manutaboada.art
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About Me

Hi, I’m Manu Taboada — an artist, illustrator, face painter, and creative facilitator based in Brisbane, Australia.


My work sits at the intersection of art, play, and wellbeing. I believe creativity is not just something we do, but something we experience — a powerful way to express ourselves, connect with others, and feel more at ease in the world. 



Creating Spaces for Joyful, Pressure-Free Creativity

Creating Spaces for Joyful, Pressure-Free Creativity

Creating Spaces for Joyful, Pressure-Free Creativity

Through my art parties and creative workshops, I create welcoming, fun and relaxed environments where children can explore materials, colours, and ideas freely — without pressure, expectations, or the need to “get it right”.


Whether it’s a painting party, a collage workshop, or a hands-on creative session, my focus is always on:


  • curiosity over perfection 
  • process over outcomes 
  • confidence through self-expression

Illustration, Picture Books & Surface Design

Creating Spaces for Joyful, Pressure-Free Creativity

Creating Spaces for Joyful, Pressure-Free Creativity

Alongside my live work, I’m also an illustrator, picture book creator and surface designer.


I write and create illustrations for picture books, patterns, and art-led products, often inspired by nature, storytelling, and a sense of whimsy.  My visual style is expressive and tactile, with a love for colour, texture, and hand-drawn marks.


Illustration allows me to tell visual stories, sometimes poetic — ones that linger, invite imagination, and grow with the viewer.

Face Painting as Wearable Art

A practice grounded in care and creativity

A practice grounded in care and creativity

My face painting work is another way I bring art into moments of fun and celebration. 


I approach face painting as a form of wearable illustration — playful, expressive, and thoughtfully designed. From festivals, pubs and markets to birthday parties, corporate and community events, I aim to create designs that feel magical, imaginative, and joyful, while always being gentle, inclusive, and child-centred.


For me, face painting is about more than a design — it’s about creating a moment of wonder.

A practice grounded in care and creativity

A practice grounded in care and creativity

A practice grounded in care and creativity

At the heart of everything I do is a deep respect for creativity as a human need — especially for children. Whether I’m painting faces, facilitating a workshop, or illustrating a story, my aim is always the same: to create meaningful, joyful creative experiences that feel safe, inclusive, and genuinely fun.


If you’re here looking for a creative experience for your child, a celebration filled with colour and wonder, or illustrated work that tells a story — you’re in the right place.

Why I do this?

I do this work because it brings me joy — and because I see how powerful joyful creativity can be for children. I am at my happiest when I’m making art, especially when I’m making art with children: when they’re immersed in colour, laughter, and imagination, and when I see that spark of pride in their eyes. That moment might come from painting a true little masterpiece, from immersing ourselves in a colourful story book, or from being “turned into” their favourite superhero, a butterfly, or a unicorn.


At the heart of my practice is fun — the kind that feels free, playful, and deeply affirming. 


It’s about colours and sparkles, yes, but even more about wonder: creating moments where children feel confident, creative, and completely themselves. 


This is my centre. 


This is what I’m best at, and what I’m here for.

Let’s create something filled with colour, sparkles, and wonder...

Get in Touch!

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