Drawing His Future: 14-Year-Old Victor Duarte Turns Dreams Into Stories

At XPPen, we believe every creator deserves to be seen and heard. We have long been committed to listening to the stories of creators from diverse backgrounds and creative paths. Through these ongoing conversations, we came across Victor Duarte—a young talented creator from Morato, Brazil, whose story reminds us why this mission matters.

Victor was diagnosed with autism, and by the age of 13, he had already created and illustrated his own comic books and held book signing events at his local city hall. For Victor, drawing is far more than a hobby. It is how he understands the world, processes emotions, and communicates with others. Through comic strips, he has developed a creative language entirely his own—turning personal moments into stories that resonate with others and bring his dreams to a wider audience.

In this conversation, Victor shares his creative journey, his dreams for the future, and an inspiring message for other young creators who are learning to believe in their own possibilities.

Seeds of Creativity

XPPen: Please introduce yourself. Or you can show us with a self-portrait.

Victor: My name is Victor Duarte. I am 14 years old, diagnosed with autism (level 1), and starting 9th grade. I have hyperfocus on drawing and reading. I started reading at age two and, from then on, I also became interested in comic books.

XPPen: When did you start drawing? What do you enjoy drawing the most?

Victor: At approximately five years old, due to my great interest in comic books, I began to make my first drawings. What I enjoy drawing most are comic strips.

XPPen: What does drawing mean to you? How has it changed your life?

Victor: For me, drawing is not just a hobby, but also a way for me to self-regulate my anxiety. When I couldn't tell my mother something because I was so anxious, I would draw to "illustrate" what I was feeling. Through drawing, I was able to find a way to express my feelings to my relatives and friends, and I also gained access to people I didn't know, such as the book signing I was able to do at the city hall where I live.

Journey Through Creation

XPPen: Do you have artists you really like? What do you like about them or their work?

Victor: I started reading comics with a Brazilian cartoonist named Mauricio de Sousa. Over time, I became interested in other authors, such as Jeff Kinney (creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid) [what I like about this author are the stories that are close to real life told in a comical way], Dav Pilkey (creator of Captain Underpants) [what I like about this author are the humorous stories and the drawing style], and I'm also interested in books of curiosities and science, and currently I'm becoming interested in manga and anime. I intend to create my first comics in this style soon.

XPPen: Can you tell us about your most memorable drawing experience? Why is it special to you?

Victor: My most memorable drawing was the one that inspired my first book, Vick's Diary: The Journey. In it, I recount the fulfillment of my dream of taking my first airplane trip. So, it's my personal biography mixed with humorous elements.

XPPen: Can you share the story of how you created your comic book? For example, your inspiration, the process, any fun or challenging moments, and how you felt when it was finished.

Victor: I'll use the story of how I created my book Vick's Diary: The Journey as a reference, which is related to the answer to Question above. Since I have ADHD, I had difficulty finishing my stories, and because of that, I made many comic strips, but almost all of them without an ending. That's when I received a challenge from my friend, who is the mayor of the city where I live. He proposed that if I finished a comic strip, he would make copies of it and give me an afternoon of autographs so that people could see my work. Since I was about to take a trip with my mother where I would fly on a plane for the first time (which was a dream of mine), I took advantage of this moment to record all of this through my book. The creation process of this book lasted approximately two months, and the challenge was to get to the end without getting distracted. The funny parts were transforming real or almost real situations into funny illustrations. I felt proud when I finished the story, with the feeling that I could build upon it to finish many other stories.

Dreams in Motion

XPPen: If you could try any type of drawing in the future (like animation, digital painting, or oil painting), what would you like to try and why?

Victor: Besides making comics, I would like to experiment with the art of animation because I would like to take my animated stories around the world so that people can get to know my work.

XPPen: If you could draw a “future version of yourself,” what would it look like? You can describe it in words or show it in a drawing.

Victor: In the future, my dream is to have my own comic book production company and also my own animation studio, and to travel around the world presenting my work to everyone and showing everyone with autism that the syndrome does not limit the realization of our dreams, and that they can also go far beyond.

*Picture 1: Victor envisions his future studios

Picture 2: Victor as an adult in his office

XPPen: Is there a sentence or a drawing you would like to share with other kids who love drawing like you?

Victor: I'd like to share a phrase that I use as a motto for my life: “Never give up on your dreams, because one day you will make them all come true. Just have patience, faith, and wait for the right moment for everything.”

Victor's story is a powerful reminder of what's possible when creativity meets determination. Through his unique perspective and authentic voice, Victor shows us that creativity knows no boundaries—it is a universal language that connects us all and helps us see the world in new ways. His message—”Never give up on your dreams”—reflects the spirit we see across creative communities worldwide.

Over the past 20 years, XPPen has been dedicated to empowering creators who dare to dream and have the passion to pursue their creative dreams. We believe in our role as a bridge that connects creators like Victor with the world, ensuring their voices are amplified and their work reaches audiences far and wide. In a world that celebrates diversity and inclusion, we stand alongside creators, listening to their stories and supporting them as they pursue their dreams in all their diversity and uniqueness.

This is Victor's story, and one of countless others that inspire us to dream boldly and create fearlessly. In recognition of his passion, creativity, and determination, we were honored to send Victor a New Year gift as a small gesture of encouragement. We look forward to witnessing the extraordinary artistic adventures that lie ahead for him and hope this gift accompanies him on his journey to sharing his magic with the world.