A colourful journey of cutting, layering and pattern-making!

Have you ever seen a piece of art that feels like a party on paper? Bright circles, swirling lines, bold colours and patterns that seem to dance? That’s exactly what you’ll find in the artwork of Beatriz Milhazes, a famous Brazilian artist from South America.

Milhazes creates artwork full of energy, rhythm and joy. Her pieces are inspired by Brazilian culture, including festivals, music, nature and traditional crafts. But what makes her work extra special are the skills she uses, many of which you can learn too!

We have explored and used the following techniques and skills to create magical artwork just like Beatriz Milhazes.

Cutting: Shapes that Pop!

Milhazes often begins her art by cutting out shapes—circles, spirals, petals and patterns—from brightly coloured papers. Instead of sticking them straight onto her artwork, she sometimes paints them onto plastic sheets first, then peels them off like stickers.

Layering: Building Up the Artwork

One of the most exciting things about her art is the way she layers shapes, colours and patterns on top of each other. Layering helps create depth—almost like the artwork has a story with many chapters.

We started with a background wash, then add large shapes, then smaller details on top. Each layer adds something new!

Colour Arrangement: Making Colours Work Together

Milhazes is famous for choosing colours that stand out but also work as a team. Bright oranges sit next to cool blues; golds glow beside hot pinks.

When planning our own artwork, we thought about:

  • Contrast (light vs dark)
  • Warm and cool colours
  • Complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel)

Fine Line Drawing: Adding Detail and Pattern

Once the bold shapes and colours are in place, Milhazes often uses delicate lines to add decoration and pattern. These tiny details bring everything together.

We tried repeating patterns, thin swirling lines, dots and dashes and patterned borders

Beautiful Final Pieces

When all these skills come together—cutting, layering, colour arranging and fine line work—the results are stunning. Each artwork becomes a celebration of creativity, culture and imagination.

Our final pieces were just as exciting, full of personality and magic. Take a look!