Q: Originally from South America, what are some of your favorite things about living and working in New York?

A: I am originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil and I moved to New York City in 2012.

New York is very inspiring! Not only is a city where you can see amazing art, exhibitions, etc., but is also a place that attracts people from everywhere. And being in contact with different people from various cultures is what makes it so uniquely inspiring.

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between art you create on paper [or other analog medium] versus in the computer?

A: I keep a few sketchbooks; there is always one in my bag, another at home and one at my studio (this sometimes can be very confusing!) I do all my drawings by hand on paper. Then, I scan them and work digitally adjusting the colors, imperfections and arranging the drawings in different compositions.

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

A:The hardest part of the work for me and the one I most value is the idea behind the drawing, so the materials I use for sketching (thinking) are the most important: paper, pen and pencils. Then, after the sketch is finished, I like using gouache, watercolor and color pencils for the final illustrations.

Illustration for the book The Little Prince, published by FTD (Brazil, 2016)

Q: How do you know when the art is finished?

A: I rarely know when it's finished! Most of the times I feel there are adjustments I could do to improve the drawings. The deadline is usually what makes me stop with the adjustments.

Q: What elements of daily life exert the most influence on your work practice?

A: I try to balance the time I spend creating and the time I spend in finding inspirations. I like going for a walk and exploring the city, meeting friends and sharing ideas, gardening, talking to strange people. This is what most inspires me. I also like to watch movies, visit exhibitions and museums and I also enjoy spending time online and find inspirations through social media and blogs.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

Bruxa Onilda (Onilda, the Witch) by Roser Capdevilla and Enric Larreula . Together they made a collection of books in which the main character is a witch (below). In one of the books she gets married, in the other, she visits Paris, New York, etc...It's very fun and cute!

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

A: I recently read the The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman and I love it. The text and illustrations are beautiful!  

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

A: Crowquill pen and black ink on paper. I love the work of Saul Steinberg and Jean-Jacques Sempè, and both of them used mainly pen and paper. It seems like magic to me what they were able to create such amazing body of work with these simple materials.

Wallpaper design for Branco Wallpapers (Brazil, 2015)

Q: If you could spend an entire day away from work and deadlines, what would you do and where?

A: I would go to a Botanical Garden or for a walk in the park. I really miss relaxing around nature or just spending time doing nothing while looking at a beautiful landscape. This is the downside of living in a big city—I often get caught in its frenetic rhythm and forget about how much I enjoy being in Nature.

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

A: There are so many! But one of the latest and most important was visiting the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. I was so impressed with the quality of the works there and the variety of things that interested the collector.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Brazilian food, because I miss it a lot: rice, beans, a fried fresh fish fillet and collard greens. Preferably cooked by my mother. I have a sweet tooth, so the desert would be very important: passion fruit mousse!

 
Drawing from my sketchbook

Sandra Jávera is an illustrator living in New York. She has illustrated over 10 children's books for Brazilian publishers and creates textile designs. Sandra is currently working on a poetry book and creating a collection of textile designs for children’s clothing.
Instagram: @sandrajavera
Website: sandrajavera.com