Where I was born and grew up as a kid, my family and I would go on trips to the mountains to forage for wild thyme, be around nature, see some relatives and visit old monasteries and churches. Along the way we would stop on farms to collect some fresh milk or country style cheese. The farmers would always greet us warmly and invite us for cool drinks under the shade of their high vines ornamented with big clusters of juicy grapes. 

Being out all day in the sun, these farmers usually wore traditional light airy clothes consisting of a cotton, button-down shirt, sometimes layered with an embroidered gilet and a belted sherwel (traditional loose trousers) and always had their white kaffiyeh on their head secured with one or two black hoops. Most of them if not all had long mustaches that stretched all the way to their ears, tucked safely behind them. They took pride in their length and whenever they were enjoying a moment of quiet, their fingers would always reach to their upper lip and absently comb their hairs. Their love of their land, animals and trees would show through their joy in the simple things, their desire to share earth’s treasures and their hospitality and warmth towards everyone.  

Seeing the different types and colors of kaffiyehs now being worn by everyone young and old, from all corners of the world brings back these childhood memories and makes me realize how there is always a little piece of home in each and every person around us.

In light of this, I created this painting.