Manu Cunhas

All

Character Design

Children & Family

Fantasy

People

Revolutionary War troops with captain on horse holding British flag

Zoom

Find similar

Woman in witch hat with glowing butterfly and large green leaves

Zoom

Find similar

Red armchair in front of curved bookshelves full of books by Manu Cunhas

Zoom

Find similar

Illustration of various mushroom species by Manu Cunhas

Zoom

Find similar

Group of five people taking photos with cameras by Manu Cunhas

Zoom

Find similar

Manu creates a happy mood

Sympathetic, energetic, adorable

Manu Cunhas is an experienced Brazilian illustrator whose work highlights bold, powerful and eccentric women characters. There’s a positive vibe to what she creates – a sense of fun, with a strong feminine identity, brought to life by Manu’s unique visual language. Based in the city of Florianópolis, Manu has clients across Brazil and further afield. She works with a range of publishers and broadcasters, creating character-led artwork perfect for editorial and book publishing, as well as advertising and online campaigns. Many of her clients return time and again because they know she’s organised, listens to what they want and works quickly to deliver their projects. Manu studied graphic design at UDESC and has immersed herself in a range of artistic techniques throughout her career – watercolour, gouache and, of course, digital. She’s inspired by people and nature, a hint of magic, and creatives including Neil Gaiman, Charles Vess and Fefe Torquato.

Approach

Manu dives deep into the concept behind each project, and the story of each character, using them to drive the style, colours and small details in the imagery.

Styles

There are two broad styles Manu works in. The first is for younger audiences, with strong forms, a reduced palette and a childlike sense of wonder. Her second style is rich, elaborate and detailed, more mature and ideal for projects with serious themes.

Languages

Fluent in Portuguese with good English.

Awards

2017 – Jabuti Awards – Illustration – Second place

Impressions

Interview

Send Enquiry

Interview

Did you study illustration in college? No, I studied Graphic Design at UDESC. The graduation had very little to do with illustration, but it gave me a great foundation for project development, in addition to being the place where I found my first professional contacts.Where did you grow up? I grew up in a little town called Tubarão. The city barely had a theatre, but it was a great place to grow up freely and in contact with nature.Where do you live now and what drew you there? Today I live in Florianópolis, the capital of the state of Santa Catarina (in the south of Brazil). I came here during college, 17 years ago, and never went back. It's a very beautiful and peaceful island, I really love living here.Describe your studio for us My studio is in a room in my apartment, designed just for that. It has a little of everything since it became my Oasis inside the house. Upon entering the room, you are faced with a single bed and several paintings and affective objects, a corner where I like to stay to read or reflect on my projects. I work at a huge table, covered in plants and drawing materials, which my cats often squish. The rest of the space has cabinets to store stocks of books and products I sell at conventions, as well as hundreds of paintings I've produced over the years. The shelves behind me are filled with projects I've been involved in, prizes, and things I cherish. Looks like a modern witch room.Who or What is your biggest inspiration? I think what inspires me the most are the stories of ordinary people and the elements of nature. I love bringing these things to my work and to my personal projects, it gives me so much joy.If you could collaborate with another artist or creative of any genre, living or dead, who would it be?Neil Gaiman, for sure!If you were funded for a dream artist residency, where would you go, and what would you create?I'd love to be in the countryside to create, some quiet and cold place. Right now I'd probably focus on an illustrated book that I've been thinking about for the past year.What career advice would you give your younger self?I guess I would just say to start therapy earlier and try to live a less anxious work life haha!Is there a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?Yes, I think early on in my career I had a really hard time saying no to projects that actually didn't make sense with what I was looking for, working with confused and disrespectful clients. Over time I managed to better understand what I wanted to do and started to work with more organized and objective people, which gave me peace and much better results.What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?In the countryside, reading, playing or drawing while listening to the sound of a waterfall and observing nature, with the people I love.What's your most prized possession and why?I think my drawing materials that I've been gathering throughout my life.What causes are you passionate about?I'm definitely passionate about the social agendas raised by LGBT+ and intersectional feminism movements, which so are always present in my works and relationships.Do you adopt any environmental habits/practices to be more sustainable?I generally try to consume local products of an ethical origin, in addition to making an effort to reduce the production of waste, such as the use of cloth adsorbents, and for my kid eco diapers, or even buying things in bulk.Do you collect anything? I collect various things, from stones and small things I find in nature to things related to archery, a hobby that I am very fond of.Who is your art hero? I guess Rebecca Guay, she was the first female illustrator that I saw in the things I consumed when I was younger, which made me think if I could work in this field too.Who is your music hero? Cassia Eller.If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? Probably an editorial designer or an artist in other fields.What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? To trust in myself and to understand that even though we can always do a better job, we have to do what we can with the time we have.If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would love to visit Nova Zelândia!Have you any hidden talents? Well, I have a ton of hobbies. I love to sew costumes, make sculptures in different materials, photograph, and practice archery. I have a lot of fun doing these things and I always try to do the best I can with what I have, I guess my talent is trying new things all the time!How would someone who knows you well describe you? A thoughtful person who is always doing a new personal project.What is your go-to comfort food?Sushi!What movie can you watch over and over?Lord of the Rings.What is the last show you binged?Sandman.What was the last concert you went to?A show from Edson Cordeiro.What is your favourite book?The Mists of Avalon!What is your go-to karaoke song?Bohemian Rhapsody, for the despair of everyone!Do you have any tips/advice for other illustrators?It's important to be critical about your work, but never to the point to put yourself down - respect the phase you're in so you can continue to grow as an artist. And if you see yourself with constant art blocks, try to make simple things as studies, every day a little, without the pressure to show this to your audience.What do you listen to when you work? If I have to concentrate I usually go with a Lofi playlist, but I like to listen to podcasts or Brazilian artists as in this playlist.