Carol Rempto

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Animals

Children

Lettering

Line drawing of two women dancing indoors surrounded by plants and flowers by Carol Rempto

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Illustration of a giant hamster holding camera with city background by Carol Rempto

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Christmas lights decorating greenery spelling Christmas words by Carol Rempto

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Totebag with Miller's Flour design by Carol Rempto

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Typography poster with Stray Kids slogan by Carol Rempto

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Carol gestaltet Geschichten mit Gefühl, Fantasie und erzählerischem Gespür.

Ein erzählorientierter Illustrationsstil mit stimmungsgeleiteter Komposition, farblicher Klarheit und visueller Wärme, der ideal ist für Kinderbuchformate mit emotionalem Fokus und fantasievoller Erzählstruktur.

Based in Curitiba, Carol works with publishing clients across Brazil and around the world. Visual storytelling is central to her approach and with characters believably engaged with the narrative, her illustrations become irresistible to the reader. It’s all about the feeling, and clients love the warmth and emotion Carol puts into her art. Carol studied graphic design at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro with a year doing illustration the Savannah College of Art and Design and she loves creating custom lettering for each project. Her inspiration comes from fantasy stories like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson; the natural world; Chinese and Korean dramas; and K-Pop.

Approach

Beginning with the feeling of the piece, Carol considers every aspect of the story as she builds her compositions. After initial sketching, she develops the environment, lighting and colour – it all goes back to hitting the right emotion.

Key software

Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator

Style

Carol’s images are full of vibrant colours and playful innocence, with a little cuteness wherever possible. Humour and touches of magic help to keep the feeling positive as her characters take young readers away on a journey.

Languages

Portuguese and English.

