He started painting at an early age, and soon became the most celebrated artist in Lebanon. He was greatly influenced by the Armenian Genocide and his forced departure from Palestine to Lebanon, where he started his family. These tragic incidents, along with the poverty and deteriorated social conditions of the slums of Beirut, played a major role in his work. He used scenes from his daily life to convey sensitive yet powerful emotions. His work has been exhibited in over 40 galleries in Lebanon and all over the world.