Children's Book Illustrator and Character Designer with 15+ years of freelance experience creating illustrations for publishers, authors, and educational brands. My work focuses on expressive characters, visual storytelling, and warm, engaging imagery designed to captivate young readers. I've collaborated with clients including FTD Educação, Editora Moderna, Poliedro, and Instituto Ápice Down, delivering illustrations for children's books, educational materials, and editorial projects. I value clear communication, reliable delivery, and a collaborative creative process. From early sketches and color exploration to polished final artwork, I strive to create illustrations that tell memorable stories and leave a lasting impression.…

Kiko Welbber

Children's Book Illustrator and Character Designer with 15+ years of freelance experience creating illustrations for publishers, authors, and educational brands. My work focuses on expressive characters, visual storytelling, and warm, engaging imagery designed to captivate young readers. I've collaborated with clients including FTD Educação, Editora Moderna, Poliedro, and Instituto Ápice Down, delivering illustrations for children's books, educational materials, and editorial projects. I value clear communication, reliable delivery, and a collaborative creative process. From early sketches and color exploration to polished final artwork, I strive to create illustrations that tell memorable stories and leave a lasting impression.…

Available to hire

Children’s Book Illustrator and Character Designer with 15+ years of freelance experience creating illustrations for publishers, authors, and educational brands. My work focuses on expressive characters, visual storytelling, and warm, engaging imagery designed to captivate young readers.

I’ve collaborated with clients including FTD Educação, Editora Moderna, Poliedro, and Instituto Ápice Down, delivering illustrations for children’s books, educational materials, and editorial projects.

I value clear communication, reliable delivery, and a collaborative creative process. From early sketches and color exploration to polished final artwork, I strive to create illustrations that tell memorable stories and leave a lasting impression.

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Language

English
Beginner
Spanish; Castilian
Beginner
Portuguese
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance illustrator at Editora Moderna
February 2, 2026 - Present
Development of editorial illustrations for the PNLD (National Program for Textbooks and Educational Materials), aimed at an 11-year-old audience.
Freelance illustrator at FTD Educação
September 1, 2025 - February 16, 2026
Development of children's illustrations for an English textbook aimed at the 2-to-3-year-old age group.
Freelance illustrator at Poliedro
July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025
Development of illustrations for a children's book
Freelance illustrator at Freelance Illustrator - Kiko Welbber
January 1, 2013 - Present
Development of storytelling illustrations. Illustrations for children's books, character design, educational materials, literature, and editorial work.

Education

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Qualifications

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Industry Experience

Education, Other, Media & Entertainment
    Small, Angry and Soaked
    An atmosphere and visual storytelling study using the character Cascão, created by Mauricio de Sousa, reinterpreted through my own visual language. The piece explores light, shadow, texture, and color as narrative tools to convey discomfort, surprise, and vulnerability throughout the scene. An atmosphere and visual storytelling study using the character Cascão, created by Mauricio de Sousa, reinterpreted through my own visual language. The piece explores light, shadow, texture, and color as narrative tools to convey discomfort, surprise, and vulnerability throughout the scene. illustrator childrensillustrator…
    Children's Book - O Tamanho do Medo
    Children’s Book - O Tamanho do Medo O Tamanho do Medo is a children’s book that explores fear through a sensitive and imaginative visual narrative, encouraging young readers to discover that courage can be greater than their fears. For this project, I developed the illustrations, focusing on expressive characters, warm color palettes, and storytelling that supports the emotional journey of the book. illustrator…
    Cebolinha - Fan Art & Illustration Process
    This personal study is inspired by the character Jimmy Five, created as an exercise in composition, visual storytelling, and digital painting. The goal was to explore the workflow I use in my illustrations, from the initial sketch through Color Key, color blocking, value studies, and final rendering. Throughout the project, I share part of this creative process to demonstrate how color, contrast, and lighting decisions are established before the final painting stage. Character belongs to its respective copyright holders. Created for study and portfolio purposes only. illustrator…
    Children's Book - Gato Teobaldo
    Children's book illustrated for author Makyl Angelo. The story follows Teobaldo, a dreamer black cat who must overcome his fears to cross the Old Bridge and take part in the legendary Moon Piano recital. Blending music, fantasy, and cultural references from the city of Resende, Brazil, the narrative explores themes such as courage, perseverance, inclusion, and the transformative power of art. The book was selected for launch during the Resende Book Fair, reinforcing its connection to the region's cultural heritage. For this project, I developed the character designs, environments, scene compositions, and overall visual direction, aiming to create a warm and magical atmosphere for young readers. illustrator…
    Children's Book - Karate Duck
    In this project I tried to bring a simple line to your reading, but one that told a good story. Using mostly pastel tones and a painting full of textures, to bring greater identification with children. Much of the character design work was done in a traditional way. After that, I started new studies in Photoshop, where I also did all the final art, such as new sketches, final strokes and color studies to arrive at the final color palette. illustrator…
    A Gift
    I created this illustration as a gift for a colleague and friend at the end of 2023, when I and 10 other illustrators decided to make a Secret Santa. I chose to make a children's illustration, which is my great passion, exploring the personality of the person drawn, based on the descriptions that each illustrator received from their colleague.…
    Character Design - O Tamanho do Medo
    Character design developed for the book "O Tamanho do Medo" illustrator…
    Children's book - Aurora, a menina observadora
    I had the pleasure of being invited by Instituto Ápice Down to illustrate an inclusive children's book project about Aurora, a young girl who invites us to see the world through kindness, empathy, and possibility. Instituto Ápice Down is a non-profit organization dedicated to inclusion, family support, and advocating for the rights of people with Down syndrome. illustrator…