In this 7th portrait, I invite you to discover Marie-Lou Theage, a 1m53 tall illustrator who depicts with great humor the " petite" situations she experiences on a daily basis.
I decided to create my own drawing account on Instagram in 2017. I wanted a funny theme that represented me well and told the story of my life.
Marie-Lou, how did you learn to draw?
I've been drawing since I was very petite, in fact since I could hold a pencil. I became an illustrator quite late in life. I learned the basics and techniques of drawing through courses in traditional drawing, color (colorization), nudes, placement of light and shadow, etc., when I did a one-year refresher course in applied arts after obtaining a general BAC.
You've been drawing since the age of 4. When did it all click and you knew you wanted to make a career out of it?
I wasn't born into a family of artists. On the other hand, I'd say I was predisposed to becoming an artist, with an aunt who was a painter and a grandfather who was an architect. Petite, I wanted to be an author and illustrator. But I knew that it was complicated to make a living as an artist. So I chose to take a general baccalauréat. I then studied to become a graphic designer and art director. It was at the end of my studies, after a BTS in graphic design and a master's degree in web design, that I reoriented myself towards illustration.
How did you come up with these petite situations that are so characteristic of you?
During my web design studies, I took a few courses in digital painting and tablet coloring. I discovered my passion! I loved it! So I got out the Bamboo tablet I'd been given when I was 18 and started practicing again. For a year, I practiced enormously on my own, then decided to create my own drawing account on Instagram in 2017. I wanted a funny theme that represented me well and told the story of my life. That's how The P'tites Meufs was born.
Can you describe your typical working day?
I get up at 8:30 and start work at 9:30. I start by answering my e-mails. Then I take care of corrections to be made on work already delivered to customers. I take my lunch break between 1 and 2 pm. I resume work until my next break. At 5:30pm, I go out to walk my dog. Then on the way back, if I'm not too busy, I do a drawing for P'tites Meufs. Otherwise, I continue with my professional orders until 7:00-7:30 pm. And sometimes even later when there's a rush. Sometimes I work in the evening in front of a movie.
What's your relationship with your size?
Today, I'm at peace with my size. But I was a bit self-conscious until my late teens. In my school, I thought all the girls were super beautiful, tall and well-dressed. I felt ridiculous next to them. I was never very self-conscious, but I regularly received remarks about my size. There was one in particular that stuck with me. I was in 5th grade and my SVT teacher asked me at the blackboard: "Theage at the blackboard!" I was standing in front of the blackboard when she said, "She's so tiny, let's get her a stool!" That's a special case, because normally I get a lot of cute remarks about my height.
What illustrator accounts do you like to follow on a daily basis?
Margaux Motin, Diglee, Pénélope Bagieu, Mathou, Adolie Day, Magalie Foutrier, Riad Sattouf, Julien Neel, Zep.
When will the "P'tites Meufs" comic book be released? Because I'm waiting for it!
I'm working on it! I'll say a bit more when the time is right.
What advice can you give to readers who want to get into illustration?
Draw every day, and don't hesitate to draw inspiration from what already exists (I didn't say copy, of course). Eventually, you'll find your own style. The key is hard work. You have to practice a lot. The advice I can give you is not to hesitate to take photos of postures and so on. For example, I often take photos of hands to help me draw them.
A few questions to get to know you better.
What outfit do you like to wear every day?
In winter, I wear high-waisted straight jeans, with a turtleneck sweater, a mid-length coat and ankle boots with 5 cm heels. This is my everyday outfit. And in spring, I wear straight jeans, a T-shirt with a trench coat and black loafers with a cool little handbag.
And your special confinement outfit?
I even dress during confinement. I wear jeans, a sweater and pilou socks. And no make-up!
What's your favorite Petite and So What piece?
The Cécile mustard top I can't wait to wear in spring!
What's your favorite pair of shoes, by the way?
My shoe size is 36 1/2. I love my white Reebok platform shoes, which give me an extra 4 or 5 cm!
Beauty products you can't live without?
I love Sanoflore's Aqua Magnifica floral water and my moisturizer of course! When it comes to make-up, I can't do without my eyeliner (the Kate Von D waterproof pen), my concealer and MAC lipsticks.
Your favorite restaurant in Paris?
I love Gemini Family Italian restaurants. I often meet my girlfriends there.
Your current bedside book?
I read a lot of comics. At the moment, I'm reading Sorcières: La puissance invaincue des femmes by Mona Chollet. It's a book that draws parallels between witches and feminists. The last comic I read and loved was Sacrées Sorcières by Pénélope Bagieux.
What's your latest favorite?
My latest favorite is a clothing favorite: it's the Levi's 501, which I wear in length 26 and which is perfectly suited to a petite.
Credit: Marie-Lou Theage
Thank you Marie-Lou! I invite you to follow Marie-Lou on her Instagram account here.
And I'm planning an afterwork so you can meet her as soon as the lockdown is lifted. In the meantime, take good care of yourselves!
Title
I'm a small man of 1,58 m
And what's more, I'm a redhead
Same battle
A petite girl is pretty too
:-))