Like most creative souls, Johan Papin was born with a pencil clutched between his fingers. “Drawing is something I’ve always done since I was a kid,” he relayed in an interview with Illustrators’ Lounge, “but long story short, I studied and worked in animation for a while and moved into illustration in the past few years.”
Since graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in 2006, and studying animation at the Pivaut school in Nantes, France, Papin has worked with various studios on animated kids shows. During this time he developed skills in character design, animation, compositing, and directing.
Now a full-time illustrator, he admits to feeling more comfortable in this particular creative field. His illustrations have a softness to them—a quality that is further enhanced by his choice of pastel colors. But with a background in animation, Papin’s understanding of movement and composition is also key to understanding his work.
Now based in Montreal, he admits to being on the lookout for new adventures, both online and offline. “I decided six months ago to start a new adventure in Montreal,” he says. You can join his creative adventure through Instagram.
