Meet Lucas Beaufort and his characters:  The Twins, Gusgus The Bird, Mamoth The Cat, and Romeo The Dog. They have populated magazines, skate bowls, and invaded other canvases like surf boards, clothing brands, watches, and many more.

‘In life, it’s important to dream and make others dream’

When you talk to Lucas for the first time, you quickly get a sense that the hyper energetic boy he was never really left him. His animated and warm persona makes it difficult to distinguish the characters from the artist. They are as expressive as he is, arms in the air, and oh so excitable. And as he tells you the story of his life, you will quickly be listening in awe, as if listening to an incredible adventure. It is undeniable that his passion and enthusiasm are contagious!

‘Lucas’ work is a reflection of his personality and his perception of life’

Lucas doesn’t want to leave his childhood, full of monsters and horror movies which gave him many sleepless nights but kept him hooked. His monsters now are much lighter though, quirky looking, with disproportionate limbs that intertwine and get tangled into one another in an explosion of colors. They are round and bubbly, and Lucas will tell you he stays away from sharp lines, as they dictate boundaries and give a sense of rigidity that goes against his free spirit.

I almost get a hint of affection as he talks about them, his monsters. They represent him, a bit carefree and silly-looking as he tells me with a big smile. They are never serious and never to be taken seriously, just like him. They are simply embracing life and loving others, a reflection of his character.

Obsessed with skateboarding from a very young age, it is what eventually connected him to the world of arts and led him to travel the world in pursuit of his two passions.

To my surprise Lucas didn’t start drawing until much later at the age of 26, when he decided to do something different for Christmas and gifted his twin brother with a drawing. That gift was the tipping point, as family and friends showed interest in acquiring a piece of their own. He spent the following year painting, exploring this brand new avenue and produced 15 art pieces for his very first exhibition at his uncle’s shop. Since then, Lucas can count around 80 exhibitions on his impressive resume.

‘What’s important isn’t to be famous, but to be recognized for your work’

Lucas draws most of his inspiration from his parents, as they have shaped him into the person he is today. His mother has taught him the purity of things and to care for others. Growing up, she has given him the freedom to explore the world and satisfy his curiosity to his heart’s content. His father was a role model to him. Running 15 restaurants, he has taught him the true meaning of hard work and the importance of audacity and perseverance, which Lucas applies adamantly into his own career path. Lucas tells me that there will always be uncertainty in this line of work. Things didn’t come easy, and over years of hard work and determination, Lucas remains very humble about his successes. He continues to push himself, with an unwavering appreciation for everything that comes to him.

‘I’m not an artist, I’m a story teller’

Lucas’ signature is a playful incorporation of colorful monsters onto old skate magazines. He explains to me that it goes beyond taking an existing image and drawing over it. It is a much more personal form of expression, a representation of his wish to have been there, an active spectator of that particular moment in time. Via his monsters, he is transporting himself into his piece and letting his imagination go wild. His approach is also a way of giving these old images a second breath and bringing them to the spotlight once more. Through this, Lucas is doing what he does best, telling a story.

‘You can’t keep doing the same thing, there’s got be a NEXT thing’

Lucas’ imagination is endless. As he stares into the cracks of a bathroom floor, he has visions of his characters emerging, talking to him and urging him to let them join the real world. With that idea in mind, he is working, among many other projects for 2018, on The Real Project. He plans to recreate his characters with foam masks and costumes, to be worn by skaters, finally bringing his colorful world into ours.

Follow his work @ Lucasbeaufort.com