with a plaid cap holding a water bottle, standing near a table with painting supplies, including watercolor paints, brushes, and a sketchbook, in a colorful indoor setting with children seated in the background.

A classroom scene with children seated at tables, some women and a man standing at the front, a blackboard with writing, colorful wall decorations, and a partially open door.

A young girl with brown hair and a teal shirt is sitting at a table, smiling at the camera. There are colorful stacking cups, food, and painting supplies on the table. In the background, two women are standing, one wearing a plaid cap and black shirt

A classroom with children sitting around a table, listening to an adult standing and talking. The classroom has colorful wall decorations, including a teddy bear and balloons with the word "Hello." The adults are engaging with the children, who appea

Children sitting around a table in a classroom, some looking at the camera, with two adults standing and talking to them. The classroom has yellow walls, a blackboard, and colorful decorations.

A classroom with children sitting at tables and a teacher standing at the blackboard. The classroom has a mural of a butterfly on the wall, a window with green trim, and red flags hanging on each side of the blackboard.

A classroom where children are seated at a table, engaging in arts and crafts activities with various supplies, while two adults assist. The walls are decorated with colorful posters and drawings.

A person wearing a plaid hat and dark sweater is preparing face paint or makeup at a table covered with a floral tablecloth. The table holds various paint containers, a palette of colorful paints, paintbrushes, and spray bottles. In the background, c

A classroom with children sitting around a long table, some wearing head coverings, with art supplies on the table. Two adults are standing near the wall, which is decorated with colorful pictures and a teddy bear mural. An open door leads outside to

A classroom filled with young students sitting at tables, listening to a teacher who is standing at the front near a blackboard. The classroom walls are decorated with colorful posters and cartoon characters, and windows are open with sunlight coming

Classroom with children seated at tables, engaging in painting activity, with two adults standing at the front near a chalkboard, and a large open window on the side letting in natural light.

A classroom with students seated at desks and a female teacher standing near a green door. The teacher is wearing a plaid hat and casual clothing, giving a thumbs-up gesture. There is a blackboard with writing in French, and artwork of a butterfly on

Children and adults engaging in arts and crafts activity in a classroom with yellow walls, green window frames, and a black chalkboard. The children are seated around a table with paper and paintbrushes, while adults supervise and assist.

Children and adults gathered around tables in a classroom, engaging in arts and crafts activities. The wall features colorful children's drawings and educational posters, with an open door leading to a hallway.

A diverse group of children seated around a table participating in a painting activity, with a teacher supervising.

Children sitting around a table in a classroom, listening to a woman standing and speaking, with colorful posters on the wall.

A group of children sitting around a table painting with watercolors, with a colorful classroom wall and a green door in the background.

A classroom filled with children and adults, with some standing and some sitting around tables, engaging in an activity. The room has yellow walls, green window frames, and a blackboard at the front. There are children wearing various colorful clothe

A person painting a rainbow on a piece of paper with yellow, orange, and red paint. There are green and red paint cups on the table, along with a palette. An arm of another person is visible in the foreground.

A classroom with children engaged in watercolor painting, guided by a teacher. The students are sitting around a long table with cups of paint, and their paintings of rainbows are laid out on the table. In the background, a teacher stands near a blac

Children in a classroom painting rainbows on paper while an instructor guides them, with art supplies and colorful artwork in the background.

Children participating in a watercolor art class with rainbow paintings on paper, sitting around a large table, with a teacher at the blackboard in a classroom with yellow walls and green window frames.

Children participating in an art activity at a long table, with a woman supervising. Art supplies and paintings of rainbows are on the table. The room has yellow and beige walls with colorful decorations.

A classroom scene with children painting rainbow pictures on sheets of paper at a large wooden table. A woman sits at the head of the table, observing the children. There are paint containers and cups on the table, and a blackboard on the wall behind

A classroom filled with children painting pictures of rainbows on large sheets of paper, with a teacher supervising. The room has yellow walls, green window frames, and several children wearing casual clothing and head coverings.

Children's watercolor paintings of a bear face with yellow and green colors on paper on a wooden table, with a palette of purple and pink paints nearby.

Children at a classroom table painting rainbows with brushes and colorful paints, with a woman guiding at the front, blackboard behind, and large windows to the side.

Children sitting around a table in a classroom, painting rainbow pictures with watercolors.

A young girl with braided hair, wearing a red and blue plaid shirt, is sitting at a table painting a rainbow with watercolors. There are colorful cups and painted paper on the table.

