Monica Albuquerque
Born and based in Lisbon, Portugal, I am a mother of four boys, an artist, illustrator, and teacher. Although I graduated in Business Studies, art was always a constant in my life, and I studied it throughout my IB years.
In my thirties, I decided to return more seriously to my artistic practice and enrolled at the Grand Central Atelier in New York, where I began studying Classical Art online. That experience deepened my appreciation for traditional methods, observation, and the discipline of drawing and painting from life.
I have since published three children’s books and now teach art to both children and adults from my idyllic atelier near Colares, surrounded by the landscape that continues to inspire my work.
For many years, I felt caught between two identities: illustrator or fine artist. I struggled with the idea that I had to choose one path and commit to it. Over time, however, I have come to realise that these two sides of my practice do not need to compete. They are simply different ways of expressing the same curiosity, imagination, and love of drawing.
When it comes to media, I would say I am, at heart, a painter. I love the feel of a brush and the possibilities that painting offers, but I will never leave the house without a pencil.
I have studied graphite for many years and it remains an important part of my practice. I see myself very much as a mixed-media artist, enjoying the freedom to move between materials depending on what I am trying to express. At the same time, I feel myself gradually moving more and more towards oil painting, drawn to its richness, versatility, and timeless quality.
Today, I have decided to embrace both. I am allowing myself the freedom to move between illustration and fine art, to explore different subjects and approaches, and, perhaps most importantly, to relax a little into the process. My portfolio reflects this journey — a practice that is rooted in classical training but remains open to storytelling, experimentation, and the joy of making art.