1) Your name, age, location, education?
Rubens, 28, São Paulo-Brasil and uneducated.
Or almost. I studied Industrial Design for three years, but did not finish the university course. Also attended to some other drawing courses, when I was a kid.

2) Can you explain your art?
No. I can’t even understand completely, and everything that I say, would be from a limited point of view, and because of its limits would be of no value.
My art is an expression of what I am, of my history, the society, geography, etc. There are so many things interfering that I can’t realize a good part of it.
Someone said “it’s difficult to see the picture when you are inside the frame”. I also think this way.

3) Where do you get your inspiration?
How to explain inspiration? It emerges all of a sudden, a fixed idea that takes place in my head. I keep visualizing for days, and then I sit on my chair and transmit to “paper”.
Being inspired is a pleasant sensation. An euphoria that takes over my body and my thoughts. I feel young, fresh, renewed, and strong, when inspired.
I can provoke inspiration by seeing art, or observing nature’s charm. Is always good. And it comes if wants.
But I don’t wait for inspiration to create. “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”, said Picasso.
I paint because it makes me feel good and is the only thing I do right in life. I paint to forget about myself.

4) Which other artists Inspire you?
I like the masters. Caravaggio, Rubens, El Greco, Leonardo, Picasso, Dali, but it depends - from period to period of my life – which I like more.
They inspire me not just because of their work, but also because of their attitude towards life and art. They respected and searched to evolution of it. They were concerned on summing something to the world and got it. Then there is photography and the Leonardo’s crazy inventions.
And, of course, they were concerned about beauty. Beauty transcends, and they knew it very well.

5) What has been your favourite project to date?
I’ve been drawing animals, and think of it as a catalogue of species of Brazilian fauna. It excites me a lot, and keeps me inspired for a lot of time. Until it turns into a real catalogue, can take years, maybe decades. Our fauna is infinite.
Another project, more advanced, is a book of feminine nudes and sex scenes. I have drawings enough for a book, and need an editor, but am too lazy for the search. Maybe it also takes decades until the book turns into reality.

6) What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve been drawing birds and selling my stuffs.

7) What is your tools of trade?
I use Adobe Illustrator on a Macbook pro 17"

8) How can I purchase your art?
Send me a mail asking about. All images is for sale.

9) Can I use your image on my website or to do a tatoo?
Sure. You can use my images for non commercial purposes. Just link me or add my name in somewhere (not on your arm) and send me photos and links. I love to receive good vibrations. :)

10) What advice could you give to a young artist reading this?
Children, feed yourselves! Of poetry, books, beauty, leisure, friendship, love for neighbor. Feed yourself of craziness, passion, fear, feed yourself with good things. Open your eyes, pay attention on what they give you to eat, learn how to separate good from evil.
Eat to grow, but don’t care about growing. Being young is to break the nose without worrying.

PART OF A INTERVIEW TO ART LOUNGE - UK