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contact@lesillustrationsdelapin.com
+34 649 67 65 19
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Calle Pujades, 77-79, 8-1b
08005 Barcelona - Spain -
Let’s talk about it!
I would be please to document your savoir faire or your area.
I am a French artist living in Barcelona.
I define my self as a mobile illustrator and I register my life in drawings: I filled 220 sketchbooks during the past 20 years.
I draw from direct observation, quickly and precisely, depicting my surrounding, the people I meet, the places I am traveling to.
I use to sketch on vintage accounting books that I find in flea markets. This old paper with red and blue lines reminds me the first drawings and observations that brought back the scientist expedition of the XVIIIth century like Cook or Laperouse from unknown civilisations and lands. I wish to become one of those explorers and many times my reportages are ethnographic.
The economy of medium is also what I appreciate. I'm traveling light and don't need much more than a sketchbook, a fineliner, watercolor and my folding stool.
The street is my studio.
After 6 years working in design agencies, I became a freelance illustrator in 2008.
I participate to the Urban Sketchers community since its begining, I teach the art of sketching to the Masters students at Elisava university in Barcelona and I was nominated official air and space painter for the French army in 2019.
I already published 48 books about Barcelona, Paris, Japan, Cuba, Ouessant island (…) and thematic like "art nouveau", "gentrification", "classic cars", "aeronautic" or "dinosaurs".
Frequently Asked Questions
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“Lapin is a pseudonym that has stuck with me for over 20 years, a nickname given by a colleague on my first day of work in a design agency in Paris when I was very shy.”
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“I was named Air and Space Painter in 2019, a 3 year renewal approval awarded by the ministry of defense to artists devoting their talent to aeronautic and space. This title does not entitle you to any remuneration but grants facilities and privileges including being able to work on air bases. I have the honorary rank of captain, a badge and ceremonial uniform.”
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“A Uni Pin 0.2 indelible black fineliner for drawing without prior sketching (eraser prohibited), 1/4 Winsor & Newton pans in a 19th century Bijou box, highlights with white Gelly Roll 10, all in a case attached to the belt. My go-to colors are yellow ochre, alizarin crimson and cobalt blue.
I also carry a Coleman folding stool, ready to explore the world, sketchbook in hand.” -
“Urban Sketchers (USk) is a non-profit organization that highlights the artistic, narrative and educational value of “in situ” drawing, promoting it and creating links between sketchers around the world, whether they are at home or traveling.
USk manifest:
1.) We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
2.) Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live, and where we travel.
3.) Our drawings are a record of time and place.
4.) We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
5.) We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
6.) We support each other and draw together.
7.) We share our drawings online.
8.) We show the world, one drawing at a time.”
Press review
« Lapin pertenece a una tradición antigua: la de los viajeros ilustrados que dibujaban las tortugas a los helechos gigantes; la de Goya y sus desastres; las de todos los pintores del siglo XX que tomaron notas del natural. »
— El Païs
« I’m fascinated with the intricately detailed, perfectly imperfect illustrations of Lapin. He is a master of linework and hand drawn typography, and layers imagery in such a way that you find something new every time you look. »
— Designworklife
« Une vision personnelle de la ville mais dont l’imaginaire à la fois poétique parlera à toutes et tous, un sourire au coin des lèvres. »
— UNTITLED MAGAZINE
“Paris, je t’aime” interview
To celebrate the launching of my book "Paris, je t’aime", the bookshop Artazart along the Canal Saint-Martin invited me to expose a selection of pages on their wall during the summer 2016.
This short interview (in French) will reveal a few secrets…
“a time travelling sketchbook”
by Lolita Suleimanova
This animation was made for my exhibition at Mitte Barcelona in 2014. The animation shows the timeline of my illustrations, through a journey across the sketchbook, starting from my very first sketches at the age of 4.
Merci Lolita!
Listen up ! (in French)
Bourlinguez #102 - Lapin x Bases Aériennes
A podcast about my immersion in French Air Bases.