A girl with a plaid baseball cap, long hair, and dark nail polish is sitting at a table, painting a landscape with watercolor paints. The table has a floral tablecloth, and there are watercolor palettes, colored pencils, and other art supplies around

Children and an adult painting rainbows on paper at a long table in a classroom with colorful wall decorations.

A group of children and a woman sitting and standing at a table in a classroom, holding up paintings of rainbows they created. The classroom has yellow walls, a window with green frames, and colorful decorations including a sun, cloud, and balloon ar

Child painting on paper with yellow, green, and white colors, surrounded by cups of paint on a wooden table.

A classroom with children sitting at tables, some wearing headscarves, with a woman in a black hijab and denim jacket standing nearby, and colorful cartoon wall decorations, including a bear holding balloons and a seahorse.

Children and adults in a room with yellow walls and green window frames, engaged in painting activities around a large table.

Children sitting around a table engaging in arts and crafts activities inside a classroom, with a woman standing nearby. The classroom has bright walls, posters, and a green door.

Children participating in a group art activity, painting rainbow designs on paper, with a teacher assisting, in a classroom decorated with colorful murals and educational posters.

Young girl with long braided hair in a beige sweater sitting at a table with children engaged in activities, a woman in a checkered hat standing nearby in a classroom decorated with colorful artwork and educational posters.

Children and adults in a classroom participating in a group painting activity with rainbow designs on paper.

A group of children and an adult in a classroom holding up paintings of rainbows they created. The classroom has yellow walls, green window frames, and art supplies on a table in the foreground.

Children seated at a long table participating in a painting activity, with a teacher assisting. The room has bright yellow walls decorated with colorful artwork, including a bear and a seahorse with motivational phrases.

Children and adults gathered around tables in a classroom, engaged in arts and crafts activities, with a blackboard and educational posters on the wall.

Children engaged in a painting activity in a classroom with open green windows, a blackboard, and various art supplies on the table.

Children seated at a long wooden table engaged in an arts and crafts activity, with colorful cups and paints, in a classroom with yellow walls, green window frames, and a chalkboard at the front.

A group of children and two adults are gathered around a table in a classroom, engaging in arts and crafts activities with paint and paper. The classroom has colorful wall decorations, including a cartoon teddy bear with balloons and a whale with alp

A woman with a gray plaid hat standing in a classroom full of children, sitting at tables with colorful cups and art supplies. The classroom walls are yellow with colorful decorations, including a bear holding balloons and a blue seahorse.

A classroom filled with children holding up their watercolor paintings of rainbows. Some children sit at tables with art supplies in view, and there are colorful decorations and drawings on the yellow walls.

A mountainous landscape with clear blue sky and sunlight shining down. There are hills with sparse vegetation and small trees, along with a small village at the base of the mountains. A person sits on a stone ledge in the foreground, with some plants

A person is painting a watercolor landscape in a sketchbook. The person has painted a large brown mountain or hill, a blue sky, green grass, and a bright yellow sun. They are holding the sketchbook with one hand while applying paint with a brush in t

Group of children and a woman in a classroom holding up drawings of rainbows. The children are smiling and showing their artwork, with various art supplies on the tables. The classroom has yellow walls, a window with green frames, and colorful wall d

Architecture and Traditional masonry

Working alongside local masons in Zawiya Ahansal, Morocco, I learned traditional stone masonry while helping build a new community center. From splitting and placing stone to pointing mortar by hand, I gained a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship, collaboration, and generations of knowledge that shape the region's architecture.

Agoudim Community Center

The community center stands in a landscape defined by both its remarkable natural beauty and the enduring history of the Imazighen people. Spending time in Zawiya Ahansal gave me the opportunity to learn from a culture where Tamazight, Moroccan Arabic (darija), Classical Arabic, and French coexist, reinforcing my belief that meaningful collaboration begins with shared work and mutual respect.

Kneeling person wearing a checkered cap, sunglasses, gray gloves, and casual clothing, working on a stone wall with a brush in an indoor space with wooden and stone walls.

Three people walking down a curved mountain road with a small village below and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

A woman wearing protective glasses, a plaid cap, and a gray jacket working on a stone wall, using her hand to smooth or repair the stone surface.

Close-up of a stone building with brick accents and a small plant growing near the corner, against a clear blue sky.

A person wearing a plaid hat, sunglasses, and gloves kneels on the ground and uses a hammer to work on a stone wall inside a building with stone walls and stairs.

