Blandine Pietra‘s illustrations are sure to send you down a teenage nostalgia spiral. From the posters drawn on the walls to the angst showing on her subjects’ faces, the French-born artist captures the teenage spirit so accurately with each pen stroke. After traveling all over the world, Pietra settled in Atlanta and is currently a creative director at the French Alliance Atlanta during the day, while doing freelance graphic design at night.
Her illustrations range from heavily-inspired French architecture print design and detailed animal drawings to portraits of a ‘girl gang’ and more. She was also featured in a past Creative Loafing.
Here, Pietra talks to CommonCreativ (from her Parisian vacation!) about her journey to Atlanta, her dream collaborations and how travel inspires her art.
CommonCreativ: How did you end up in Atlanta?
Blandine Pietra: I was born and raised in Paris, but I clearly have a backpacker’s spirit for both traveling and discovering new cultures. About a year ago I had the opportunity to live and work in Atlanta, so naturally I jumped at the chance to meet and experience a new country! It had been several years since I wanted to get away from Paris. I wanted to discover the United States and continue to practice English. Since I am not a fan of only having a big city (I love green spaces), Atlanta seemed the best alternative.
CC: What drew you to graphic design?
BP: I have always been interested in art because my parents surrounded me with art since I was a child. My father is an architect and a talented artist. My mother worked for Le Musée d’Orsay in Paris, so she regularly took me to various museums all over Paris. This certainly guided my passions and dreams of developing myself as a graphic designer. I also experienced several enriching meetings that led me to study art.
CC: How does your French background influence your work?
BP: Living in Paris probably influenced my work. Paris is a very inspiring city, especially at night. The beauty of the very old ‘Hausman-style’ buildings and cathedrals have always impressed me.
CC: We really love your Girl Gang series. What’s the concept behind it?
BP: The Girl Gang series is my very latest work. I wanted to represent the next generation. These girls are full of convictions, ideals, and proud of their freedom. These are the kind of jaded, cool college girls you want to be friends with.
The first drawing of this series was “the feminist.” There are plenty of small details in her bedroom that give information about her personality. It’s like picking up the pieces of a puzzle in order to truly understand who this girl is.
I will continue this series and collect a wide variety of personalities. My main topic is women: naked, dressed, hairy, tall, large, short, small, sculptural, in groups, single, tired, powerful, provocative, angry, shy, evil, black, white, or beautiful. I am not trying to make fun of or even praise my characters; I just want to put aside the beauty standards that are so engrained in our minds.
CC: What media do you enjoy working with as a graphic designer and illustrator?
BP: My personal work is mostly hand drawn using an Isograph pen, which fits perfectly with my style and work. I started using colors, mainly watercolor or markers, only recently when I started the Girl Gang series. For me, it is important to have a tangible step on paper before working on a computer.
Blandine Pietra
CC: What brands/companies have you worked with? What’s your greatest career accomplishment?
BP: I’ve worked for different companies including Yellow Pages, a fashion agency, and cultural organizations. Currently, I am working at the Alliance Française, which is a nonprofit organization that promotes French culture in Atlanta. It’s a challenge because I’m an illustrator, but also I’m a creative director. It’s a great experience because I’m independent and I make decisions on my own. Alliance Française wanted me to give a new image to the company. I suggested vector graphics with characters embodying the French touch. It’s a graphic style totally different from what I usually do.
CC: What inspires you?
BP: So many things inspire me. As a kid, I was captivated by the beautiful works I discovered in museums and galleries, in particular, Gustav Klimt and Alfons Mucha. I’m also intrigued by the mysterious and magical world. Tarkovsky is a filmmaker who transported me into a different world from the one that surrounds us. He developed in me the desire to create things.
Subconsciously, I think that have been inspired by many of my childhood tales. The kinds of books full of magical stories and detailed illustrations, such as the artwork of Virginia Frances Sterrett, have had a profound and significant impact on me.
Illustration for Creative Loafing
Lastly, my biggest inspiration is the amazing people I meet during my trips — visiting Aborigines in Australia, orphans in Denpasar, tricycle drivers in the Philippines, and the Southern hospitality from the people of Atlanta.
CC: Do you have any dream collaborations with other local artists?
BP: There are a lot of local artists I admire: one example is Monica Alexander. I absolutely love her illustrations, including the portraits she does. She has a very unique style and because I am a huge fan of the TV show, I love her Game of Thrones ladies!
CC: What do you think about Atlanta’s current arts scene?
BP: Atlanta is a culturally vibrant city. When I arrived, I was surprised to find someone spray painting a graffiti masterpiece in the middle of the afternoon, while a rapper [filmed] a music video just steps away! Every day there is something creative to do. In so many places around Atlanta, you are surrounded by art!
CC: Why do you draw/make art?
BP: This is what I am meant to do. I love bringing my imagination and my characters to life and giving them personality. It’s a way of making my imagination tangible, touchable, and visible. I feel like I’m wasting my life away when I don’t get to draw. Maybe it’s a sort of addiction, maybe it’s destiny.