Impressions

Interview

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Interview

What led you to become an illustrator? I’ve always loved drawing as a kid, and throughout my childhood and teenage years I dreamed of working with art. But when I reached college-entrance-exam age, I felt a bit frustrated because I didn’t really know how to turn what I loved into a career. At first, I thought about architecture, but after researching a bit more, I found the graphic design program, which felt closer to what I imagined for myself. Back then in Brazil, there weren’t many illustration-specific courses, so choosing graphic design felt like a broader and safer path to study something related to art. Did you study illustration in college? During my graphic design degree in Brazil, at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), illustration wasn’t the main area of study, but I managed to take elective classes in artistic techniques like Life Drawing, Woodcut, Textile Printing, and more. I also used illustration in various projects, even when it wasn’t required—like infographic assignments. During that time, I entered a Brazilian government exchange program called Ciência sem Fronteiras, which fully funded 9 months of studies at SCAD — Savannah College of Art and Design, in Georgia, USA. That experience was where I truly got in touch with illustration as a career and learned how to actually enter the market. When I returned to Brazil to finish my graphic design degree, I already knew I wanted to freelance as an illustrator. My final project was a picture book written and illustrated by me called “Dulce e as Fatias de Memória”, which I later published through crowdfunding. And I graduated with the highest grade! Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in a small city in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) called Petrópolis. It’s well-known for being the location of the former summer residence of Brazil’s emperor, Dom Pedro II, so it’s full of history, palaces, museums, and important old houses. Pretty cool, right? Do you have a childhood memory relating to art that you hold dear? I remember being excited every week for my favorite magazine, which included the W.I.T.C.H. comics (which I later found out are internationally known and drawn by the amazing Alessandro Barbucci). I loved reading the stories and copying my favorite panels. I think that series was a huge artistic inspiration for me. Where do you live now and what drew you there? I live in Curitiba, in the state of Paraná (still in Brazil). What first caught my eye was the lower cost of living compared to my home state—especially housing. And because it’s a state capital, it has a richer cultural life and all the conveniences of a big city, but without the endless rush of huge metropolitan areas like Rio or São Paulo. Describe your studio for us My studio is in my home, and since my place is pretty small, the studio shares space with my living room. So it’s not exactly a dedicated workspace yet—but that’s something I hope to change in the future when I can buy a bigger apartment. Even though it’s small, the room is decorated with prints from artists I admire, and I also display some of the books I’ve worked on. Do you have a studio pet? Yes! I have two cats: a tiny black kitty named Cacau, and a big white one named Monet (yes—after Claude Monet!). They always remind me to take breaks by asking for cuddles or purring beside me. They make me stop, rest, refill their food bowls, and play—so they’re with me 24/7. Who or What is your biggest inspiration? It’s hard for me to point to just one thing, because I don’t like placing all my admiration in a single person or source. I prefer to look at the world and find something inspiring in everything and everyone—learning from many people’s mistakes and successes instead of idolizing one. If I had to pick something, I’d say nature itself. It gives us shapes, compositions, and color palettes in such a perfect, masterful way. If you could collaborate with another artist or creative of any genre, living or dead, who would it be? I would love to collaborate with RM from BTS. Besides being a rapper and singer, he’s also a huge art lover, so I always imagine how inspiring—and challenging—it would be to create artwork for one of his projects. I think I’d grow a lot both personally and professionally. And being part of something with the reach they have would be a dream (and a huge responsibility!). What’s your favourite way to spend a day off? If I’m alone: binge-watching Asian dramas all day. If I’m with friends: chatting, grilling, and starting a new hobby together. What's your most prized possession and why? I’ll name two: My apartment. I never imagined I’d be able to buy my own place someday—and even more amazing that I bought it with money I earned working with art. My pink couch. It was my first purchase after my divorce, when I moved into a place that was truly mine. Besides being my favorite spot to relax, it symbolizes my independence and individuality. What causes are you passionate about? With the recent political and economic climate in Brazil, the cause that resonates most with me is the fight for less wealth inequality and real social welfare policies. When we live in a more financially balanced world—where everyone has enough to live—so many other problems become easier to solve. I also strongly identify with feminism and animal-related causes.What do you listen to when you work? It depends on what I’m doing: When I’m creating concepts and sketching, I like listening to study/lo-fi playlists that help with focus. When I’m finishing artwork (which feels more technical to me), I can listen to more energetic stuff—usually K-pop, especially the Spotify playlist “This is BTS”, which I listen to a lot. Sometimes I also listen to pagode, a Brazilian genre I grew up with because my parents love it. It really depends on my mood. What's your favourite podcast? I love a Brazilian podcast called “Que História é Essa, Porchat?”—it’s full of hilarious stories told by celebrities and everyday people, in a very casual conversation format with the comedian Fábio Porchat. It always makes me laugh so much. Who is your art & design hero? For both, I’d choose the same person: Brazilian designer and illustrator Paula Cruz. She was a senior in my design program, and watching her career take off and seeing her become such an incredible, well-rounded artist makes me so proud and inspired—especially knowing we came from the same school. Who is your music hero? Definitely BTS. I love their music and the whole universe they created. They work so hard and are incredibly dedicated, and that inspires me a lot. What is your favourite book? I’m a big fan of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. What is your favourite quote? A quote by the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa: “I have in me all the dreams of the world.” What movie can you watch over and over? Pride and Prejudice. What is the last show you binged? The last series I binge-watched was “Fight for Love,” a really great historical C-Drama. What was the last concert you went to? I went to the Stray Kids concert in São Paulo, and it was AMAZING. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Lately I’ve been fascinated by China. I imagine it must be an incredible trip—full of technology and history. I’d love to visit. Is there any random thing you consider yourself an expert on? I’m an expert at recommending and analyzing historical C-dramas—I always have tons of suggestions! If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chocolate with a high cocoa percentage (60% or more). You are stranded on a desert island with no power or running water. What 3 art supplies would you take? Since I really love digital art, I think I’d have to bring a solar-powered iPad! If a client paid you enough money to take a year off and create whatever you want—no constraints—what would you create? I have a children’s book project I created called “Lagoa do Meu Coração” ("The Pond of My Heart"). I already planned the whole concept and partially wrote it, so I’d use that time to bring it fully to life. Is there a type of job you haven't done yet but would love to do? I’d love to illustrate packaging and home products—like blankets, tablecloths, or baby clothes. Is there a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way? Always consider your rest time when accepting projects. Sometimes, out of fear of financial instability, we take on more than we can handle calmly—and that only leads to burnout, lower-quality work, and missed deadlines. How has your work or practice evolved over time? Aside from technique—which is the most visible change—I feel much more at ease today knowing I’m capable of handling the projects I’m hired for. I’m more confident in my abilities and much more aware of my limits, both as a professional and as a human being. All of that makes me a better Illustrator. What is the most challenging part of being an illustrator? The variable income and the need for self-discipline and self-management. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? It was advice from Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe. She said not to put your art in front of you, but beside you. People will inevitably criticize your work; if you place it in front of you, those critiques hit you directly. But if it’s beside you, it’s easier to remember that your work is not you—it’s something you made. That mindset makes feedback much easier to process, understand, and use to improve, without diminishing your whole journey. What career advice would you give your younger self? I’d tell myself to see my work more as a service rather than a masterpiece every time. Even when we love what we do, not every project will be our “dream project,” and many are subject to approvals and revisions based on goals we don’t control. Seeing your work as part of a larger process makes it easier to understand briefings, client expectations, and the role your illustration plays in a bigger picture. Do you have any tips/advice for other illustrators? Respect your rest time and take care of your health—both mental and physical.

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