From whimsical illustrations to paper collages, Bright artist Brizida Magro sets herself apart with her one of kind style. A lover of art since childhood, Brizida believes she did not choose art - rather it chose her. We had the chance to learn more about Brizida’s journey in becoming the success she is today, and also hope you enjoy getting an inside look into her studio. Enjoy!

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What made you want to become an artist?

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Ever since I was a kid, I was always making art. My family said I was very active and getting into trouble often, but I could entertain myself and simply make things for hours. I had a professor in college who said, “You don’t choose art, it chooses you.”

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In the studio…

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Brizida shares her life as an artist in this insider studio video below:

Edited by Sydney Emerson

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Brizida won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Portfolio Showcase Award in February. See more here!

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Is there something specific about your upbringing that influenced your career choice?

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My grandmother was my biggest influence. While she was not an artist, she loved to craft things by hand and she took pride in making things beautiful. For example, over the holidays in Portugal she would make us rice pudding and she loved sprinkling little cinnamon designs on top. She fostered a love of reading and education that could unlock financial freedom, wisdom, knowledge and empowerment as a female.

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How would you describe the way your style has developed overtime?

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I studied graphic design and also took a lot of printmaking classes. I was inspired by mid-century modern design and designers like Alexander Girard, Charles & Ray Eames, and Paul Rand. Their use of simplicity, bold primary colors, and graphic elements resonated with me. I’ve also always been fascinated with paper collage. As a kid, I would cut out pieces of paper from my older sister’s fashion magazines and make dolls out of them. Collecting has been another outlet that has helped shape my art. I have been collecting stamps since I was a kid. I also have a huge collection of old paper and I love making my own patterns and colors with inks, gouache, and more.

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If you could use only one word to describe your portfolio, what word would you use and why?

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This is a hard one, but perhaps “Whimsical”. I love to portray the playful and mischievous moments of being a carefree kid.

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Brizida received recognition by being longlisted for the AOI’s World Illustration Awards 2020 in the Children’s Publishing Category for her piece, ‘Living in a Whale’.

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What projects are you most proud of from your time with Bright?

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Saturday at the Food Pantry was the first picture book I worked on with Bright. It’s great to see a book about a sensitive topic such as Food Insecurity have a big impact on kids. It has inspired community food drives, which puts a smile on my face.

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What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?

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I feel so fortunate to be working on amazing projects at Bright. I’m really excited about Small Talk, a sweet lullaby full of creative wordplay. I worked with Greenwillow, an Imprint of HarperCollins. I’m also illustrating three new picture books with Walker Books, Random House and Nancy Paulsen at Penguin… all very unique.

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From Brizida’s agent…

“Brizida is a joy to represent. I love her unique artwork process, and she’s always taking a fresh approach with the esthetic for each picture book she’s illustrating. It’s been wonderful seeing the range of picture books she’s currently illustrating , and I also appreciate her positive attitude and on time deliveries… she’s a client’s delight.” - Anne Moore Armstrong

Brizida is represented by Anne Moore Armstrong at The Bright Agency. To work with Brizida, click here!

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Thank you so much for reading the March Artist Journey blog! Miss last month’s blog? Click here to read all about Vivien Mildenberger. Tune in each month to learn more about Bright artists and how they came to shine so bright!