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

  • “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.”

  • “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.”

  • “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