The creative process
This project is the first of many in this area, as I developed a strong interest in illustration during my last semester of college. O rapaz e o Mar is a children's book with a very specific goal: to slow down and be patient.
The book was produced on Adobe Photoshop, however it started on paper with plenty of sketches and character studies
Simbolism
Process
As I introduced in the first paragraph, this book is a reflection of what I believe kids need in this day and age: slow dopamine. We are living in a challenging time
where children are constantly overstimulated and triggered. Even in traditional formats, such as books, there's a tendency to create fast-paced, quickly
resolved, and loud compositions and stories. That is exactly what I decided to move away from.
In that sense, O Rapaz e o Mar tells the story of a boy and his sea, their cyclical connection and harmony,
how nature embraces humans, and how humans should also embrace nature and its natural movement. The goal is to calm children's minds and let them imagine what it would be like if they were like this
little boy, with so much curiosity, compassion, and love.
It is certainly one of my favorite projects so far, and being able to show it almost complete is a lifetime goal.