Os Poemas Queimados do Prof. João is a collection of 26 poems by Sebastião Barros Valle, published in 2022 by Gato Bravo. The book reflects on the archetype of the inspiring teacher, Prof. João, who ignites the flame of life and word within us. Through memory, loss and the ephemerality of being, these poems evoke a powerful sense of inner illumination and shared human journey.

For this edition, I was responsible for both the editorial design and a full suite of illustrations. The visual concept aimed to echo the symbolic flame at the heart of the poems, evoking both warmth and transience, memory and creativity.

All of my illustrations begin with words. I need to write before I draw—it helps me organize my thoughts. But illustrating poetry is something else entirely. Poetry isn’t literal, even when it seems to be. So much of its meaning lies in the reader’s interpretation. That led me to a key question: how do you illustrate poetry in a way that inspires, without stealing the reader’s imagination?

The answer, for me, was to focus not on stories, but on feelings. Illustrating this book became an exercise in emotional listening. Rather than trying to explain the poems, I aimed to accompany them—visually echoing the moods and sensations they evoke, while leaving space for reflection and interpretation.

The result is an edition that feels contemplative, poetic and quietly vibrant—an intimate tribute to the enduring spark of learning and memory.