...just to let you know the links on the right are updated :) follow my zoomorphic drawings.

New Book about a Portuguese tale

New Book about a Portuguese tale - you can find it on the link.
http://www.wook.pt/ficha/frei-luis-de-sousa/a/id/15826008
I'll be posting again about the making of this one really soon, specially to talk about the cover... it was a challenge that I didn't got right at first attempt.
Illustrating is also being aware of what publishers needs and public can grasp. I made 6 proposals for cover, find the elected one on the link ;)

The Cheetah

After getting my hands dirty doing another zoomorphic creature it's time work it in photoshop. You can see in instagram how much distortion it had originally :) this was made with ecoline, color pencils, liquid corrector, waterbrush, ball point pen.


http://instagram.com/p/t5d8VNPKeR/?modal=true
https://www.facebook.com/ana.afonso.ilustra

2015 agenda for princess pea

Here's a peak into the 2015 agenda for princess pea. Don't be mistaken by the 2012 on the right... I had to put it in the old layout to see the proportions and colors.
I loved this assignment. Am I back to drawing animals? :) ...

Hashtag of the moment? #anafonso !! :) meaning...

I'm (also) on instagram.
I started to used it by April and now it's growing on me, it's easy to post and it makes sense to put together were you are alongside what you doing... so if you wish to know a bit more about my #WIP and whereabouts here's the link:
http://instagram.com/anafonso_com 

My youtube free hand drawing and photoshop painting for a book illustration.

Illustrating for a book on Portuguese literature/ Tales about Portugal history by Alexandre Herculano.
Here's my new video on "how to" illustrate. I use Photoshop to combine line drawing over a painted background. If you do this you just have to enhance some details to make it all pop out. Clean and simple. Funny thing is: the more you use brushes in photoshop the more you will lose the power of the real acrylics paint. It's a short video bu t very resumed. Enjoy. (link)

From drawing to published book

So, here's the new book with my illustrations. I had to leave my comfort zone to make this one, bye bye to curly girls and pets and smiles!!

This is a dark book about battles and death... it turn out OK. I focused on facial expression in battle more than describing how many where dying and how they died! There's so much bloody descriptions in words I just had to make lighter images and avoid the color red :) Really, it's amazing how Alexandre Herculano made use of suffering and patriotism to narrate Portugal history!
I had to do lots of research also. about the author (link here) and what kind of armors and garments people used - Pintrest it's just amazing for that (see the pins).

You can find the book here (and/or view 3 illustrations the editor shared):

The 3rd illustration is inspired by the narrative but mostly by this wonderful horse I found online:

No more print screens - here's the portfolio! :)

Print screens were  made while working for a Magazine Publisher - Motorpress.
I had the privilege to work there 4 months doing lots of different tasks for their magazines which are mostly about Sports and kids thematics: Bike Magazine, Ciclismo a Fundo, Sport Life, Ideias para Educar.
So I had Sports and illustration combined adding the plus of going there on my bike - about 6km that made me sweat sometimes, because when you happy and like sports it's very difficult to overcome the flood of energy Lisbon gives you when riding by the river... early morning, sun and win on your face it's hard to remember "Do not sprint, you don't want to get there smelly!! Do not sprint, do not s.... do not... sssssssspeeeeeeeeeeeeed!!!

So, here's the 4 months update on to my portfolio: http://anafonso.com/images/anafonso/documentos/portfolio_ana_afonso.pdf

print screen at noon_05

 

Sometimes you just enjoy what you do and you still learn something about a sport you love.

These are the times.

print screen at noon_04

 I love this job!! :.D 

a) I'm @ Feira do Livro de Lisboa (Princess Pea stand)  illustrating live and giving autographs (drawings) on my books. Show up!! :)
b) If you've just there and followed the yellow QR CODE road WELCOME! you can find out more about me and my works here: anafonso.com

Print screen at noon_03

To much work! some "noons" just pass me by :)
I'm still loving this mix of sports and beautiful photos.
This is D. Quixote http://davidcachon.com/

my cmyk personality has an exclusive blog

From today on "my cmyk personality" has a exclusive blog. If you're not a facebook user to follow CMYK adventures trough FB now you can keep track of my weekly Visual Chronicle trough Blogger. Same drawing but easier to find you favourite ones.