Tourists walking on a curved stone wall overlooking a mountainous landscape with a forested hillside and snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky.

Two people working on restoring a stone building, placing stacked stones on the lower wall near a window, with a mountain landscape in the background.

People walking down a stone staircase inside a historic stone building, with stone walls and a large barred window at the bottom.

Looking out from inside a building at a mountain landscape through a large window with decorative wrought iron bars.

Two women and one man working on constructing a stone wall. The woman in front is kneeling and using a hammer, the man is standing and observing, and the woman in the background is standing and working on a section of the wall.

Interior view of a rustic building under construction with stone walls, wooden beams, and a concrete staircase.

A woman with long reddish hair, wearing a green jacket and a checkered hat, standing outdoors beside a stone building with a black metal gate. In the background, there are trees, mountains, and a clear blue sky.

An interior wall made of dark, rough stone blocks with an electrical breaker box mounted on it. There is a piece of white paper or foam board leaning against the wall and some scattered papers on the floor. The ceiling is wooden with exposed beams.

Stone staircase inside a narrow, rocky corridor with brick archway and exposed pipes on the wall.

Interior of a room under construction with exposed brick walls, large windows, a textured ceiling with hanging light fixtures, and a person with red hair and a hat in the foreground.

Interior of a room under construction, with brick walls, large windows showing outdoor greenery, exposed wiring, and an unfinished floor.

Interior view of a room under construction featuring exposed stone brick walls, unpolished wooden floor, partially finished ceiling, and a window allowing natural light. Construction materials and equipment are visible.

Interior of a building under construction featuring brick walls, a concrete floor, and red air hoses on the ground. Two individuals are standing, one with hands clasped near the face, wearing black clothing and sneakers.

Interior of a room under construction with stone walls, wooden beams, large windows, and a view of a rocky hillside outside.

Interior of a building under construction with large windows showing a mountainous landscape; exposed brick walls, unfinished concrete floor, a person standing inside wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, construction tools and cords on the floor.

Interior of a building under construction with large window showing mountains outside, a woman standing inside looking out, brick walls, and construction materials on the floor.

Interior view of a room with a large window showing trees and a blue sky outside. The room has stone walls and a wooden ceiling.

Close-up of a stone fireplace with a diamond-shaped opening, surrounded by a mixture of dark and light stones, with a wooden ceiling and a window visible in the background.

A person wearing a plaid cap, glasses, and a dark sweater is working on a stone wall with a trowel, inside a structure with a small window letting in natural light.

Interior of a building under construction with exposed stone walls, large windows, and a wooden ceiling structure.

View through a large window of mountains, trees, and a river landscape outside.

A person kneeling on a dusty construction site, mixing cement in a bucket, wearing a plaid hat, sunglasses, a dark long-sleeve shirt, and jeans. Construction materials and tools are visible around, with a stone wall in the background.

Construction site showing an unfinished wall with concrete blocks and wooden beams, with some rocks and debris at the base.

A construction site with a stone wall, sand, bricks, and buckets of concrete or mortar.

A construction site with a black bucket containing wooden blocks, a partially torn bag of cement, a brick laying on top of the bag, and building materials like bricks, bricks, and a wheelbarrow in the background.

Construction site with a pile of dirt, bricks, and a stone wall in the background. Part of a person’s arm and leg are visible on the left side.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a plaid cap and jacket, is standing inside a building with a brick wall on her left, a stone wall on her right, and a ceiling with wooden beams.

A rugged rocky cliff faces a hillside with sparse vegetation, small trees, and mountain ranges in the background under a clear blue sky.

A person wearing a plaid cap, glasses, a dark long-sleeve shirt, and jeans kneeling on the floor of a construction site, mixing cement in a bucket. Behind them is a stone wall, with construction tools and materials scattered around.

Interior view of a stone building under construction with multiple windows, overlooking a mountainous landscape with greenery and buildings outside.

A man wearing a black jacket and sunglasses on his head points at a red electrical conduit on a rustic stone wall in a construction or renovation site.

A person wearing a plaid baseball cap, black sweatshirt, and blue gloves is kneeling on the ground and sifting through a large pile of dirt or clay inside a stone-walled structure with a window opening.

Close-up of a rustic stone wall with a small opening or window at the top, showing a bright sky and a tree in the background.

A man and a woman kneeling on the ground and working on a stone wall. The woman is wearing a plaid cap, sunglasses, and gloves, and is holding a hammer. The man is wearing a baseball cap, a striped sweater, and red gloves, and is using a chisel on th

Young person wearing a plaid hat, black long-sleeve shirt, and gloves, stirring a gray liquid in a metal bucket. The person is kneeling on a large bag of cement or similar material, under a stone structure with a blue sky background.

A person kneeling on a tarp and wearing gloves, pouring a gray substance from a bucket into a cup or mold, with an earthy, rock-like wall behind them.

A young person wearing a plaid hat, black shirt, and jeans kneels on the ground, working with a bucket and a bag of material in a rustic, stone-walled room.

Interior view of a rustic building under construction with stone walls, a wooden ceiling with large logs, and a window with metal bars.

Two people working with an archaeological dig, carefully examining a large circular feature in the dirt, inside a building with stone walls.

Two men and a woman working on restoring a stone wall inside a building; one man is kneeling and chiseling the stone, the woman is standing and watching, the other man is kneeling and holding a tool.

Two men working on a stone staircase, one kneeling and holding a hammer and chisel, the other standing and observing, in a rustic construction or restoration setting.

Two people working with rocks outdoors. One is wearing a dark cap, striped sweater, and red gloves; the other is wearing sunglasses, a plaid cap, and a dark jacket. They are examining or handling rocks on the ground with a rocky hillside and power li

A person with long red hair, wearing a gray and white checkered cap, black gloves, a dark sweatshirt, and blue jeans, is crouching on the ground and looking through a small, square opening in a stone wall. The person is holding a small hammer and chi

A person wearing a blue and gray plaid cap and gray gloves is using a hammer and chisel to work on a stone wall in a historical or archaeological setting.

Three people standing in a stone-walled hallway with a window at the end. One person wearing a baseball cap and a checkered shirt, another with long red hair, and the third wearing dark clothing. The ceiling is under construction with exposed wiring.

Two people working on restoring or reinforcing a stone wall inside a building, with one using a hammer and chisel, wearing gloves, safety glasses, and casual clothing, in a space with stone walls and staircase.

A person with long hair, wearing a plaid shirt and a hat, standing in a space built with stone and wooden walls and a wooden ceiling.

Two people working on a construction project inside a room with exposed brick walls. One person with a blue cap and striped sweater is kneeling, and another person wearing a plaid cap and dark shirt is holding a hammer.

Two people are excavating and examining an archaeological site with exposed stone and earth walls, wearing outdoor clothing and gloves.

A person with long red hair wearing a plaid hat and sunglasses standing outdoors in a mountainous area with stone buildings, sparse trees, and a clear blue sky.

A person wearing black gloves, plaid shirt, and plaid pants, crouching on a rocky surface with a walkie-talkie. Their long hair is visible.

Person wearing plaid shirt and jeans mixing dark concrete in a bucket, surrounded by other buckets on a dusty ground.

A person wearing a plaid hat, glasses, and a dark long-sleeved shirt is kneeling on the ground and using a small hammer to work on the wall of stacked stones.

A person wearing a plaid cap, sunglasses, a chain necklace with a cross, gray gloves, and a checkered shirt, working with rocks or stones on a stone wall.

An interior view of a room under construction with brick walls, large windows with iron bars, and a concrete ceiling with hanging light bulbs. There is a person wearing a checkered cap and jacket looking at the windows.

Two people, a man and a woman, working together to build or repair a stone wall outdoors. The man is wearing a cap and striped shirt, while the woman has red hair, sunglasses, a plaid cap, and a gray sweater. They are focused on the stones, with a mo

A person with reddish-brown hair, wearing a black and white plaid hat and a black long-sleeve shirt, is standing close to a stone wall, appearing to look at or examine it.

A multi-story building with stone and red brick walls, iron railings on balconies, and arched windows set against a bright blue sky.

Two individuals working on archaeological excavation in a stone-lined hole. One person is wearing gloves, a plaid hat, and a striped sweater, while the other is wearing gloves, a cap, and a gray jacket. They are carefully handling artifacts in a conf

A person in gloves pouring a bag of cement or construction material into a bucket, with construction supplies and a stone wall in the background.

Person wearing a plaid cap, glasses, and gloves using a hammer on rocks in a dirt area.

Two people working together on a construction project, pouring concrete into a bucket outdoors against a stone wall.

Two people working together on a construction or renovation project inside a building with a stone wall background. One person is pouring a substance from a container while the other is holding a trowel or similar tool, wearing gloves.

