Madkobra, or Pedro, is inspired by everything around him from the cosmos to a “random neighbor” he meets on the street. The wide scope of the inspiration is evident in his eclectic designs that range from hilarious puns — like a plump tiger enjoying pie in a small boat — to surreal landscapes that make you feel like you’ve just stepped foot on a new planet.

Madkobra describes himself as a “simple” person and his idea of home is wherever he can be close to his wife and son. His interest in art began at an early age and he shares that he used to “run into construction sites near my house just to observe the machinery.” He was so fascinated by the experience that he began to draw the gears and machinery and “the rest is history.”

Pedro is a toy collector and he fills his studio with a collection of figurines and other assorted treasures. He recently acquired the General Franky figurine from the anime series, One Piece, and he considers it a “masterpiece” because of its attention to detail. He even describes it as the item in his collection that he is the most proud of. Madkobra is also inspired by artists who introduce new worlds and can bring the fantastical into people’s lives. He would have loved the chance to work with animators like the famous Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki, the manga artist Masamune Shirow, or the comic book illustrator, Bob Kane.

He hopes that with “a little luck and a lot of hard work” he can continue to grow his art practice and eventually support himself and his family full time. Madkobra confesses that it can be difficult and awkward for him to share his “weirdness and imagination” with the people around him. However, he chooses to “focus and develop my own vision and see what happens” rather than try to get approval from others.