A passion, an addiction, a temptation!

Tiling is undoubtedly a passion that I have with almost five decades of existence. As a child, I stopped in front of the countless panels that decorate and cover facades of public and private buildings, created stories around what I observed and felt a huge curiosity about his entire production and painting process. I loved to hear the workers and popular people talk about the deeds and pride of having jobs or faience from the Sacavém and Vista Alegre factory and later Bordalo Pinheiro.

Having not had the opportunity to follow fine arts, the construction of my home was without a doubt the door that opened for what has been three decades of discoveries, training, dedication and experimentation.

It was not easy, but it was also not difficult, it was above all dedication, will and passion. I remember the despair and at the same time pride that I felt in my first panel of 3 tiles, after training the line and the watercolors that were very far from what I wanted to achieve and do, but that I still keep and keep to remember always that we must continue in favor of a dream.

Following this were 1800 tiles that today decorate and cover my kitchen, a real puzzle and storm for the bricklayer to get everything right. Without great means, only with easel, paint and tiles, he used the local muffle for cooking, 200 tiles at a time, some broke and there went the configuration and numbering, it was necessary to reproduce, without great practice or technique the difficulty persisted , but with determination and stubbornness, which is characteristic of me, it was overcome. Far from perfection, but undoubtedly done with the heart.

The desire for discovery persisted and wanting to escape the traditional pattern of the time, I researched, found what I wanted and get to work, the house was decorated as desired. Responding now to the question posed, if something would change today, I say no, I like what I did and keep it.

I never stopped, it's like an addiction, I see an image, I imagine something, I draw something, I illustrate a story a story, I retire to my space where I have all my materials and let the brush slide and tell what I want to show, produce what they ask of me or know that they want to have.

One of my biggest temptations is undoubtedly creating, more than just painting, I love to sit down, especially, with the younger ones who always have something in mind to tell and together, between stories, with or without purpose, to paint tiles .

I feel that I still have a lot ro learn, count and do. And what do you feel or think about Portuguese Tiles?