Henrique was born in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, in 1998. As a child, he was very shy, quiet and observant. He always expressed himself better with drawings than with words. When he was at school, he spent his days drawing in the margins of books, in notebooks or on his desk. Today, he is an illustrator and graphic designer. He is very interested in the publishing world and in exploring the use of illustration as a means of communication. In 2022, the Portuguese publisher Planeta Tangerina published his first book “O primeiro dia”, a work that won the IV Serpa International Prize for Illustrated Album.

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling a little uncomfortable today, with a lot of thoughts and emotions to process.

How did your journey into illustrating begin? When did it all start for you?

It all started with me watching my father draw. When I was a child, he used to draw cars, houses and faces. So I started copying him, I started making my own drawings inspired by him.

Your work feels so naive, soothing, and calm to us. What do you hope people feel when they see them?

I don't think much about how people will feel when they see my work. I just draw things I want to see.

Which piece of your work do you think best represents your style?

The piece that best represents my style is always my last piece. My style is constantly evolving and changing.

Creating art often involves a lot of personal reflection. How do you find that process affects your sense of self and your understanding of the world?

Most of the time when I'm drawing, I don't think about what the result will be, I just start drawing, and then I think my subconscious side takes over and starts expressing itself on paper. And it's funny because it takes a while for me to understand what that drawing means, what my subconscious wants to tell me, sometimes it takes years. Automatic drawing is a way for me to let my inner child express itself, maybe that's why people say my work looks naive.

Could you share a bit about the process behind your silent book, "The First Day of May"?

It was created during the Covid lockdown, that time seemed like it would never end, but the question appeared in my mind, what am I going to do when I can go out again, and then the idea of making a book about it came to me and I started writing the scenes, I imagined myself reconnecting with nature, I imagined all that green grass and blue sky. I used a lot of comic books as visual inspiration, so I ended up making an illustrated book with panels that some people called comic books for beginner readers. I find this concept interesting, but I never thought of this purpose. It's so funny how people interpret your work after you share it with the world, you no longer have control over what people will think or call it.

We love your miniature project! Do you have any collections or favorite items you enjoy collecting?

Oh yes, the miniature project is beautiful. This is a project I do with my younger sister, she is a master of ceramics. The idea of making the miniature was an attempt to mix our skills. I draw the characters and she makes them with ceramics. I like to collect small things, small sculptures, now I am starting a collection of small Buddha sculptures.

How would you describe your style to someone who’s never seen your work before?

Minimalist, with a limited color palette, childish.

What’s the most meaningful compliment you’ve received about your work?

The most meaningful compliment was when someone said that my drawings are simple, but they say a lot. That's when I realized that my work is good enough, and it doesn't have to be something super complex and detailed for people to appreciate it, there is beauty in simple and minimalist things.

What’s something recent that’s made you smile or brought you joy?

When I'm feeling down, I like to go to a park near my apartment. It brings me so much joy, being near the trees and watching other people enjoying nature. Just standing there feeling the sun on your face, listening to the birds, watching children having fun.

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers, or any upcoming projects you're excited about? We’re looking forward to seeing what you create next!

What I would like to say is: Love people like there is no tomorrow and work on what makes you happy. I hope everyone can do this.