“There’s a feeling I really love.
When you throw a pebble into a calm pond and you let the waves capture your mind and all your senses.
That’s how I feel when I draw, when I’m able to put on paper what I’m seeing.
I don’t remember the artist who once said: “I don’t know anything until I have drawn it.” Those words ring in my ears every time somethings captures my eye.
I started drawing in Morocco. People I knew and also copying cartoons, which is another fixation of mine. When I go to Morocco the light is a different universe, the architecture is a wonder and senior citizens with their unique expressions and traditional garments are authentic walking masterpieces.
Now I’ve been living in Madrid for a long time. I like to observe its people, I enjoy the diversity and I think that’s why I’ve always been attracted to portraits. Faces always seem mysterious to me. No matter how many thousands I’ve seen, they always amaze me. I also like to draw other subjects but one of my favorite exercises is to take the subway and collect hundreds of faces and characters in my sketchbook. It’s addictive.
So, after regretting not having my sketchbook with me at times when I wanted to draw, now I’ve decided never to part ways with it.
We are one now.”
• Fouad’s blog.