Signed Rio de Janeiro Samba Painting in Blue, "Samba at Lapa"

"I've always enjoyed painting small images. When I was younger, I liked to draw comic book pictures. My family never encouraged this but when I was 12 years old, my art teacher in school really liked my paintings and asked my mother to let me attend the Fine Arts school. My parents thought it was all nonsense, but they gave their permission anyway.

"I studied there for three years, but had to leave for work, to help with household expenses. When I was 18 years old, however, I decided to drop everything and return to what really is my inner driving force, and I studied art. I made my dream come true – everything I fought for, and was judged for, began bringing me happiness.

"I studied painting, sculpture, and all types of printing techniques. My first job was illustrating pamphlets, then I worked for a newspaper - and suddenly I was immersed in the area of social communication. I worked with different media, different forms, and different approaches. I worked in newspapers and magazines, publicity companies, and cinema. I experimented with abstract art, figurative art, and more.

"I've always been moved by the artistic vein within me. My greatest achievement is to see my work exhibited independently in an art gallery."