Person wearing sunglasses, a plaid cap, black glove, a chain, and a loose dark shirt working on a stone wall.

Interior view of a building with large window, exposed stone wall, and wooden ceiling beams with wood paneling.

Person in a plaid cap, black sweater, and jeans working with soil in a bucket inside a stone building, with a metal cup nearby.

A stone building with small windows and decorative brickwork, mountains in the background, and people in the foreground.

Person wearing a plaid hat, gray gloves, a brown jacket, and a silver chain necklace, using a hammer and chisel to work on rocks outdoors near a stone wall.

Two men working on a stone wall inside a building. One man is pointing at the wall while the other looks on. They are wearing gloves, hats, and casual clothing.

A person wearing a grey glove is working with dark rocks on a construction site or wall. The image shows a close-up of the rocks and the person's hand.

A person working on restoring a stone wall inside a building. The person is wearing a plaid cap, glasses, a dark long-sleeve shirt, jeans, and gloves, and is using a tool on the wall. There is a bucket and some paper or cloth on the floor.

A group of people, including at least one man and a child, are inside a stone building with a window. They are looking outside through the window, which has a stone wall with a crack running vertically through it. One person is holding a red object,

A woman wearing a plaid cap, sunglasses, a necklace with a cross, gloves, and loose jeans, looking down and working on a stone wall.

Interior of a building under construction, featuring stone walls and a wooden roof framework with exposed beams. A window lets in natural light, illuminating part of the unfinished floor.

A person wearing a plaid cap, glasses, gloves, a brown sweater, and jeans is working on a stone wall inside a room with exposed stone walls. There is a small window with sunlight outside and some construction tools and materials nearby.

Two people standing inside an old stone building with large open windows showing a mountain landscape outside. One person has long red hair, a plaid shirt, and a cap, and the other has short dark hair and a black jacket.

Two people wearing gloves and hats work together to carefully extract stones from a rock wall, with a desert landscape and rolling hills in the background.

A person wearing a plaid baseball cap, glasses, and a black long-sleeve shirt stands near a brick wall, with protective glasses visible on their face.

Two people working on restoring a stone wall. One person is kneeling and working on the wall, while another stands nearby wearing gloves. The scene appears to be part of a restoration or construction project inside a stone structure with an opening i

A person with long hair wearing a dark jacket, blue jeans, and a checkered cap is working inside a stone-walled room. They are bent over, attending to some activity near the stone wall, with a bucket nearby. The room appears to be under construction

A person working with stones at a construction site or wall, wearing a hat and gloves.

A woman wearing a plaid hat and gloves is inspecting ancient stone walls inside a historical site or archaeological ruin.

Interior of a room under construction with exposed brick walls, unfinished concrete floor, and visible light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.

A person wearing a plaid cap, glasses, and a black shirt is pouring cement from a bag into a bucket. They are wearing gloves, and there is another person in striped sleeves handing the bag. The setting appears to be a construction site with a brick w

A person wearing a plaid cap, gray gloves, and casual clothing is working on a stone wall, possibly using a tool to apply mortar or work with the stones.

A person wearing a checkered hat, gray backpack, and green jacket walking with a metal detector on a gravel path in a historic stone city with mountains in the background.

A person wearing a grey glove working on a stone wall with a small hand tool.

Two people working outdoors with rocks, one holding a hammer and the other working with rocks on the ground, in a rocky, mountainous area under a clear blue sky.

Teenager kneeling and working on a stone wall, wearing a cap, gloves, a dark sweatshirt, and jeans, with dirt and soil visible on the ground.

Two people working outdoors on a stone wall: a man standing and a woman kneeling, using a hammer to shape rocks, with a rocky hillside and clear blue sky in the background.

People working on a construction or masonry project building a stone wall.

Two men working inside a stone-walled room, with one man wearing a plaid cap and gloves, and another wearing a striped sweater and cap, both focused on a task involving a piece of wood or stone.

Interior view of a building under construction with exposed stone walls, a small window at the end, and some construction materials on the floor.

Two people working on stone wall restoration inside a small, enclosed space with brick and stone walls and a wooden ceiling.

Two people building a stone wall outdoors with a stone building and mountainous landscape in the background.

Interior of a house under construction with stone brick walls, large windows showing a green outdoor landscape, and construction materials on the unfinished floor.

