Q: What are some of your favorite things about living and working as a nomad?

A: I'm from Aveiro Portugal and now I'm writing from Madrid, but I don't live here. Actually I don't live anywhere at the moment. Since I left New York, in February, I've been working/traveling around Europe. People are great—everything and everyone is close by and the art is amazing!

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between the art you create on paper versus in the computer?

A: Of course!—it’s my most essential tool, not just to keep me on schedule but to keep me sane.

Q: What do you like best about your workspace?

Do you think it needs improvement, if so, what would you change?

A: My workplace these days is my laptop and the studios of friends. But I do miss having my books around. In my future studio, I think I'd try to keep it less messy.

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: My pens.  

Q: What is your favorite part of the creative process?

A: I like it pretty much all around. From the editor's call, to concepts, to back and forth, to finals, to see it printed.   

Q: What was the strangest or most unusual assignment you’ve taken? What did you learn from the experience?

A: I guess my last book. It has an obscene angle to it that wasn't part of my work untilrecently. I learned that, honestly, the only limitation we might have as illustrators is letting ourselves fall into a category or a particular style. 

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

A: Unfortunately, we didn't have many books, besides a bible and a compendium of Portugusese history. But I remember going through books a small library in kindergarten. One that I have the most vivid memory of is "Uma cidade no Arco-Íris" illustrated by António Modesto, who I later got to meet in person!

Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read?

A: The Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini, Romance by Blexbolex, Collection of Sand by Italo Calvino and Conversations with Picasso by Brassai.

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: I was about to say mixed media. But I think if I could just invent new objects for this series on YouTube for a whole year without worrying about money, that is what I would do.

Q: What are some of your favorite places/books/blogs/websites for inspiration?

A: http://www.itsnicethat.com, http://butdoesitfloat.com, http://www.thefoxisblack.com, http://50watts.com

Q: What was the painting or drawing or film that most affected your approach to art?

A: Recently I think it was Tarsem's The Fall—beautiful stuff. Before that I was (and still am) obsessed with Eastern European animation. I'm convinced that those guys are very responsible for our visual education—at least here in Europe.

Q: If you could be anywhere but where you are now, where would that be?

A: I think that after being in so many countries I stopped imagining that the grass is always greener somewhere else. I can say that now I'm pretty happy wherever I am!

Q: Where do you teach—and what do you like best about teaching?

A: I used to teach at Parsons when I lived in New York and the best part was seeing the students' faces when I gave them the assignments. For instance: You'll have to illustrate "the three little pigs" in three to four scenes, but you can't draw any wolfs, pigs, houses or trees. In the end they came up with wonderful solutions. We had a lot of fun! 

Q: Where did your idea for your most recent book originate? What was the most difficult part about getting from idea to finished art?

A: My last book is Obscénica, with texts by Hilda Hilst. Obscénica is a play the on the word obscene and scenic, which reflects perfectly her way of writing style. The images took me more or less nine months and they would have taken another nine years if there wasn't a deadline. Every literary image dug up a number of personal images that I didn't know I had in me. Now Pandora’s box is open... lets see what comes out of it.

Q: What advice would you give a young artist about applying to an art school or college?

A: Draw everyday and don't be obvious. (Oh! And keep an eye out! There are amazing things being made around you!)

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Rice and beans! Damn, I love that!

André da Loba, artist and reluctant poet, was in Portugal, André da Loba is a published and exhibited artist whose work has received international acclaim. As an illustrator, animator, graphic designer, sculptor, and educator, Andre’s combination of curiosity, experience, knowledge and unknowing serves as the constant medium with which he creates and inspires. His work is an invitation and a challenge to change the world, however big or small it might be. He lives everywhere and is secretly happy. His work has been selected for AI29, AI33, IMAA1 and IMAA3 
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter