Brave New Year



Hey there folks!
Just hope you're having an AWESOME 2012 so far!

(I am!)

Well, after a real journey of self-discovery in a brief living at Buenos Aires, Argentina, I believe that this year is now FINALLY beginning for me. As I should've guessed before, my place is still where my heart is... and for now, it's in the southern Brazil. But the experience was EPIC, and I couldn't have made such amazing personal and artistic breakthoughs, if I didn't had tried my luck there.

And what I did found out was simple, but a bit harsh to truly understand by other means - I just need to keep pushing torwards the things that REALLY moves me in my way to become what I want to be. I don't need to do anything else, but to chase my dreams, even if they are insane. And from this "ground zero", I've started planning my year.

Two major resolutions snaped on my mind, after all this.
My illustration path will become more "digestible", at some instances.
My fine arts path... well, I guess it will become the ultimate self indulgence tool. And I can't explain this - you'll have to take your conclusions when I start spreading them to the world. Little by little, quietly, with no rush. Until it blooms.

I don't have many art news, as the past few weeks/months were basically about developing my ideas for the year to come. But I DO have some stuff... and here we are!





This is one of my last experiments from 2011 - an acrylic painting that I digitally composed with some painted textures that I've created for it. The "crown" and graphics are purely digital, though, as some little tweaks. The great game here is to balance all the elements... no place for any formula, every single image done this way will have it's own equation. Many thanks to my dear Serbian friend and multi talented artist Dragan for some final feedback words, that helped me a lot!

I call this an "experiment" and not an "illustration", just because I don't really know what it is or where does it fit. I wish I could call this a digital fine art, but it wouldn't be truly honest to it.



"Shattering the Inner Geometries", acrylics and digital


And here, some of my first inks studies, that I've started playing with recently. This glorious media will play a huge part on my artsy stuff from now on... but I prefer not to talk about it now - not enough repertoire, yet. Just give me some time! (just bought tons of nibs and inks to experiment)







Bellow, the latest cover for Mundo Estranho (January 2012 issue), a Brazillian magazine about curiosities on science and every single subject imaginable (often CRAZY, and always fun!). The theme for the issue was "Powers of the Mind" (the relation of psychic powers and science), and the art director asked me for the Las Vegas-esque magicians - hence the classic twisted spoon stuff.




OH and I guess I've never posted about the other cover I did for them some months ago, right? It's already an oldie. The theme was "Exorcism"... well, no need for words. GAH!!!





I TRULY believe that this year is holding us plenty of surprises, and great things to happen. And there are no tricks, no shortcuts to reach our personal goals - we just HAVE to make our greatest expectations become real, by ourselves. It's in our hands, hearts and minds to achieve everything - and I mean everything - we dream of.

Until very soon - as I NEED to finish some illustrations this February, I think that the next post will not take long! And consider this a commitment, even if just to myself.
Abraços, see ya soon!

Ps.: Check out this AMAZING Serbian artist (oh Serbia, how many wonders and tricks you have there - right Petar?), Vanja Todoric. What a nice fella!




A taste of things to come



HOW LONG my dear friends!

Well, after all this time, this is the moment to start spreading the word again. Or pixels! Or paint brushes!

The reason for my vanishment was nothing less than a really good one - I'm currently working on the new portfolio, filled with some new approaches for things that I like, some experimental stuff and  obscure traditional works from my inner creature. In order to get things moving, I just had to exercise a valuable amount of isolation (from internet, etc.) to get the whole thing organized and focused... and what can I say? This post is just a teaser, the tip of the iceberg for what's to come. I've finally found a very exciting (and new) direction to develop my work and my visual languages, with both illustration and fine arts, and the first steps that I'm taking are already thrilling. I'm extremelly excited! I'll start sharing the first results very, very soon.

But for now, let's get to some recent stuff, shall we?





"Keykeeper", digital


This piece Keykeeper is actually a study, that I've developed to figure some things out before making larger experiments. In fact, I'm already creating some further experiments based on it, but those you'll only see around December... ok? Although this piece is fresh, it actually doens't represent my very current stream-of-counsciousness flow of ideas... so, now you have and idea of what's to come.




Concept for "Salteador", digital


Salteador was just an experiment with speedpainting - the whole thing took me a bit more than 6 hours... so, perhaps its not THAT "speedy", right? But sounds legit to me! I usually take one to three weeks into a illustration... bleh. Oh yeah, I'll make a series out of it, for an (alternative) fantasy-oriented project.

Plus, an acrylic study I've done a few months ago, and a recent sketchbook experiment.



