Catarina Sobral IV

 

'Ashimpa' by Catarina Sobral, one day, a researcher makes an important discovery. A mysterious word buried in an old dictionary: ASHIMPA 

Everyone wants to use the new word, but no one knows what it means or even what part of speech it belongs to. A 137-year-old is certain that it’s a verb: people ashimped and would always ashimp. A linguist is convinced it’s a noun. Soon there would be people who claimed to have seen live ashimpas—and in color. “They still exist abroad. They’re green!” 

Catarina Sobral III

What if one morning you woke up as a voluptuous 2 meter long hippopotamus who weighed 528 kilos? This is what happens to Samuel in "Tão Tão Grande", in a Kafkaesque metaphor of teenage transformation by Portuguese illustrator, animator and graphic designer Catarina Sobral. Catarina has used wax crayons and coloured pencils to create this beautiful, vibrant beautiful book.

Catarina Sobral II

I almost removed the hedgehog illustration (third down) from this post but then thought again, as this particular element reminded me of Tove Jansson's Monin illustrations with its bold colour and use of silhouette.
This is the beautiful work of Portuguese illustrator, animator and graphic designer Catarina Sobral. This book anthropomorphised the land and the seas enigmatically and delightfully pulls you into the story of 'La Serena Y Los Gigantes Enamorados' (The Mermaid and The Enamoured Giants). A reinterpretation of  the legend of Praia da Rocha a story that attempts to explain the rock formations at Da Rocha on the Portuguese coast. A lovely story about the sea and the mountain both falling in love with a mermaid. Catarina's works were exhibited at the Bologna Childrens Illustration Exhibition this spring.

Catarina Sobral

Illustrations today from Portuguese illustrator Catarina Sobral. The particular illustrations are from a children's magazine called 'Up Kids'. This year Catarina Sobral won the Bologna Children's Book Festival International Award for illustration for her book 'My Grandfather'.