The diligently drawn felt tip illustrations of Léopoldine Siaud

Felt tips, our fuzzy penned friends, are one of the most nostalgic utensils. Although a piece of equipment most would associate to be in a school pencil case, there is a growing group of illustrators and artists using felt tips in a meticulously ingenious way. This is certainly the case for French illustrator, Léopoldine Siaud.

As an illustrator Léopoldine’s interest in drawing spurred from a subject at the opposite side of the spectrum, sports. “I am obsessed with sports, but only as a spectator,” the illustrator tells It’s Nice That. “Athletics, winter sports, football, I am fascinated by sport imagery, and Zlatan.” However unlike the fast-paced sport that inspired her to pick up a pen, Léopoldine’s illustrational style is unhurried. “After trying a few techniques of drawing, I feel at ease with a felt tipped pen. The technique I use takes much time, and I have to take breaks in order rest my wrist.” It may take longer but creating one of Léopoldine’s pieces is just as exhaustive as 90 minutes on the pitch.

The end result is certainly worth the wait. In her aerial view illustrations textures of grass, sea and sand are all drawn delicately, line by line to depict intricate shading. In the foreground petite lazing characters are identifiable by Léopoldine’s brilliant colour palette. In her larger pieces, lines where layers of felt tips meet one another are diligently even with craftsmanship.

Additionally inspired by “neo-classic, religious and kitsch aesthetic,” Léopoldine hopes to start a family portrait series in the future, “like the family paintings above old Manoir’s fireplaces”. Alongside illustration, Léopoldine works as an art director for her own studio, Dimanche, who publishes illustration publication Papier Magazine every three months.