Diego Abreu

All

Animals

Conceptual

People

Photorealistic

Retro

Sport & Fitness

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Conceptual poster on Amazon Rain Forest for POSTed Studio

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Book cover of a boy with a basketball in a small town street by Diego Abreu

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Diego understands to use dramatic lighting

Expressive, painterly, cinematic

Colourful, dynamic and nuanced, artwork by the Brazilian illustrator Diego Abreu demonstrates his excellent eye for both composition and detail. Using a wide variety of techniques, he’s very flexible creating everything from contemporary hero pieces to classical portraiture and even fantasy illustrations. With a strong background in graphic design, Diego understands the creative process and how to create impactful visual communication. Clients enjoy the way he shares his creative process with them, bringing his ideas and energy to every brief and creating something new and different. He works with brands from around the world. His main influences go back centuries and include great painters such as Rembrandt, Rubens and Caravaggio, although he’s also inspired by contemporary artists like Sattu Rodrigues, Adhemas Batista and Greg Rutkowski. Diego has a degree in Social Communication from Universidade Federal Fluminense in Rio.

Approach

A digital painter, Diego uses Photoshop and Paintstorm Studio to combine handcrafted brushstrokes and shading with modern graphics. His process begins with research and exploration of the composition and ends with a detailed finished artwork.

Key Software

Photoshop and Paintstorm Studio

Style

Diego’s style is always exciting, expressive and colourful, however the look and feel of each piece varies from traditional and realistic to modern and graphic.

Languages

Fluent in Portuguese with good English.

Impressions

Interview

Video

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Interview

What led you to become an illustrator? I always liked drawing and painting, but I didn't see that I could do it professionally. I ended my working day with graphic design and, often, spent the last hours of the day dedicating myself to illustration for pleasure. Until I started receiving requests from people who saw it and liked it and I realized that I could turn it into something bigger.Did you study illustration in college? Unfortunately, I couldn't study illustration in college. I graduated in Advertising (Social Communication at Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF) and specialized my training in Art Direction, which was the closest to graphic arts.Where did you grow up? I grew up in quiet neighborhoods of Niterói and São Gonçalo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I had a simple childhood, but interesting enough, I was very exposed to literature, painting and music.Do you have a childhood memory relating to art that you hold dear? Yes. My influence in drawing and art came from my maternal grandmother. Whenever I visited her, I came into contact with books, drawings and painting. And it was at her house that I painted my first oil painting, when I was nine years old. I have that warm memory in my heart to this day.Describe your studio for us My studio is very simple, I just need my desk with the computer and a space to make my drawings. When I want to paint on canvas, I do it outdoors. I have already lost my drawing material to my children (I think I will soon have two little illustrators here), who, on the other hand, decorate the whole place with their toys scattered around.Who or What is your biggest inspiration? That's a difficult answer. I think what attracts me most are classical artists, the challenges they overcame and what they managed to achieve inspire me a lot. I love cinema, literature and music, and in cinema I appreciate not only the artistic vision, but the process in which things are carried out, especially in older films. There are also many illustrators who inspire me from the past to today, and I invest time in understanding their vision and technique; I think this fuels my creativity and teaches me a lot.If you could collaborate with another artist or creative of any genre, living or dead, who would it be?Wow, I could fill out a huge list. Among the ancients, I think the first is Rembrandt, and if I can cheat, I would add Caravaggio. Among the living I would choose an illustrator, Sattu Rodrigues, I love his work.If you were funded for a dream artist residency, where would you go, and what would you create?I think I would go to Europe. I would immerse myself as much as I could in the great painters. And let's just say there's a lot of inspiration there.Is there a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?In recent years I made the transition from what I worked before to dedicate myself fully to illustration. I spent a long period of very intense work. I think the big lesson I learned from this is that we don't live to work, we just work to live better. We need to have time for ourselves, for our family, to enjoy what we love.What's your most prized possession and why?It's definitely my family.What causes are you passionate about?I think responsibility with our consumption, thinking about the impact of our actions. And also respect for others. I believe this sums up many of the causes of our time. If I transmit a little of this with my works, I will feel victorious.How do you separate your work life from your home life?It's hard to do this when we work from home. I tend to get very involved with work, but I've been making an effort to delimit each space a little more to separate things.Do you collect anything? I'm slowly building a small library. I have also invested in board games.What do you listen to when you work?I always hear something. Whether it's news, a podcast, a documentary or a music playlist, sound is part of my concentration and creativity process and very much reflects my feeling at that moment.Who is your art hero? I think I have phases. I was fascinated by Rembrandt for a long time (still am), I also greatly admired Peter Paul Rubens. But at the moment I'm diving a lot into Norman Rockwell's work.Who is your design hero? Adhemas Batista, without a doubt.If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? I would be less happy? I worked with graphic design and photography for many years, maybe that would be the realistic path. On the other hand, I would also be very happy as a writer.If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would like to know more places in Brazil.How would someone who knows you well describe you? Maybe some people around here describe me as an old man in a “still” young body, but also as funny and good to talk to.What is your go-to comfort food?Thinking about the word comfort, I would say Chocolate.What movie can you watch over and over?A film that marked my childhood was Jurassic Park, I could watch it many more times. But there are works like Seven, Star Wars, the Brazilian “O Auto da Compadecida”, Life of Pi, Whiplash, the trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”, almost all of them by Scorcese, better to end the list here!What was the last exhibition you saw and loved? I wouldn't say an exhibition, but a theme. Not long ago I took a course on Modern Art that completely changed my paradigms. I was able to have contact with an incredible universe that was completely unknown and see the creative processes of famous artists, realizing the tangle of influences that Occidental and Oriental arts had on each other, in short, it was very enriching. I strongly recommend this topic of study to anyone interested.What is your favourite book?Moby Dick. For me, it is a masterpiece and something extremely engaging. Gates of Fire was also a book that moved me in a different way, given the dedication of those characters. Jurassic Park was very fun and interesting. I've been reading a lot of Bernard Cornwell lately. The universe of literature is very vast and unfortunately neglected. There are incredible works that can mark our lives.What career advice would you give your younger self?Don't despise what you do with pleasure. Dedicate yourself to this and you will be happier.Do you have any tips/advice for other illustrators?I would say my tip is to consume a lot of art and exercise your critical eye. I think that a critical eye provides us with a lot of learning. When we self-criticize, we give ourselves the chance to improve ourselves and refine our Work. When we critically consume the work of others, we can learn new concepts and paths to follow in our processes.

