Rewind: Lapin's journey from drawing Paris commuters to publishing more than 40 books
How do you launch a career as an independent reportage artist or professional urban sketcher?
While still working as a graphic designer in Paris in his mid 20s, Lapin honed his drawing skills sketching subway commuters. He also tried to use as much of his vacation time “to go far away, usually alone with a sketchbook.”
In Vietnam, Mexico or Egypt, drawing on old accounting books made him feel a bit like a 19th century artist tasked with documenting a scientific expedition.
After six years of work that he found uncreative and unfulfilling, Lapin was ready to take a leap into a career as a freelance illustrator.
To market his work, he sent a self-published booklet, Expediciones de Lapin, to potential clients and acquaintances in the illustration and editorial world.
“It was only 200 copies … I just made a selection of, I think, 50 pages to show to my customers and to customers I would like to work with what I'd like to do as a freelance illustrator. It was my first year as a freelancer … Actually, it worked. I had my first sketchbook commission the year after.”
More than 15 years later, Lapin’s unique sketchbook reportage is sought out by municipalities, museums and even the French military, which bestowed him with the title of "Painter of the Air and Space” a few years ago.
Listen to Lapin talk about his career and the strategies behind his success in this new Artist Talk exclusive for On the Spot members.