Last April, I travelled back to Europe to visit family—a journey that’s always a little complex. While I now live in Sydney with my kids and husband, my family is spread between France and Morocco. This time, my trip included a visit to my mum, who lives in Tangier, and an unforgettable day trip to the magical Blue City of Chefchaouen.
Discovering Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is like stepping into a dream. The entire city is painted in stunning shades of ultramarine blue, turning every street into a vibrant, Instagram-worthy canvas. 🌟
While wandering the city, I learned something fascinating from a friend who was visiting with us. The tradition of painting Chefchaouen blue began in the 1930s, introduced by Jewish refugees. In Jewish culture, blue symbolises the sky and heaven—a reminder of spirituality and staying connected to God. The idea resonated with the locals, and over time, the iconic blue look became Chefchaouen’s defining feature. How incredible is that story?
A Colour Lover’s Paradise
As an artist, Chefchaouen was heaven. On one street corner, I stumbled upon enormous sacks filled with raw pigments, including the signature blue used to paint the city walls. The process is surprisingly simple: they mix the pigment with glue and paint directly onto the walls.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist buying some of that gorgeous blue pigment to take home with me. I also picked up a few other colours—though I had to hold myself back from taking them all!
Back Home: Turning Pigments into Paint 🎨
Fast forward to now. It’s a rainy weekend here in Sydney—the perfect time to dive into a creative project. I’m using those pigments from Chefchaouen to create my own watercolours, filling a new palette box with dreamy Moroccan hues. There’s something so satisfying about mixing paint from scratch, knowing it’s tied to such a special memory.
Here is a video of the process.
And a video of Tangerine colour in the making
Chefchaouen’s blues are now not only in my memories but also on my palette. 💙✨