For the last 2 weeks we’ve been lucky enough to have Brazillian artist Pirecco working from our studio. He might not be so well known over here, but he will be soon. Having provided illustrations for country wide campaigns for Converse, Havianas and Orange to name a few as well as building a loyal following for his more personal work; Pirecco is definitely worth looking out for. He was over here on a commission for a private client, and we lent him a wall to hang a canvas on. Over the next 2 weeks we watched in awe as he painted the piece you can see above. It’s is pretty amazing, but what is really nice is seeing the development every day as he added more and more elements, building layers of paint into an awesome explosion of colour. Needless to say we got very little work done while we had that to watch, and even though that wall is now boring and empty… It was great having him over. We made a great new friend and hopefully now we can introduce a few people to his work. Before he left, and having beaten everyone in our studio at table tennis, he agreed to answer a few questions. Here they are:

Not Tom: What’s your name and where do you come from?
Pirecco: My name is Ricardo Trombini Pires, but I always sign my work as “Pirecco”. I’m from Porto Alegre, Brazil.

NT: What brought you to London?
P: I came to London for a really special and cool project, a painting for a private client.

NT: What what was your inspiration for becoming an artist?
P: Hehehe…difficult question! I don’t have an exact answer for this question, as it was something that just happened naturally. Since I was a child, I always drew, then I got my degree in graphic design and I worked in advertising agencies before I became an illustrator… and one day, I felt the need to try and develop something different; my personal work. But everything has happened very naturally, I really like it.  I do not work for the money, and much less the idea of becoming famous one day.

NT: What do you like to do when your not drawing?
P: To play Tennis! My dream until i was 20 was be a top 10 tennis player. I love to play tennis. Also, when I’m not drawing, i like to stay home with my wife, my family and friends, they are the most important things in my life. Other things that I really like to do: ride my bike, swimming, run, do exercises, go to the beach, relax, watch movies and listen good music!

NT: What are you working on at the moment?
P: Now, i just arrived back in Porto Alegre again after 40 days in NY and 15 days in London, so I have a lot of work to do here. I need to finish some projects for big clients in Brazil, for advertising campaigns, also I need to finish my new website and for sure, keep working hard on my personal projects with paintings and drawings. 2012 was a great year for me and I’m really happy for everything.

NT: What are you most proud of?
P: Undoubtedly to be alive, strong and healthy, with my wife, family and friends, doing what I love, after being diagnosed with cancer two years ago.

NT: What’s your favourite way of working or anywhere in particular you like to work?
P: I believe that the place of the artist’s work is the studio, that is where all things happen. So, I try to stay there as long as possible.

NT: Favourite artist?
P: hahaha…impossible to answer! i have a big list of favourite artists. At this moment, the favourite probably is Picasso.

NT: One sentence to describe yourself?
P: “The true birthplace is that wherein for the first time one looks intelligently upon oneself…” Marguerite Yourcenar

NT: What was the best pizza you ate in London!?
P: hahahhaha…Harry’s Pizza!

NT: Anyone young artists or designers we should look out for?
P: Sure, I can tell you a big list… just in my city I have a lot of friends with an amazing work. I will tell you just 3 big friends, great designers and artists and special people for me.
– Fernando Togni
– Murilo Maciel
– Tai Selbach

NT: Tell us something we don’t know about you?
P: I’m crazy about organisation. I can’t work in a messy place. My wife always said that I’m always organising something…

NT: What have you enjoyed most about London?
P: For sure, the people and friends that I made.

NT: Who’s better at table tennis Not Tom or Yearbook Machine?
P: hahahaha…difficult answer. (he’s being nice… he beat everyone from both companies!)

Thanks Pirecco… We just need to get a job in Brazil now!