This personal art project is about memories and places that are special to me. Part of my experience living in Portland, OR for 7 years can be described by realizing I had reached some key milestones in life. Illustrating each of the places below was a way to crystalize those memories even further, while also get ready for the next stage in life where new places would come into focus.

Each artwork was designed digitally in Adobe Illustrator and later laser engraved on one inch thick blocks of maple.

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Barra is the neighborhood in which I grew up. I spent 20 years of my life there and it's where I formed my roots. The experiences I went through there, what I learned and the people I met helped me become the person I am today. This artwork attempts to capture this feeling via metaphors of growth, fluidity, shapes that soar, float and travel far. All of this against a beautiful landscape where water meets mountain.

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The time I spent with family and friends in Portland was very much focused our nature and the great outdoor experiences the region offers. In fact, after growing up in very hot environment such as Rio de Janeiro and spending time in very cold places like Chicago, New York and Boston, I came to appreciate the clearly delineated seasons that Oregon state offers, which is ultimately what I depicted here.

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When I moved from the east coast to the west coast of the US, I took 10 weeks to explore many corners of the US for the first time. While my time in New Mexico was short, its stark landscape changes and stunning locations such as the White Sands National Park, along with some of its abandoned towns were all ingredients that stood out 

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My time in NY was all about soaking up the city vibes and the grit of such an urban environment. The image reflects the undeniable geometric influences of the city, its scale, well as its order and chaos dynamic.

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Foz do Iguaçu was a magical place when I was growing up and one of my family trips there when I was around 6 years old was seared into my brain: as we approached the city, a long stretch of the road was completely covered by what must have been hundreds of thousands, if not millions of butterflies. They covered the trees, the skies, and our windshield, and I will never forget that experience.

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Below is a peek at what the engraving process is like.