Study, "Gifted", acrylics on Arches 300 gms paper



Acrylics, oil and collage on sketchbook 


Next week, I share a new oil panting - it's really almost done.
Teaser time? YEAH! Some stuff at the studio:




Recently, I just had the HUGE honor of not only being featured, but also being the cover for the amazing Revista Ilustrar, the top illustration online magazine in Brazil. The mag is a reference for any illustrator here, and I'm humbled for the incredible opportunity. Check it out! It's only available in portuguese right now, but Mr. Google Translator might be of help (for the curious)!

In other übercool news, I'm now officially represented by Shannon Associates NY, one of the top artist agencies on the planet. It's ridiculously awesome! Check out their website - it's wonderfull to be a part of such an amazing family. Great things are about to happen! Life is good.

Lately, I've been mindblown by some UNBELIEVABLE good music.
You HAVE to check Alva Noto - this multidisciplinary art monster is the man. It's THAT good. And besides being such an avantgarde musician, he's a TOP fine artist!

Other inspirations have been the Tumblrs... they are my ultimate inspiration addiction nowadays - some of them just touches your mind in a very beautiful way.

Gusrauber (from my talented friend Gustavo Rauber)

And a LOT more!

Yeah folks, I have SO MUCH to do, and it's getting more and more exciting to live through this! Things will get only crazy-er from now on. And soon, I'll share some news about Buenos Aires...

All the best, thanks for the usual warmth, and sorry for such a delay - next time, I'll not take THAT long to udpate my stuff here! Promisse.

Abraço my dears, see ya soon!



There and back again



Hey there amigos, what's up?

Here I am, back from the limbo! I just had to take a break and make a new post (for your delightment or disgust), just to start fueling things for what's next. Well, things have been simply INSANE, hence the delay here. And just because I want, I'll not obey the SPS this time - today is the very beginning of a whole new creative life and workflow for me, so I just felt this was a very nice moment to post something new.

I still have a lot of ongoing stuff, but for now, I'll just share a few studies from the new sketchbook (made by the genius bookbinder Rosa from Zoopress), and a little sneak of my current oil painting.

I just have to say, things are finally aligning in my life, and very soon I"ll be able to share some of these news. One of the things I can share now, is that I'm the proud new cover artist for an insane graphic novel, put up by the über awesome (australian film company) Resolution Independent (the guys are HUGE - they're making a movie adaptation of Ashley Wood's Popbot comics, how cool is that?). Thanks to the awesome Pete! Ford for the oportunity - these comics are gonna be DOPE! As soon as possible, I'll start sharing the processes for this project - promisse. Yeah.

As some of you may know (or mostly not), I"m now a member of Gorilla Artfare - the most badass art gang on the planet! Here is my official first post at the blog. And PLEASE, don't forget to sneak through the work of the fantastic artists there - they're really beyond me, what makes my contribution there a even greater honor for me!

(My HUGE thanks for the Jedi Master Scott for bringing me to the Gorilla raft, and of course, for everyone there that supports me so much!)

No more words - here is the real deal. Some graphite, acrylics and collage for ya! And of course, the oil at the end.



















Here's a little sneak from the painting, just at the early stages (that's why I'll not show much of it, booo)




And make sure you'll pay a visit to my lovely (and mega talented and inspiring) friends:

Julien Alday
Scott Altmann
Dragan Bibin
Finn Clark
Jean Fhilippe
Lars Henkel
Kako
Rod Luff
Ericka Lugo
Jon Suguiyama

(Ok, I have TOO many friends - will post more of them next time!)

That's it for now folks - until soon!
Hope you are all fine, abraços!




Teasers, drawings, and the usual epiphanies

Hey, what's up?

Here I am again folks, right at our SPS day! 
But I must admit though, that today is gonna be just a teaser for our next meeting - if I manage to finish all the things I'm planning, of course...!





Detail, study for "Rabbath", pencil on moleskine


The sketch above is a study for a illustration I'll be delivering soon for a very special (musical) occasion, but I'll talk more about it next week ok?

In the meanwhile, I started working on a series of ideas on my brand new (recently acquired), handmade sketchbook that looks (and feels) absolutelly fantastic! Next week I'll post a few shots of this wonderfull book, and of course, the results of these new studies - experiments that I'll develop further in my fine arts projects. 

I just had this enormous epiphany (I always have these mindblowing revelations...) concerning my artistic directions, what certainly had a huge impact on my artistic plans... some changes will happen, friends. But for good. Will show some stuff soon.



This is the new beast! Soft leather covers, Rives paper... DA THING!!!




And this is the "opening" artwork for the book... a symbolic drawing related to my personal artistic urges and beliefs, and also an attempt to explore the Sarmento family crest (the coat of arms) in a bizarre way.


And here are some unbelievable discoveries I've made this week. What an SWEET group of great artists!


And I just have to say, what an INCREDIBLE source of inspiration...


