Tell us a bit about yourself and how you found your way to a creative career.

Oh, hi! My name is Lucas Sales, and I’m an illustrator and senior designer (not necessarily in that order), based in São Paulo, Brazil. My story isn’t too different from others in the field—I’ve been drawing since I was a kid and always got a lot of compliments on my skills. Looking back now, maybe I wasn’t that impressive, but I think what stood out to my parents and teachers were the ideas and creativity I always had.

As an anxious teenager in high school, I was already thinking about how I could live independently, do something I liked, and earn money. The million-dollar question, right? So, I picked a path where I could use my creativity and explore my ideas—graphic design (giggles). Spoiler: I didn’t get rich. But my background as a designer helped me experiment with lots of different visuals and develop my style. After college, I worked in all kinds of fields: industrial design, ad agencies, and then the turning point—an animation studio.

Why was that pivotal? At Mostarda Studio, I had the freedom to try different styles and work on bigger illustration projects. I was really happy there. I worked alongside super talented, fun people who were eager to break away from the obvious. After that, I decided to take a leap into freelancing as a full-time illustrator. It felt like a leap of faith, but things started to click, and soon I found myself working with amazing brands and people. I’ve been able to grow as an artist ever since. 

How did you find your medium and style, and who and what influenced you?

This is tough to answer, but I believe we start shaping our style and preferences from childhood. My earliest and most significant visual influences were things like Castelo Rá-tim-bum, a Brazilian TV show I grew up watching. It was bursting with colors, fun stories, and unique characters. Another major influence for me was Gogo’s Crazy Bones (or Geloucos, as they were called in Brazil)—tiny glow-in-the-dark alien figures. I loved playing with them and spent countless hours drawing them. Since then, I’ve been bedazzled and inspired by quirky characters and vibrant color palettes, which continue to resonate with me to this day.

Like many people my age, I also watched a lot of anime, which influenced me in a more conceptual way. Anime and manga often tell stories through a single powerful image, inspiring me to create characters that are not just fun but also meaningful.

As I grew up and began experimenting—both at the animation studio I mentioned earlier and in my personal projects—my style gradually took shape. I think it’s still evolving! I’m always pushing myself to try new things, whether it’s a different color palette, new shapes, or mixing up the finishing touches. Sometimes I create super flat characters, while other times I go for more depth and detail.

Currently, my references range from contemporary artists like Sebastian Curi, Justyna Stasik, Alva Skog, Giacomo Bagnara, Glen Mirales, and recently Tim Lahan. I also draw inspiration from the original flat design artists like Mike Strouth and Harry Stevens.

What subjects are you most fascinated with? 

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with “ugly design”—you know, those off-brand bootleg characters and mascots you see on signs for tiny shops around town. I’m fascinated by the charm and personality in those imperfect designs. I’m also really drawn to the spontaneous ways people express themselves in the city—whether it’s graffiti, pixo, or street stickers. These are the subjects I’ve been diving into recently.

I’ve started a self-initiated research project on this, without a specific end goal, just to fuel and inspire my work beyond traditional references. I’m exploring how people take over the city with quirky characters and unique art styles, using humor and personality to express their feelings in unconventional ways. It’s an ongoing experiment, and I love where it’s leading me.

What illustration trend are you either loving or hating at the moment?

I’ve got two answers for this. First, the one I dislike: AI! Everything looks the same, and nothing feels unique. I really hope we’ll start valuing more bespoke, crafted art again and stop using AI in places where real artists should be.

Now, onto a trend I really like: 3D illustration that isn’t focused on perfection or hyper-realism but instead embraces personality and expressiveness. 

One artist who captures this beautifully is Holly Szczypka (@/holly.obj). Her work has this playfully unpolished, expressive quality that makes it stand out. It doesn’t aim for super polished realism, and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting. 

Another artist I admire so much is Toni Fernandes (@/antoniofrnnds). His work isn’t exactly 3D, but it has a 3D-like quality. He creates these unreal digital paintings, and his sense of artistry is incredible. His work constantly inspires me, and I’m lucky to also call him my boyfriend.

How do you create characters, what inspires them, how do you use colour?

When I create a character, I usually start by thinking about a specific feeling or emotion I want to capture.  

As for color—that’s the tricky part! I love using vibrant, bold colors in my work, but I try to keep the palette simple. I usually limit myself to 4-5 colors max, so everything feels cohesive without overwhelming the design. 

If you had to pick a favourite project, which one are you most proud of and why?

Hmm, I think it would be the BEATs project I did in 2021. It was for a Brazilian drink brand, and the project was created for Pride Month that year. What made it even more special was that all the money raised went to CASA1, an organization here in São Paulo that supports and provides shelter for LGBTQIAP+ people.

I loved working on that project, especially because I had the freedom to really incorporate my style without any pushback. Plus, it felt great to be part of something that had such a positive impact.

Describe your dream project.

Ohhh, this is a good one! I’ve been wanting to do more work outside of the digital space. Since most of my illustrations are digital, I’d love to create something for retail—maybe graphic tees? I’m also really into the idea of working with sneakers. I had an amazing opportunity to collaborate with UMBRO Brazil, which was just for their web stores, but it really sparked that interest.

My ultimate dream project would be to collaborate with brands like Nike, Vans, or Adidas. Getting the chance to work with one of those brands would be a dream come true for me.

What’s next for you?

Right now, while I’m working on freelance and client projects, I’m also using my free time to focus on a personal project. I’m creating characters inspired by the movement and energy of the city, with a lot of inspiration from São Paulo. I’ll be sharing more about it soon on my social media.

I also just finished a postgraduate degree and I’m thinking about applying for an art residency next year, with the goal of putting together a small exhibition.

Rapid Fire Round - Quick answers! And add a few words if you like :)

Morning person or night owl?

Night Owl!

Favorite word

Miscellaneous.  

Lunch or dinner?

Definitely dinner! 

A celebrity you’d like to have a drink with

Chuu, the Korean singer from the now-disbanded girl group LOONA! She has such an upbeat personality, and I would love to spend some time with her. 

If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?

Past. 

Sweet or savory?

Savory. 

Are you a thinker or doer?

Mostly a doer, sometimes a thinker. 

Go-to karaoke song

ABBA - Super Trouper 

City break or beach holiday?

City break hands down!

What superpower would you like to have?

Flying, I would love to get faster in places.

Thank you Lucas!