Person kneeling outdoors on rocky ground, holding a hammer, wearing a plaid cap, sunglasses, a necklace with a cross, black and gray jacket, and gloves, with mountains and clear blue sky in the background.

A young woman wearing a plaid hat, sunglasses, a necklace with a cross, a dark oversized shirt, and jeans, holding a small object with gloves in a stone or brick interior with stairs in the background.

Two people working on a stone wall; one is kneeling and the other is standing, both wearing gloves and hats, inside a rustic stone building.

View through a hole in a stone wall showing a sunny outdoor scene with buildings, a wire fence, and dry, rocky terrain.

A woman with brown hair in a ponytail wearing sunglasses, a plaid bucket hat, a black jacket, and blue jeans, standing outdoors on a dirt path with mountains, trees, and a blue sky in the background. A man wearing a striped sweater, khaki pants, red

A person squat down and sift through a container of soil or small rocks inside a partially enclosed stone structure, with a pile of soil behind them, some bricks on the ground, and a stone wall visible in the background.

Rocky trail at the base of a mountain with trees and hills in the background.

Two people working on a stone wall outdoors on a sunny day, with hills and power lines in the background.

A small, unfinished brick room with stone walls, a concrete floor, and hanging light bulbs on exposed wiring.

Two men with hats walking on a dirt road with mountains in the background. A utility pole is nearby.

Two people working on a stone wall outdoors on a sunny day. One person is standing, wearing a striped sweater, khaki pants, gloves, and a baseball cap. The other person is crouching, wearing a brown jacket, jeans, a plaid baseball cap, and gloves, us

A person wearing a gray plaid cap, sunglasses, a brown jacket, and gloves, squatting and working with a hammer and chisel on a large rock at an archaeological site with stone walls and a mountainous background.

Two people working on restoring a stone wall outdoors, with a mountain and utility pole in the background.

A person wearing a gray glove is using a hammer to chisel a piece of rock or stone at an outdoor excavation site. Rocks and soil surround the area.

Two people working on constructing a stone wall outdoors, with a clear blue sky and trees in the background.

Two people working on building a stone wall outdoors under clear blue sky, with trees and rocky hills in the background.

A woman with curly hair wearing a black and green plaid jacket and gray jeans stands inside a partially constructed stone staircase with an arched ceiling and brick columns. The walls and ceiling are made of dark stone bricks, and the floor is unfini

Two people working on a stone wall outdoors under a bright blue sky, with a hill and trees in the background.

A daytime scene of a construction or renovation site next to a stone building, with two people working outside. One person is wearing a plaid cap, dark jacket, and jeans, while the other is holding a tool and wearing a light-colored shirt and tan pan

Two men working on a stone structure outdoors, with a clear blue sky and mountains in the background.

Person wearing a plaid cap, sunglasses, a necklace, a dark jacket, and jeans bending over on a dirt ground, working with rocks and a hammer.

Two workers building a stone wall outdoors under a bright blue sky, with a hillside and utility poles in the background.

Two men working on building a stone wall outside near a rocky hillside. One man is bent down working on the wall, while the other stands observing. The scene is outdoors under a clear blue sky, with utility poles in the background.

Two men working on a stone wall, one crouching and wearing a plaid hat and sunglasses, the other standing and wearing a cap, during the daytime with a mountain and blue sky in the background.

Two workers are installing stones on a stone wall, with a woman supervising, in a rural area with hills and utility poles in the background.

Two men and one woman working on a construction project inside a stone-walled room. The man on the left is pouring concrete from a bucket, while the woman on the right is standing with her hands at her sides, wearing a plaid cap and sunglasses.

Two people standing in front of a stone brick building under construction. The man on the left is holding a trowel, and the woman on the right is wearing sunglasses and a cap. They are dressed in casual work clothing.

Two people working on the construction or restoration of a stone wall on an old building, outdoors, with a mountainous landscape in the background.

Two people, a man and a woman, working on stacking stones to build a stone wall outdoors in a sunny, mountainous area. They are kneeling, wearing hats, gloves, and casual clothing.

Person crouching on a dusty floor, wearing a plaid cap, sunglasses, a black long sleeve top, jeans, and gloves, holding a trowel, with a stone wall and some bricks in the background.

Person mixing concrete in a bucket inside a building with stone walls.

Two archaeologists working on a stone wall, examining and removing rocks, with some on the ground. The woman on the left is wearing a plaid hat, black hoodie, and glasses. The man on the right is wearing a baseball cap, striped sweater, and red glove

A person crouching down and working with a hammer and rocks outdoors, with a stone wall in the background.

