Johan Papin’s illustrations are easily recognizable for their pastel hue and romantic appeal. Centered around people as they navigate their everyday lives, his work is the kind of pretty, relatable content your Instagram feed craves.
Like most creatives, Papin’s artistic passion sparked early on. “Drawing is something I’ve always done since I was a kid but long story short, I studied and worked in animation for a while and moved into illustration in the past few years,” he told Illustrators’ Lounge. “I feel much more comfortable in this particular creative field.”
Having graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in 2006, he went on to study animation at the Pivaut school in Nantes, France. He then worked with various studios on animated kids shows, further developing his skills in character design, animation, compositing, and directing.
In 2013, he joined forces with six friends, forming the MessieursDame – a collective of illustrators, animators, and directors based in Paris. “Being part of this was most certainly a turning point in my career and one of the best decisions I’ve made,” he admits. “I learned that taking risks can be rewarding, that being independent is something that is truly crucial for me, that being surrounded by talented people is a blessing and with friends is even better.”
His creative journey finally landed him in Montreal, where he’s currently based. “I decided six months ago to start a new adventure in Montreal and it was absolutely heartbreaking to leave this place,” he says. But judging by his growing online presence, it’s only the beginning for Papin.
Take a look at some of his work in the gallery below.
