Visual artist, Henrique de França, uses pencil and charcoal in Stolen Childhood | drawing series to reveal elements of his own childhood, as well as themes of Catholicism in Latin America. Henrique was kind enough to share with us his process and inspiration for the drawings. There were many drawings that he chose to not include in this project, and it’s safe to say that all of us here on Behance can’t wait to see them!
What was your inspiration for this project? Is any of the subject matter in the illustrations autobiographical or inspired by personal observations?
This project is a collection of drawings I made throughout the last five years within the theme of memory. The subject, for me, automatically brings childhood to the center of the series, and although not biographical, I like creating images that resemble my own childhood and things I experienced when younger. The series also discusses themes such as catholic upbringing in Latin America, which I like to portray as a contemporary artist.
When you set out to make these drawings, did you know how many you wanted in the series, and what they would each ultimately look like, or did it develop as you went along?
No, I cannot be sure of how many drawings I will have at the end of the series when I start it. I go with the flow and the need to explore the theme.