My Scrapbook and Art Journal from My Semester with IES Abroad Rabat

Mariama Regaignon headshot
Mariama Regaignon
 December 30, 2023

During my time in Morocco, I kept an art journal and scrapbook documenting my activities, memories, and feelings, and keeping me in touch with my creative side. In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite pages and the stories behind them.

A two-page journal spread. On the left is a colored pencil self-portrait of Mariama in a green tank top with abstracted flowers behind her. It is cut up into tiles and rearranged in a disfigured layout. On the right is a self-portrait in gouache, pen, and colored pencil in the style of Alphonse Mucha. Mariama is framed against a Moroccan mosaic doorway, holding a pomegranate and wildflowers and wearing a flowing pink skirt. Under her feet, ‘Mariama’ is written in an art nouveau font in English and Arabic.
A vertical journal page collaged with pictures from a magazine. At the top is an embroidery border above a storefront at sunset. Below this is a building with a green tile roof and a pond. In the bottom right is a picture of lights in a nightclub, with a girl reaching out her hand. At center right is a young woman's head, wearing ornate Amazigh jewelry, and several hands wearing ornate rings. The words "how wonderful it is to be alive, please forgive me for forgetting" are collaged out of individual letters
A spread of two journal pages. The left page has pictures of a young woman with a flowing pink scarf against a red rock formation, a blue and green mosaic fountain, and a postcard of the interior of Hassan II Mosque. The right page has a postcard of a pile of oranges against an orange wall, a piece of drawing paper with Arabic song lyrics in colored pencil, a picture of a doorway with plants, and a collaged stylized illustration of a man in colorful robes sitting on a rug.
A two-page journal spread. On the left are cutouts from a flyer for 'Jam Session: Le Retour', a woman in a red dress dancing, and from a postcard from L'Boulevard music festival 2017, as well as a postcard of men in turbans around a bonfire. 'Gnawa' is written in black pen. On the right is a sticker from Tangier Records, cutouts of dying Jesus and a stylized woman with a harp, a pen drawing of a flamenco dancer, and a colored pencil drawing of a woman in a futuristic Amazigh-inspired headdress.
A two-page journal spread with cutouts from the program for the Hassan II Mosque. On the left are colored pencil drawings of Moroccan mosaic and wire work, and on the right pictures of the mosque's main door are taped to open onto abstract pen drawings and more pictures of the mosque's interior.
A two-page journal spread with pen and colored pencil drawings. On the right are song lyrics about birds, drawings of floral patterns, a tangerine, a woman covered in vines, a pokémon, a juice, and a bird. On the right are drawings of realistic hands in black colored pencil.
A two-page journal spread. On the left are magazine and postcard cutouts, including a table with breakfast, a candle, a tree and a pile of oranges. Also collaged are a train ticket to Asilah and a pressed bougainvillea flower. There are also colored pencil drawings of a pomegranate and an oil lamp chanukiah. On the right is a drawing of a pomegranate tree with a pomegranate-shaped earring hanging off one branch.
A two-page journal spread. On the left are postcards from Sahara Magic Luxury Camp with pictures of the desert, and 'Merzouga' is written in blue. On the right is a gouache painting of the night sky full of stars, with 'full moon waning' written above.
A gouache painting of the view from the roof terrace of Atlantic Hostel in Essaouira. The terrace has colorful rugs on the ground and colorful art on the wall. It looks out over the mountains, city, ocean, and blue sky.
A list of gratitudes, including trains, music, sun, pomegranates, clementines, public art, rooftop terraces, hospitality, and 'patterns EVERYWHERE'
A journal page with quotes from 'Braiding Sweetgrass' by Robin Wall Kimmerer and 'The Dispossessed' by Ursula K. LeGuin

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Mariama Regaignon headshot

Mariama Regaignon

I'm from NYC and attend Bryn Mawr College near Philly! I'm passionate about film, social justice, backpacking, fashion, jewelry-making, reading, and plant-based cooking. When I'm at home I love exploring the city or hanging out with my two cats.

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Home University:
Bryn Mawr College
Major:
Religious Studies
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