What led you to become an illustrator?Illustration has always been part of my life, since I was a child. Although I never really saw it as an occupation but definitely as an important skill to have when performing a creative job. I would never thought I could be financially independent from being an illustrator exclusively, but everything has been happening in a natural way. I focused on Graphic Design since my graduation and have worked as a Graphic Designer for more than 10 years. After becoming a freelancer in 2017, I started taking commissions for illustration jobs and only after a while I realised that it was my main source of income.Did you study illustration in college?I studied Graphic Design at Universidade Paulista, in São Paulo, Brazil, where I could learn a bit of Illustration theories and art history, but nothing major about it. My skills have been developed in an independent way (self-taught) and in open courses.Where did you grow up?In the suburb of São Paulo.Do you have a childhood memory relating to drawing/art that you hold dear?I used to draw everything that was part of my daily life for which I had to use a lot of imagination to create scenes and stories. And I’m lucky enough to have a sister who is a teacher and has always supported me and kept practically all my drawings from that time! I still remember when I started to illustrate by observation and that was when I illustrated all the dolls I used to have.Where do you live now and what drew you there?I live in the same flat in São Paulo for 6 years now. Although I look forward to being able to live in a house with a garden in the future, what motivated me to choose this flat was its security and the green area that surrounds the building. Also, it’s an area very well linked with public transport options.Describe your studio for usI have an office in one of my flat’s rooms. Because it’s not very spacious, I try to leave everything very accessible and every corner can be flexibly used. I really enjoy having it all well organised, which goes totally against common sense that says our mind works best in chaos. I truly depend on having it mess-free in order to allow my creative flow.Do you have a studio pet?Serifa is the star of this place. She’s a cat I’ve rescued from the streets 5 years ago.Describe the view from your windowThe windows face the green area of the condominium. It’s full of trees and I can see the sunrise.Who or What is your biggest inspiration?Definitely nature. It only takes me a quick walk in the sun to have a good day and keep the creativity flowing nicely.How do you get your ideas?From having a nice bunch of art reference saved and to try and keep myself well informed with what’s going on in the world, from chatting to people and from making sure I have free time.Do you collect anything? I couldn’t say it’s a collection, but I enjoy keeping dried leaves in different shapes.What are your interests outside of illustration? Photography, Design and Interior Design.What was your favourite assignment ever?Illustrating the cover of Superinteressante magazine with 6 portraits of very important people that are part of a 70 names list of women who changed the world: Marie Curie, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Angela Merkel, Frida Kahlo, Anita Garibaldi and Malala Yousafzai.What would be your dream commission?The ones involving any social cause, related to climate change or animal protection.What is the best use of illustration you have ever seen?I really love the work of Anna Bond, an American artist who’s built an empire with her company Rifle Paper Co. She’s got her own unique style and is very successful in transforming her art into different types of high standard products, from paper calendar to rugs and decoration objects.What makes a good client brief?The ones in which you know exactly what the client expects as a final result and it’s aligned with work style.How much of your work is hand drawn?Most of my work is performed using the tablets from sketching to finals. I normally use my sketchbooks for the development of some of my original and personal works, when I don’t necessarily need to do the finals.How do you envisage illustration evolving?I have to say it still surprises me when I realise how much my work progresses every day. Results that in the recent past I wouldn’t imagine having are naturally happening, it’s very clear to me now I have an everyday contact with illustration. As we use to say about riding a bicycle, that once you learn it, you’ll never forget it, the same doesn’t happen with illustrating. After a while without practicing it, you feel as if you’re getting back to an exercising routine after a long time being idle. The brain, just like the muscles, takes a while to get back to how it was.Who is your art hero?Van Gogh.Who is your design hero?I don’t have a person as a design hero, but a design studio called “Design Army”, I really admire their work.If you were not an illustrator, what would you be?I would still be working as a graphic designer.What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?“Even if you fear it, go for it”.If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?I’m lucky enough to have been able to visit my top 3 places I wanted to visit in the world: 1- the village my mother was born in, in Portugal, 2- Paris and 3- Italy. But I realised that travelling to places with an intense contact with nature is what fascinates me the most. It was the case when I visited the Atacama desert and some beaches in Brazil. I would then say my aim for when the pandemic is over is to visit the Amazon!Have you any hidden talents?Photography. How would someone who knows you well describe you?He/she would say I cannot leave things incomplete and that I am very detail-oriented. He/she would also say I like getting involved in social causes, especially the ones about animal protection and that I’m usually very straight-forward when giving opinions (after being asked).If you could live anywhere, where would it be?Maybe Portugal. For the convenience of speaking the same language, for having already visited it a few times, for having some close relatives living there and also because I have the Portuguese citizenship.If you could travel back in time, who would be the one person you would want to meet and why?My maternal grandfather. I’ve always heard lovely stories about him but I didn’t have the chance to meet him as he died before I was born. What themes or content in the world inspires you?Almost everything can become an inspiration. The subjects that I’m most interest into usually involves photography, cats, insects, plants and the women's power.How do you keep on trend and up to date in our quickly changing industry?I simply don’t force myself to follow trends or to always be catching up with every change all the time. I’m not on every social media platform, for example. Of course I try to keep updated but making sure I choose the trends and tools that make sense to my personal and professional development.What is your go-to comfort food?Rice and beans from my mum <3What movie can you watch over and over?Amélie.What do you listen to when you’re illustrating?I like listening to podcasts or to easy-listening music. I usually find film and series soundtracks and leave it on while illustrating.What is the last show you binged?The CrownWhat was the last exhibition you saw and loved?Because of the pandemic I haven’t been to any exhibitions last year, but I’ve been to one in 2019 at the São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound (MIS), about comics. The exhibition was a look-back at the history of comics in Brazil and in the world.What was the last concert you went to?It’s been ages! But it was a John Mayers’ concert.What do you do when you have creative block?I don’t usually insist on trying to do something that is not flowing. When I have a creative block I simply don’t bother and start doing some household tasks or paperwork. There’s no time to lose.What is your favourite way to fill free time? Any hobbies?Before the pandemic my favourite hobby was to travel! Even if it was a short-distance trip on a weekend. But I really enjoy watching series.What is your go-to karaoke song?It’s probably the most popular answer amongst Brazilians: Evidências (song) by Chitãozinho e Xororó (a country music duet).Which languages can you speak?Only Portuguese :(What is your favourite quote?You’ve already got “no” (so, it’s always worth it trying, something like that)What is your favourite ice cream flavour?Vanilla.Is there any random thing you consider yourself an expert on?I’m very good on a cat liner style eyeliner. :)
