Illustrated Middle Eastern Food
My purpose from creating this Illustrated Middle Eastern Food series is to delve into the culinary culture of the Levant – through food illustration. I want to create illustrations that celebrate the Levantine cuisine, with both its popular dishes (Arabic Hummus) and those that are more obscure (Bastersh Hamwi).
Food from a Multicultural Region
This illustrated series will feature food stories and recipes from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Palestine. Furthermore, I plan to explore North African and the Middle Eastern recipes from the Arab, Berber, Turkish, Circassian and Armenian kitchens.
Illustrating My Region’s Culinary Heritage
My interest goes beyond actual Middle Eastern recipes. One of my goals is to document the different rituals and traditions surrounding Levantine food. I want to explore everything from Syrian and Lebanese table-settings to the handmade Tunisian and Moroccan ceramics used to serve Tajines and Couscous. I also want to create food illustrations that document the different aspects of this region’s cooking traditions. Now and then, I may share personal stories from my own heritage.
Food Illustration Style and Mediums
My Middle Eastern food illustrations come in different styles and mediums. Sometimes I create artwork in gouache. At others, I illustrate with ink and watercolour or fine liners and alcohol markers. I may also create food illustrations digitally, although I prefer analogue and traditional mediums.