...put up by the über talented Mr. Kinsella The Third. I'll never cease to be amazed by Ed's dicoveries on earlier illustration artists. Thanks for that Ed!

Until next saturday folks - hope you all have a wonderfull Easter, and an awesome week! It's time to work harder than ever, and take several steps torwards our dreams. We can't just "hope" for things to happen, right? As a wise friend said, "Fuck hope. Make shit happen". Can it get as good (and TRUE) as this?

Abraços.



Artist Help Japan

Hey there folks,

This Saturday Power Sketch will be a very thin one... yeah, I know. Despite the fact that I've just engaged on a series of projects this last week (wich I can't show yet), I also couldn't manage to scan my little studies... I just promisse that next week I'll compensate that.

BUT, I bring you something new amigos. This piece was created for a charity auction for Japan, Artist Help Japan, put together by the amazing folks of Imaginism Studios. The wonderfully talented and super nice guy Peter Chan invited me almost at the last minute, but I still had one day to create this piece. It's not a big deal, but I just hope it will contribute somehow to this wonderfull cause, along with a variety of superstar artists - being among them on this auction honors me SO much! 







"Geist", graphite and acrylics on Fabriano 300gms paper


Until soon folks, have a nice week!




Saturday P... wait, you'll see later



Hey there folks, what's up?

Yeah, I'm still here - hopefully for a very long time.

Despite the insane last month, everything is beginning to fit. I moved my studio (that was a shared space with my great friend and illustrator Thiago Krening - BTW, go check out his freaking good work) to my home... and things are SO BETTER now! I did it for a series of reasons, but mainly because I really needed to start to devote myself entirely for the experiments and pantings, wich are things that will dictate my future.

Well, well - today, I wanna share with you an idea that just snaped while I was lunching - something to boost my experimentations, as I really need to improve my worflow. In order to keep me working even more insanely, I've decided to make this idea happen.

Are you ready...???

I'm gonna proclaim this saturday, the first installment of...

(drum rolls)

... the Saturday Power Sketch.

(applause)

Every saturday will be the day to post something new. That is a commitment to myself folks! Just hope you may come and visit me every saturday, but of course, every day is fine too!

Well, to inaugurate this date, I'll post my first "real" oil painting - aside from several experiments, this is the first one I actually finished with a purpose. I've painted it for Power In Numbers online show at Gallery Nucleus, a fund raising beneficent event with more affordable art. PIN requires that every artwork measures around 5 X 7 inches (or 12,5 X 17,5 cm), so it's REALLY small. My huge thanks for the aforementioned Thiago for the pics, and thanks to all the wonderfull folks at Nucleus for the opportunity!

It is based on the study of my previous post, hence the same name.







"The Clairvoyant", oil and acrylic over board


This is a study that I intend to paint digitally, just for fun. I've named it "Lars" to pay homage to my german friend (and one of the best illustrator alive, I freaking mean it), Lars Henkel. The name "Lars" just have this germanic, perhaps even nordic feeling to it, that I thought it would fit well to this "warrion in his forties" character. I tried to keep it simple, but conveying a mixed atmosphere (the tattoo, the pseudo kilt, the bracelet) that could be related to several cultures. Sorry for associating your name with a barbarian, Lars! ;^)




Sketch for "Lars", graphite on WC paper. 


This study bellow will become another digital painting soon. - an experiment for some visual languages that I wanna develop further.




Study for "Godhead", graphite on WC paper


And here some links of inspiring stuff I've found lately.

Johannes Grützke

Isidro Ferrer

Poly Bernatene 

Jorge González

And a special mention to the revamped blog of my artbro Jean Fhilippe - in fact, you should get outta here and go check it RIGHT NOW! And DON'T FORGET paying a visit to the rest of "The Gang": Rod "Squarechin" Luff and Scott "Der Maister" Altmann, these three mosntas are freaking me out with their ultra-above-the-standard art.

Abraço, just hope you enjoy it - until next saturday!




Projects ahead + a few studies


Hello there folks,

Just to remind you that I exist. :)
In fact, I'm in the middle of a maelstrom of (good) things happening, but I'm working to post here with a regular basis. I have a bunch of ongoing (and SO EXCITING) projects, and as I develop them a little further, I'll start unravelling the details for you. This is why I have this blog, after all!

As a plus, I found out that I'm gonna be featured on some huge publications, but I'll just wait until I can really say more about it. Sweet!

But, enough talking. Bellow there's a sneak peak on a (very) early study for a future illustration, and a quick painting to exercise some ideas, no big deal. Looking now, I think the painting came out a bit ugly (quite nasty in fact), but I just had to let go and move on from it. There are other things to be painted!

But I still hope you enjoy it.
All the best, abraços!






Study, "The Occultist", pencil on moleskine



Study, "Clairvoyant", acrylics on moleskine