A person wearing a blue plaid hat and gray gloves is pointing to a rock wall made of irregular stones in an archaeological or historical site.

A young woman with red hair, wearing a cap, black shirt, and gray gloves, kneeling on the ground and holding a round container at a construction site. The background shows a rough, curved, dirt surface and a stone wall, with bricks and paper debris o

A woman kneeling on rocky ground beside a stone wall, wearing sunglasses, a plaid hat, a black long-sleeve shirt, and gloves, with a metal bucket nearby, in an outdoor arid landscape.

Person wearing a plaid cap, black sweater, jeans, and gloves working with concrete or dirt in front of a stone wall, using a trowel, with a bucket nearby.

Two people working on a stone construction project beside an old stone wall, with mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.

Sustainable Agriculture

Working alongside local farmers in the shared village fields of Zawiya Ahansal, I planted regional crops entirely by hand and experienced the rhythms of agriculture in the High Atlas Mountains. Learning how the community maintains traditional gravity-fed irrigation channels gave me a deeper appreciation for generations of knowledge that continue to sustain both the land and the people who depend on it.

Community Gardens

An indoor dining table set with a variety of vegetables, a glass bottle of oil, a pink decorative bowl, and a traditional tagine, with a background of patterned wallpaper and tables covered with yellow tablecloths.

Two people are working in a garden with trees and greenery behind them, planting or tending to soil. One person is bending over with a rake, wearing a plaid hat, sunglasses, a black jacket, and jeans. The other person stands nearby, wearing a cap, st

Tourists with backpacks walking along a mountain trail near terraced fields and greenery, with snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

Tourists sightseeing overlooking a dry, mountainous landscape with traditional adobe buildings and a large, weathered tree in the foreground, under a clear blue sky.

Two people planting a young tree in a garden with bare branches, green grass, and a hill with houses in the background on a sunny day.

A person wearing outdoor clothing and a backpack walking along a dirt trail beside a river in a mountainous landscape with trees and rocky hills under a clear blue sky.

People gathered around a table with a variety of vegetables, prepare a meal in a room with patterned walls and framed artwork.

A scenic mountain landscape with a small village at the base, featuring stone houses and a church with a tall tower, lush green trees, terraced fields, and a clear blue sky.

Two people with backpacks sitting on rocks in a desert landscape with stone houses on a hillside and a clear blue sky.

A terraced hillside with stone retaining walls and sparse bushes, with buildings on top under a clear blue sky.

A leafless tree with twisting branches in a desert landscape with mountains in the background and a stone wall in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

A dirt mountain trail leading through a rural area with scattered trees, with a mountain peak in the background and a clear blue sky overhead.

Two people with backpacks walking through an arched stone gateway in a desert landscape with mountains and trees under a clear blue sky.

Person planting a young tree in a garden under sunlight.

Photo of a desert landscape with rocky hills, sparse trees, and a small river flowing through the foreground. Snow-capped mountains are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.

A person with long hair wearing a green beanie, olive-green sweater, and gray backpack walking along a dirt trail surrounded by lush green grass and trees, with rocky mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

A hiker wearing a backpack walking on a dirt trail in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks and green vegetation.

A mountainous landscape with dry, rocky hills covered in sparse trees, a small building with a blue roof, and a river flowing in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

Two people planting a tree in a field with lush green grass and young trees, under a clear blue sky, with mountains in the background.

River flowing alongside a dirt trail with rocks, trees with green leaves, hillside with scattered bushes and trees, and mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.

Two people planting a tree in a garden surrounded by green bushes and trees.

Hiker walking on a dirt trail beside a river, with mountains and trees in the background and a clear blue sky.

People preparing and serving food on a decorated table in a Moroccan-style room, with a woman and a girl visible and a variety of dishes and ingredients on the table.

A mountain landscape with a river flowing through a valley, a hiker walking on a dirt trail beside the river, and a small building among trees and rocks, under a bright blue sky.

Two people planting or working in a garden with rows of young plants, surrounded by trees and hills under a blue sky.

Mountain landscape with a stream running through a small town with buildings and trees at the base of the mountains.

A person wearing a plaid hat and sunglasses going through a young garden tree in an orchard during sunny weather.

People planting or gardening on a hillside with trees and houses in the background under a clear blue sky.

View of a hillside residential area with unfinished and completed houses on a sunny day, with a clear blue sky and sparse vegetation in the foreground.

