Available to hire
I’m a passionate visual arts specialist with extensive experience in nurturing creativity. I have a strong commitment to fostering self-expression and creative problem-solving through exploratory art education. My background in teaching contributes to embracing academic success through artistic engagement.
I am currently strengthening my illustration portfolio and seeking new opportunities for collaboration, as this is the path I feel called upon to do. What better way to inspire and to educate than illustrating children’s books?
I’m excited to continue growing as an educator and artist, leveraging my collaborative approach to inspire students and clients alike.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Portuguese
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate
Work Experience
Freelance illustrator at Self-employed
June 1, 2025 - PresentStarted building clientele offering digital works for hire. Illustrated privately for clients and one short story. Worked alongside projects in development, aiming to secure a position with a printing company.
Visual Arts Specialist at The International School of Portland
August 1, 2011 - PresentTeaching children ages 3 to 18, focusing on creative problem-solving and visual symbolic understanding through art. Teaching is exploratory and process-driven, celebrating student achievements and self-confidence.
Art Specialist at Willowbrook Summer Camp - Brown’s Ferry Park
August 31, 2016 - July 22, 2025Taught 5-8 year olds open-ended art activities using nature and observational drawing techniques. Later years focused on found item art, prop and costume making for camp theatrical productions, and art activities encouraging social interaction post-pandemic.
Art Specialist at Willowbrook Summer Camp - Brown’s Ferry Park
August 31, 2018 - July 22, 2025Taught 5-8 year olds with a focus on found item art, prop and costume making for biweekly theatrical productions, incorporating natural source paint making and observational drawing.
Art Counselor at Willowbrook Summer Camp - Brown’s Ferry Park
August 31, 2021 - July 22, 2025Counseled 11-15 year olds during pandemic recovery; helped students with conflict resolution via art-making and discussions. Focused on ceramics and pottery activities to support emotional and social healing.
Freelance Illustrator at Self-employed / Freelance
June 1, 2025 - November 19, 2025Freelance illustrator building a client base for digital works for hire; illustrated privately for clients and a short story; worked on projects that were unpublished.
Visual Arts Specialist at The International School of Portland
August 1, 2011 - November 19, 2025Experience teaching children of all ages, from 3 to 18 years old. Currently work with 5-6 year olds as well as 10-11 year olds. Emphasizes art as a tool for creative problem-solving and visual symbolic understanding; teaches in an exploratory, process-driven way and celebrates students’ achievements and self-confidence through art.
Art Specialist at Willow Brook Summer Camp
August 1, 2016 - August 1, 2016Taught 5-8 year olds many different art activities that were open-ended and to be ready by the end of the day for taking home. Focused on art from nature, observational drawing, and making paints from natural sources.
Art Specialist at Willow Brook Summer Camp
August 1, 2018 - August 1, 2018Taught 5-8 year olds with a focus on found item art and prop/costume making activities that supported biweekly theatrical productions; continued nature-based art and observational drawing, and making paints from natural sources.
Art Counselor at Willow Brook Summer Camp
August 1, 2021 - August 1, 2021Counselor to 11-15 year olds after the world reopened post-Covid; assisted with conflicts; ceramics tent for bas-reliefs and pottery; offered guidance on expression and social interaction during a challenging year.
Freelance Illustrator at Self-employed
June 1, 2025 - November 19, 2025Built up client base offering digital works for hire; illustrated privately for clients and one short story; worked on unpublished projects with potential collaboration.
Freelance Illustrator at Self-Employed (Portfolio: cacaiabarros.portfoliobox.net)
January 1, 2025 - PresentIllustrated privately for clients and one short story; built clientele during second year of illustration training; collaborated on unpublished hopeful projects.
Freelance Portuguese Tutor/ Translator at Self-Employed
June 1, 2000 - PresentTaught individual and small group Portuguese classes; translated medical articles and legal documents.
Art Specialist at Willowbrook Summer Camp
June 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020Counseled 11-15 year olds after the Covid pandemic re-opening; assisted students in conflict resolution and social interaction; supported teenagers through artmaking and discussions during challenging times; spent time in the ceramics tent creating bas-reliefs and pottery; encouraged self-expression through the arts (Art therapy).
Art Specialist at Willowbrook Summer Camp
June 1, 2018 - August 31, 2018Taught 5-8 year olds; focused on found item art and prop/costume making activities; created open-ended activities for biweekly theatrical productions; made art from nature; learned about observational drawings; made paints from natural sources.
Art Specialist at Willowbrook Summer Camp
June 1, 2016 - August 31, 2016Taught 5-8 year olds various open-ended art activities; developed projects that could be completed and taken home; incorporated nature into art projects; taught observational drawing techniques; educated students on making paints from natural sources.
Education
M.A. in Teaching in Visual Arts at Lewis and Clark College - Portland, OR
September 1, 2006 - March 31, 2008BA in Visual Art/ Theater at College of Charleston - Charleston, SC
August 1, 2000 - December 31, 2004M.A. in Illustration at Academy of Art University
June 1, 2024 - November 19, 2025M.A. in Teaching in Visual Arts at Lewis and Clark College
September 1, 2006 - March 1, 2008B.A. in Visual Art / Theater at College of Charleston
August 1, 2000 - December 1, 2004M.A. in Illustration at Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
June 1, 2024 - November 19, 2025M.A. in Teaching in Visual Arts at Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
September 1, 2006 - March 1, 2008BA in Visual Art/Theater at College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
August 1, 2000 - December 1, 2004M.A. in Illustration at Academy of the Arts University
June 1, 2024 - April 15, 2026M.A.T in Education at Lewis and Clark College
June 1, 2005 - June 1, 2008Bachelor’s in Art at College of Charleston
June 1, 2000 - December 1, 2004Qualifications
Member of the National Art Education Association
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015Member of Village Arts Gallery
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2025Member of the Art Advisory Council at the Portland Art Museum
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024Industry Experience
Education, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Other
This is an example of what Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator can do. It was a grad school assignment and my first experience making a movie poster. All photographs are my own, and so are the drawings.
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