Bibliography
BA 120 (2024)
Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace
Bormes les Mimosas (2024)
MHAB - Musée d’Histoire et d’Art de Bormes
INAF Sketchtour (2024)
INAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
Sketching Barcelona (2024)
Hoaki Books & Ajuntament de Barcelona
Made in China (2023)
Éditions Elytis
Bourges (2023)
Office de Tourisme de Bourges
Patrouille de France (2023)
Privat & Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace
25 years of Flying Operations (2023)
150SQN Republic of Singapore Air Force
Tadao (2023)
Transdev
Qatar, travel book of culture (2022)
Years of Culture
Aviateurs (2022)
Privat & Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace
Airplane (2022)
Airplane
Avions (2022)
Privat & Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace
Carnet d’inventions (2021)
Musée des Arts et Métiers
Fogo! (2021) self published
Août en Val d’Aubois (2021)
CIAP La Tuilerie et Le Luisant
Zaragoza (2021)
Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza
Groar (2020) self published
Costa Esmeralda (2020) self published
Albi, carnet de Patrimoine (2019)
Éditions Privat
Carnet de Zincs (2019) self published
Poblenou (2018)
Ajuntament de Barcelona
I like it a Lot (2018) self published
Ouessant (2018)
Les îliennes
Berlin, Barcelona, Lisboa & Paris (2017)
Joon airline
Barcelona original (2016)
Promopress & Ajuntament de Barcelona
Carnet de bagnoles vol.2 (2016)
Éditions Glénat
Paris, je t’aime (2016)
Promopress
Cuaderno de Cuba (2016)
Malpaso
Barcelona Modernisme, beyond Gaudi
Zahori de Ideas & Ajuntament de Barcelona (2016)
Carnet de bagnoles vol.1 (2015)
Éditions Glénat
Cuba, an 56 de la révolution (2014)
Éditions de la Boîte à Bulles
Lapin au Japon (2014)
Éditions Elytis
Lapin à Baden-Baden (2014)
Stadtverwaltung Baden-Baden
Oldies but Goldies (2013) self published
Roca by Lapin (2013)
Barcelona m’inspira (2013)
Ajuntament de Barcelona
Formula One Paddock Club (2012)
Lapin à Istanbul (2012) self published
Te quiero Bcn (2012) self published
Lapin à Carcassonne (2012)
Carcassonne Agglo
La Sagrada Familia de Gaudí (2011)
Tres Editores
Lapin à Saint-Émilion (2010)
Une affaire de famille
Lapin à Ramatuelle (2009)
Alm
Expediciones de Lapin (2008)
self published
Selected collective books
The World of Urban Sketching (2022)
by Stephanie Bower, Quarry Books
Sketch Tour Portugal (2022)
Caleidoscópio
Urban Sketchbook, band I & II (2017-2019)
Jüli Verlag
The Art of Urban Sketching (2012)
by Gabi Campanario, Quarry Books
Dibuixem Drawing Barcelona (2021)
Ayuntamiento de Barcelona
De Lignes en Ligne (2015)
Eyrolles
Diarios de Viagem 2 (2014)
by Eduardo Salavisa, Quimera
An Illustrated Journey (2013)
by Danny Gregory, How Books
Drawing Perspective (2016)
by Matthew Brehm, Barron’s
Understanding Perspective (2016)
by Stephanie Bower, Quarry Books
Reportage and Documentary Drawing (2016)
by Veronica Lawlor, Quarry Books
Techniques for Beginners (2021)
by Suhita Shirodkar, Quarry Books
Drawing Expressive People (2021)
by Róisín Curé, Quarry Books
Urban Sketching, the complete guide to techniques (2014)
by Thomas Thorspecken, PageOne
Illustration Now! Portraits (2011)
Illustration Now! 3 (2009)
by Julius Wiedemann, Taschen
Croq and Mob en Rabelaisie 1 & 2 (2022-2023)
Les Cinquantièmes Rugissants
Croq and Mob, Portrait du Haut-Rhône dauphinois (2020)
Le département de l’Isère
Liège des Urban Sketchers (2015)
Utile Dulci
Dessiner Liège (2019)
Utile Dulci
Jazz dans le Bocage (2018)
Association Jazz dans le Bocage
Motorcycle Graphics (2013)
Graffito
Illusive, Contemporary Illustration 2 & 3 (2007-2009)
Gestalten