Take a peek:
(new blog)
http://mycmykpersonality.blogspot.pt/
(facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/myCMYKpersonality

"A Raposa Azul" on second edition. This is when you get happy to be treated like an author and not just a freelance

Work pays off.  No matter what, if you endure some obstacles and pursue your passions feedback will come along. works is a seed we must be patient to see it's flowers.
Of course if you're not alone chances of success increase - specially if you're working with well knowned writers. This is when you get happy to be treated like an author and not just a freelance do preform a task. I have a divided authorship with the 2 authors of the text. Good publishers work this way. It's not luck, it's not a favour that is done to you -  it's the way it is supposed to be. FAIR. :)

The authors Ana Maria Magalhães e Isabel Alçada made a small video to promote the book. here:
http://www.planonacionaldeleitura.gov.pt/novasleituras/index.php?id=8

Art imitates life _ new CMYK is out

Art imitates life :)

01_Real life: You can see a teaser in Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rafABX2Fkpo&list=UU-qaJlMbvwaDDPQgLaqJNrA

02_Art: You can see my CMYK personality with mixed feelings here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=658469067574603&set=a.587545721333605.1073741827.153175824770599&type=1&theater

Print screen at noon_02

Cover magazine done!! My illustrated dices are right on front. It's a poster kids can cut and build.
I also enjoyed doing those small "medals" to better organize different materials that compose the hand-made toys.

Print screen at noon_01

my drawings, in a poster, on a magazine to build some dices :)
stay tunned: http://instagram.com/anafonso_com

New book coming out

New book coming out! Deadline stress update :)
working awake until 3.00 am
You can find the late instagram here: http://instagram.com/p/ob7KHavKRt/
And the inspiration gallery here: http://www.pinterest.com/xxxanafonsoxxx/alexandre-herculano-contos/

The best method to work as an illustrator or designer?

The best method to work as an illustrator or designer?  (link)

CMYK personality » celebrating week n.20 on my Visual Chronicle

https://www.facebook.com/myCMYKpersonality

CMYK » week n.20 - Work odyssey chapter 01- The Hydra inbox.

What is «my CMYK personality»?
_It's my alter-ego. A women with 3 different personalities inside (sports, love, spiritual) each drawing has a "normal" black and painted girl -  which represents what you see, but there's more 3 of me: each one is a very different thought in front of the same situation.

Why am I doing this if nobody is buying?
1_It's fun.
2_I'm doing this because I wanted to find out if I have what it takes to keep up the compromise of doing a weekly drawing. I am!! (20 weeks on a row at this point)
3_keep in touch with friends.

Do I get uncomfortable on all the personal data I'm sharing?
No. Actually, friends encouraged this. They respond to it very cheerfully and (they say) allows them to know  my whereabouts. 
Besides I believe we have to be personal. Life is personal, my drawings are personal... there's no way to escape from it. I'm the "open book" you can read and decide if you identify or want to come along and share part of the journey with me or just pass me by.
I read the "The Celestine Prophecy" as a teenager, and I still believe in parts of it. Show yourself, let people know what drives you, only then you can find fellow travellers.

"Me, myself and I"... sound a bit egocentric?
Well, it turns out the subject I know the most about is... me! no politics, no football, no economics, just me. And I always have lots of stories to tell... I'm a storyteller, too shy to speak or write.
Chances are girls and women around will identify with many of this mine/universal female situations.
We live is separate countries, have different jobs (or no jobs), do sports or work our brains out in front of the PC... inner conflicts, parody, drama, self pity, endurance... every mixt feelings I get, every problem I'm dealing with... CMYK has become my alter-ego, and also free shrink session.
... A Visual chronicle of someone (between a girl and a grownup woman)

Wasting time?
Investing. I'm a freelance artist, I know I have to do NOW what I want to be hired for in the FUTURE.
Practical example? - I did this video on running (-link-) and latter I was hired because they needed someone that, besides layout and illustration, could make this kind of photo galleries (- link-)
So, CMYK was an old idea I'm developing for multiple purposes.
I believe at some point, the universe will feedback me on this. I can do it. I like it. I'm ready.