Soccer player kicking ball with colorful strokes by Diego Abreu

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Knight in armor on white horse fighting a green dragon with colorful patterns.

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Statue of Liberty reclining on a brown couch by Diego Abreu

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Football player jumps over no ball games sign evading defender

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Odyssey film poster by Diego Abreu featuring mythic characters and stormy seas

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Diego Abreu illustration of two people watching an early biplane at sunset

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Official documentary poster for O Cravista

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Street scene with people, blue car, colorful houses, and trees by Diego Abreu

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El Eternauta concept poster with figure in dark suit and snow footprints by Diego Abreu

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Camden Lock's portrait poster for NFL London Games

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A hand reaches toward a fiery orb in a dark forest scene by Diego Abreu

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Poster of Choque de Cultura with four men and a red van by Diego Abreu

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2022 Lidl Finland/Vieheproductions advertising illustration

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Napoleon on rearing horse with red cape, military uniform by Diego Abreu

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Poster artwork for the "O Auto da Compadecida" film

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Map of Middle-earth showing regions like Mordor, Rohan, and Gondor

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Harry Potter collector's book with dragon illustration on cover

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Depicting of American actor and producer Brad Pitt

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A realistic portrait of American singer Elvis Presley

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Cyberpunk neon-lit street with lone rider at night by Diego Abreu

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Paris balcony breakfast with croissants, fruit, and Eiffel Tower by Diego Abreu

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Card illustration of Babe Ruth for an NFT project

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Diego Abreu

Selected illustrations

Advertising poster of "Blade Runner" movie

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Fantasy world map by Diego Abreu with ornate borders, ships, sea creatures, and compass rose.

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Main characters from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with assistant principal

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Realistic portrait painting of Chef Carmy Berzatto

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Two football players with farm animals near a farm shop sign

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Dune poster concept by Diego Abreu featuring a dramatic desert portrait

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Diego Abreu illustration of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk

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Book jacket design for Terry Deary’s latest title with Penguin Random House

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Diego's posters generate hype for this year's NFL London Games

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Packaging design for Vigor Grego - Frutas Vermelhas

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Pop-Up guide: Magical creatures from Harry Potter films

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Advertising of Tiger Beer Singapore in 2022

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Diego Abreu poster showing PSG versus Arsenal with players and fans

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Digital painting of the fictional character Hatter

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Portraiture of American musician James Brown

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Portrait of Brazilian motorsports driver Ayrton Senna

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Time magazine cover about the Russia-Ukraine war

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The Floratta Rose fragrance packaging design

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City street with lanterns and mountain, painting by Diego Abreu

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Street corner with drugstore, cafe, and person walking by at sunset by Diego Abreu

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A cover story for Politico.eu featuring Minister António Costa

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Colorful historic plaza scene with people and yellow scooter by Diego Abreu

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Healthcare worker in green scrubs and cap looking upward thoughtfully

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Sci-fi book cover showing three characters and a robot in a purple alien landscape

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Man in suit with VAT cone hat on red background

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Promotional poster design for Beverly Hills Cop III

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Three people on subway bench, football player in center holding helmet, others seated

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Painterly of Brazil's TV show Papo de Segunda

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Diego Abreu crafts scenic visuals for Brazil's Papo de Segunda launch

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Concept poster for Kaos series by Diego Abreu with man and lightning

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Photorealistic poster of The Shawshank Redemption film

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Sports star portraits tease NFL UK & Ireland's 2024 Tournament

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Watercolor painting of a playing children

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Pop-up book cover design of "Harry Potter Creatures"

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Paints captivating scenes for Brazil's Papo de Segunda debut

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Confident man with hair transplant illustration and overlay text in French.

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Holiday card for Samsung Smart Things - Cheil Worldwide Inc.

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Helena Bonham as Marla Singer in the Fight Club

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Portraiture of fictional character, Beth Harmon

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Guardian angel holding car keys flying over road with burning car smoke by Diego Abreu

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Selected Clients

CNN, Chicago City Hall, Blizzard, Warner Bros, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Hurricanes, Samsung, Tiger Beer, Globosat, Penguin Random House, Spears Magazine, Politico, NFL UK and more