Romain Buxo is a contemporary illustrator whose work explores the borders between manga, digital art, and various artistic influences. Fascinated by Japan and deeply attached to his homeland, he creates works that blend imagination, modernity, and sensitivity to local landscapes.
Can you tell us about your beginnings in the world of manga: what attracted you to this style and made you want to explore it through your creations?
My beginnings were marked by Camus's segments on the show Récré A2, where he showed how to draw comic book characters. Then came Club Dorothée, with its many mangas like Dragon Ball, which made me want to dive even deeper into it. The explosion of manga in France in the early 2000s confirmed this passion.
However, my artistic training, more classical and academic, led me to want to mix styles - which, at the time, was rather frowned upon.
Yet, I did not give up and continued to experiment, merging all these influences. Today, I create illustrations that combine pop culture, street art, doodle art, realism, tattoo art, and digital art, all while connecting them to my fascination for Japan and my love for the landscapes of Pic Saint-Loup, which I know so well.
What are your main artistic influences: specific mangaka, or artistic movements that inspire you beyond Japan?
As a child, my first inspirations were Camus and Akira Toriyama. But I was also very influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, the dark universe of Edgar Allan Poe, as well as artists and mangakas like Tite Kubo, Boichi, Tatsuki Fujimoto, Makoto Shinkai, Hayao Miyazaki, Banksy, and Enki Bilal.
How would you describe your style: more faithful to the traditional graphic codes of manga, or a more personal and experimental mix?
I would say my style is a mix of several currents, to which I add my touch of madness and magic. I combine manga techniques with more realistic, colorful, and modern approaches - because it is often forgotten that manga is originally just a black-and-white comic. I also like to draw inspiration from other creators of landscapes or stories. By the way, my next project will be closely linked to heritage and history.
You also create works that incorporate local landscapes. Why this choice?
Simply because I was born here. I admire our landscapes, but I am also sometimes saddened to see how they can be deteriorated. I have also realized that young people are becoming less and less interested in our heritage and our history. So I thought it was time to use my universe, to which they are sensitive, to make them discover the beauty that surrounds them and encourage them to take an interest in it.
What themes or emotions do you most like to portray through your characters and compositions?
I love representing women, often warriors, to show all their strength and beauty. I also like to add a touch of madness and provocation. Currently, the most recurring theme remains the landscapes around Pic Saint-Loup, where I try to integrate both poetry and power, carried by charismatic characters.
When a viewer discovers your paintings, what would you like them to feel? An immersion, a story, a awakened dream?
I would like them to tell their own story, to imagine why this character finds themselves in this place, in this situation... That my work leaves them complete freedom of interpretation.
Do you have a "heart-stopping" work among your creations that particularly symbolizes your artistic approach?
Yes, the young zen girl in a schoolgirl outfit, in the colors of Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, posing in front of Pic Saint-Loup and Montferrand. It is she who inspired me to launch the entire series of illustrations around Pic Saint-Loup.
What are your upcoming projects: new series, collaborations, exhibitions?
I have several ongoing projects that are close to my heart. I continue my collaboration with the Tourist Office and various municipalities in the area, particularly through exhibitions and artistic events that allow me to meet the public and introduce them to my universe. These exchanges are always very enriching, as they bring my works to life beyond the studio.
I also continue to explore new creative avenues around Pic Saint-Loup, a place that remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration. I mix landscapes, local legends, and Japanese influences to create illustrations that tell both the soul of the territory and the poetry of manga. At the same time, I am working on a more dreamlike series, inspired by reimagined tales and myths, where I seek to connect my imagination to that of the viewers.
In summary, I want to continue this dialogue between modernity and tradition, between my love of drawing and my deep attachment to this region.