Two people planting a tree in a sunny orchard, wearing gloves and hats, with a mountain in the background.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a patterned beanie, gray Patagonia jacket, and a backpack stands near a chain-link fence in a rural, mountainous area with houses and trees, under a clear blue sky.

Three people walking through a grassy field surrounded by green trees with hills in the background on a sunny day.

A large pink bowl filled with various fresh vegetables, including sweet potatoes, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and onions. A bottle of olive oil is nearby. The setting appears to be a dining table with other dishes, bowls of spices, and a covered terr

People planting a young tree in a garden during daytime, with clear blue sky and hillside in background.

Three women are seated around a dining table preparing food in a room with patterned tile walls. The table is covered with a beige tablecloth and holds various vegetables, a cutting board, and plates. One woman is wearing a blue hoodie, another has b

Two people planting seeds or seedlings in a garden, with one person holding a bag of soil or seeds. They are outdoors among trees and greenery on a sunny day.

People outdoors with mountains in the background, including a person with reddish hair and a checkered cap in the foreground and other individuals walking in a line.

Two people planting a tree in a garden with green trees and clear sky in the background.

People planting or working in a garden with small plants, in a hilly area with trees and houses under a clear blue sky.

Two people gardening outdoors, planting or tending to the soil. One person wears a black jacket, blue jeans, and a plaid hat. The other wears a striped sweater, light-colored pants, and a cap, holding a plastic bag and gardening tools.

Two men and one woman walking through a grassy outdoor area surrounded by trees and bushes, with a small stream or wet ground and an old, rusty barrel in the background.

People planting and tending to young trees in an outdoor garden with hills and houses in the background.

A scenic mountain landscape with a clear blue sky, rugged peaks, and a small village at the base. Three people are walking along a curved road, with a stone wall on the side, overlooking the village and mountains.

People planting or gardening in a field with young trees, under a blue sky.

Woman with long hair wearing a brown hat, standing behind a green fence, looking at a hill with sparse vegetation and several buildings under a clear blue sky.

Three women and a man preparing vegetables in a kitchen with ornate tile walls and patterned tablecloths.

People planting a young tree in a dirt patch, with hills and power lines in the background on a sunny day.

People standing outdoors near a brick wall with mountains in the background and a clear blue sky.

Tourists walking along a stone wall in a mountainous area with trees, hills, and snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky.

Two people planting a tree outdoors in a sunny area with green trees and soil.

A mountainous village with stone houses and a tall, narrow, pink and white church tower, surrounded by trees and green vegetation, with two tourists in the foreground.

Two women preparing vegetables in a kitchen with a table full of fresh vegetables and dinnerware.

Two people planting seeds in a garden with a hole dug in the soil, surrounded by greenery and trees, on a sunny day.

People working in an orchard, planting or tending to young trees on a sunny day.

Two people gardening outdoors on a sunny day, one wearing a plaid cap, black jacket, and jeans, standing with a rake, the other wearing a striped sweater and khaki pants, crouched down working in the soil, surrounded by green plants and trees.

A small tree with green leaves in the foreground, mountains with snow on their peaks in the background, under a clear blue sky.

A mountain landscape with rocky slopes, green vegetation, and clear blue sky.

Plein Air Studies and Weaving

Traveling through the High Atlas Mountains, I created plein air paintings across four landscapes, using art to slow down and observe how light, geology, villages, and color shaped each place.

I also spent time with a local women’s empowerment group, where I learned traditional weaving techniques by hand. These experiences changed the way I paint and observe a place. I began to see the landscape not just for what was in front of me, but through the people who live there, the things they make, and the stories embedded in their surroundings.

Women's Empowerment

Plein Air Studies

Sahara Desert

Painted on location in the Sahara Desert, this plein air study explores the shifting light, color, and sweeping forms of Morocco's endless sand dunes.
Akhiam Ims ir Rebbi Cave

Lying on the ground beneath the towering natural arch, I painted this plein air study to capture its immense scale and the unique perspective of looking straight overhead into one of the High Atlas Mountains' most remarkable geological formations.
Monkey Paws

This plein air painting captures the sculptural sandstone formations known as Monkey Paws, focusing on their weathered textures and the dramatic desert landscape that surrounds them.
Ait Sidi Moulay Igherm

Painted in the mountain village of Aït Sidi Moulay Igherm, this plein air study reflects the relationship between traditional Amazigh architecture and the rugged landscape of the High Atlas.