"I was born in the state of Ceará, northeast Brazil, where I spent all of my childhood. I am a self-taught artist and I... began to exhibit my work encouraged by my uncle Pedroso, a renowned naïf artist. That was in 1977 and since then I've held numerous exhibits both in Brazil and abroad including Portugal, Germany, Ecuador, U.S.A. and Switzerland.

"I prefer to paint Amazonian themes through a vibrant harmonization of colors, creating a flora and fauna characterized by the touch of my paint brush. I enjoy depicting traditional legends – they are true dreams that take us to a world filled with optimism. They inspire us to continue fighting for a better world.

"Five of my paintings where chosen for illustration on telephone cards commemorating 500 years of the discovery of Brazil. This in turned helped promote my work throughout the country.