Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Rio de Janeiro , São Cristovão neighborhood, but I grow up in Brasília (the capital of Brazil).

Schooling? Art training?

Until the University, I didn't have any academic training, but my father and my mother always drew… nowadays my mom is an artisan.

I finished high school and spent a lot of time thinking about if I should do Fine Arts or not (administration of companies was my second choice)… but, well, I chose whatI liked more. Now, I'm a college student of Visual/Fine Arts in Brasília University (there, I learn about art history, techniques and how to be a gallery artist…everything I'm not :P). I did some animation courses in University and out of it.

How long have you been working professionally in comics?

About 3 years for USA companies. In the beginning, I worked for a manga publisher. In this time, I started to use a nickname and until today I use this name, Woo, because Western artists that drew on Oriental style weren't looked on good way in that time. Well... I chose Woo (Chinese, not Japanese) because many factors.

What things -- both in art and otherwise -- have you worked on besides comics? Are comics a full-time gig for you or part-time?

Comic, illustration and character designs are my full-time job! But I'm studying Z-Brush and 3ds Max nowadays... maybe some modeling job in game industry would be cool.

Talk about how you broke into the business --was it easy? Hard? Ups? Downs ? Any interesting anecdotes? When you held your first published work in your hands, how did you feel?

Well, I think we, 2D Artists, have a lot of sad stories about how to enter in the industry. Sometimes, with happy end :P.

Starting in the Comic industry was very hard because I was a foreigner in USA comic biz without agents to represent me (I hadn't sought an agent before). I'd never worked in comics until that moment, neither in Brazil (working to Brazilian publishers is more hard than other countries, believe me). I sent samples of my art to medium and small publishers and my style worked against me in that time because I drew in manga style. The USA Comic industry is a true Darwin selection and you have to dispute a vacancy with the whole world, not with American artists only.

When I improved my style, I began to work for a manga publisher. Then I looked for an agent because I wanted to try something else manga.

And what did I feel when I held my published work for the first time? Well, I'll be frank… not much feelings. I'm a writer, I've been always writing my own stories and that work wasn't with my own story with my own characters. But Nowadays, I feel different on that. I'm feeling happy I could contribute with a project of another person.

Did you work as an assistant to any other artists? If so, please talk a bit about those experiences.

Nope, I never worked as assistant… and I would like to have done it, I think it'd helped me a lot with my personal and professional growth.

How did your parents take to the idea of working in comics?

In the beginning, it was very hard. They're afraid about my future and a 2D artist career can be very frightening when you talk about financial stability. I agree with' em, but I had to try. Entering in a University to do Arts was the first step to prove for them. Now, I'm here and my parents are proud of me.

How would you describe your workspace? Is it part of your home, or do you go "to the studio"?

I don't still have studio… my mom said I should do one. Nah, I've a comfortable place to my computer, my tablet, my scanner and others stuffs. I'm not in a hurry, hehe.

What job are you the proudest of? What's your most embarrassing?

My proudest? For me, until now, all jobs I got it gave me proud. But my last work in MERCY THOMPSON comic book was very gratifying. I did the last issue in a short deadline and I’m proud this comic was to New York Time Graphic Book category in first place for weeks!

And most embarrassing?

Well, my clients respect me and my style, so I have nothing to be embarrassed. It's always an honor to be chosen to contribute on their projects.

What are you currently drawing? Comments on that project?

My last work was MERCY THOMPSON, Homecoming, Issue #3 and #4. I’m proud for contributing in a best-selling title in New York Times graphic books category for weeks!

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?

I’d be honest… something with Zombies!

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

Hard thing to answer. The life can rotate 180° with just one comic project. I prefer don't think about it. But, in the best of the hypotheses, I hope see myself as an artist that made your own title too… and working for some video game franchising!

My hopes are also my personal projects going forward too.

What is the interest in comics where you live? Do friends and neighbors know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?

I frequent the Arts department, they like my comics, especially the oldest students. My friends, in majority, are comic artists, writers or simply RPG players and everybody knows I draw comics for living and they like the idea.

What are your favorite interests --Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?

Movies are my inspiration! I'm a cinema enthusiast, study about cinema and direction. As animator, I did storyboards and I directed my own animations in university (hehe, nothing great, it's just one minute animation).

About music, man, I'm always hearing music when I'm working or studying. Music is my fuel. Lately I’m hearing Yoko Kano soundtracks, as Cowboy Beebop,Ghost in the Shell tv serie etc.

Tv? When it’s possible, I see movies, especially animations, but I don't spend much time in front the TV.

Hobby??? My great hobby is playing Video Game! I'm a hardcore game player. I love game titles from Ubisoft (like Splinter Cell) and Metal Gear Solid. But lately, I'm playing Resident Evil 5.

Ever been in a gang?

Until today, I'm part of an artistic “group”. We do sketches together and (rarely) examine scripts we do. (You can see our skecthdaily book in http://hotel-lobby.blogspot.com/ ).

What's an average day in your life like? Walk us through a typical day.

If I say, you'll see a boring people :P.

The clock rules my life. I have hour to go to university, hour to work and hour to study (art, literature and how to improve my program skills as Photoshop and Z-brush).

Usually I talk with my friends or play video games when I find a breach in my schedule.

Do you have any great, unsold projects in your files that nobody's gotten to see published?

I do. If the things go well, you’ll hear about it.

The single thing you'd most like to be remembered for in your life is...?

I would like to be remembered by some comic written and drawn by me and the audience pointed this as good thing to remember.

Any closing words for your fans?

For aspiring artist, Never Give Up!!! Be always honest with your way of life and your skills. Always hear the others writers/artists have to say. Be not afraid, never! And if you want to talk with some professional artist/writer, don't be afraid about it, TALK with them!

While there is only one fan that likes my work, I will continue making comic. Thanks for all support!!!

Cheers!

Amelia.

List of credits:
 
-One shots to Yaoi Press

-Cover to Who wants to be A Super Hero, Dark Horse

-The new Avengers, Marvel Comics

-Covers to Echoes of Dawn, Trepidation Comics

-Days of Darkness, Graphic Novel

-Freedom Formula, Radical Comics.

-Mercy Thompson, Issue 3 and 4

LINKS:

http://hotel-lobby.blogspot.com/