BOOKS
Literary books I illustrated for young adult and adult audiences
Cora And The Place That Cares
Cora and the Place That Cares was a proposal presented about the story of Cora, a young girl in early childhood facing her first time having to visit a clinic for a medical appointment. Not knowing what awaited her there, she began imagining what the place, the people, and how they would treat her would be like.
Assuming she wouldn't feel comfortable there, she became anxious—an anxiety represented by a butterfly trapped in her tummy. Ultimately, accompanied by her parents, the girl went to the clinic, where the reception and the child-friendly environment showed a reality very different from what she had imagined. At the same time, the story turns into a lesson for children on understanding certain medical specialties in a language tailored for them.
Among the medical staff at the clinic, I applied the same criteria, including blonde, brunette, and plus-size individuals, among others. The technique chosen is watercolor, color pencil and marker adding a playful feel for preschool-aged children as intended by the proposal
When I envisioned drawing Cora and her family, to make the story more inclusive and accessible, I decided to create an interracial couple with a girl who had Afro-descendant features, red hair, and skin lighter than her mother's but darker than her father's, showcasing the couple's mixed heritage in the child.
Cora promises to be a book series, so we may have more projects coming up ahead.
Thank you for appreciating this project. I invite you to check out future ones and visit my website.
Gorrinho 2
"Gorrinho" was a project for which I was invited to illustrate a new edition of the book by João Pedro Roriz. This work tells the story of the adventures of a boy whose nickname is Gorrinho and his adventures with his friends. The book is divided into tales, and I was tasked with illustrating the opening, the character designs, and small illustrations to accompany the text.
Following up on the book's characters.
Note that each chapter opening underwent several modifications before reaching the final result.
For example, in this specific opening shown above, notice a slight change in the character who is standing up with crossed arms.
This particular opening had a major change in the character's position and expression. One of these images was even used for a humorous Instagram post writen: "credit card bill exploded"
In this image, you can notice some changes in position and expression.
The Family's Gray Cloud
Here is another picture book I illustrated late last year, titled "A Nuvem Cinza da Família" (The Family's Gray Cloud), published by Editora Amare
The Story
The narrative follows a little rain cloud who initially struggles with being perceived as a "party pooper." Throughout the story, however, he undergoes a journey of self-discovery, learning just how vital and important his role truly is.
Themes & Concept
At its heart, this is a story about embracing differences. It explores:
Overcoming the "spoiler" stereotype.
Understanding one's unique value within a group.
The beauty of diversity in nature and in ourselves
Process & Technique
For this project, I worked with a flat color technique, enhanced by subtle shading nuances to add depth and character.
Character Design: The Protagonist
To ensure consistency and capture the emotional range of our little rain cloud, I developed this expression model sheet.
Since the story deals with feelings of being misunderstood and eventual self-acceptance, it was crucial to map out how his "gloomy" exterior could still convey a wide spectrum of warmth and personality.
Technical Detail: Even within the flat color style, these expressions help define the character's volume and movement across the pages.
Thank you for making it this far. I hope you enjoyed what you saw. And I invite you to check out other projects and books I’ve illustrated, such as: Gorrinho 2, O Mistério Continua, A Aranha Cowboy and Gustavo & Júlia.
The Malady of Death
