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Tell us a little about your past as an artist.
I became interested in the creative arts at an early age and began exploring it at home; like painting, drawing and making collages (and trust me, the walls in my room have suffered because of it.) After I finished my degree in Design, I quickly realized that the digital arts and merely creating wasn’t doing it for me. I excelled at the manual process of creating my own work and I began to realize that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So I decided to go to London and do my masters in Textile Design. I put myself to the ultimate test especially on an artistic level, it enabled me to find and eventually build a personal identity. I toiled with numerous techniques while studying and realized hand-painting textile patterns was the perfect way for me to combine my deep love of painting and the creation of unique products.Hand painting helps me control an almost uncontrollable process that is art and I love that about this area.London provided me diverse perspectives as a creator, artist – it was a fantastic opportunity. The idea of ​​establishing standards comes the attempt to bring art behind closed doors onto the streets, the clothes of each and eventually create a moving art effect. As each piece, the consumer is reflected in the same way, only in their choices.

What is your creative process when creating a pattern? What concerns must be taken into account?
Prior to creation you must take into account basic issues like: materials, the surface of the fabric, the size of the design and the intended audience. After these factors are taken into consideration the rest is up to the imagination. Synthetic fabrics are much more challenging to work with because of the way they absorb the paint and the texture itself becomes damaged. Natural fibers absorb and embrace the paint more naturally. I enjoying painting on simple fabrics like cotton or canvas, even velvets, linens and twills have different results.

Is there a link between the patterns you develop?
My objective is that each pattern is individual and unique, but it’s almost impossible that they won’t unconsciously resemble one another based on my personal preference of color and/or shape. The movements of the brush is what drives the design then subsequently the ideas emerge. Frequently the ideas I had in mind for the project fail so I like to leave it up to intuition. I always seem to gravitate towards the patterns that are created and somewhat invented as I begin painting.

We know that you have a studio in the Mouraria Creative Hub project. How did this collaboration come about?
The Innovation Center Mouraria / Mouraria Creative Hub is the first incubator for Creative Arts in Lisbon, after a pre-selection process one is offered a workspace in a co-work environment. They help us get through the intimidating initial state of starting your own business and provide constant support to develop our own projects. We are also offered tools to enable us to grow and continuously learn through workshops, conferences, small business management support and potential partnerships. Personally, the fact that I’m able to have my own studio space away from home in one of the most historic districts within Lisbon – that in itself is inspiring.



Where does your inspiration come from? Do you have an icon or artistic idol?
Inspiration comes in many forms: music, art, spaces, experiences, and even unconsciously. I don’t have a particular icon or idol because honestly I believe that everything moves me, mostly just a feeling. I love Pollock because of the way each design can be interpreted, Matisse because of the beauty and simplification in the forms, and Alexander McQueen’s connection between art and fashion.

It’s your first time doing a collaboration to showcase your designs, how do you regard this challenge?
With great enthusiasm. It is indeed a great opportunity, not merely because of the location but the store in itself challenges me. It is a chance for me to show hopefully the world a little of what I do and raise curiosity at the same time. It was difficult to translate and create the design and space that I had in my head into reality with it becoming chaotic and exaggerated. But overall I am very grateful and proud of the project. These opportunities do not frequently appear. For me it’s been a huge step, a little scary even, but that makes me want to do more and more. Don’t give up on your dreams, with persistence things materialize. This all came about from a simple email. While there are organizations that exist to enhance mutual assistance and enthusiastic collaboration, there is room for the little ones to grow. The arts must unite and find beneficial ways of exposing themselves. We can all gain from this.

Give us a general assessment of your journey and your future expectations?
Create, paint patterns by hand, I still have to earn my place in the market and to capture new consumers. Thus far, my overall experience in the market has been positive with continuous support. At the moment I’m interested in growing, gaining a thicker skin in the area and continue to amaze myself, I want to do more and be better. I believe that when one is relentlessly evolving for the better, victory is inevitable.