Romain Hugault developed a passion for aeronautics at a very young age, earning his pilot’s license at just seventeen. Faced with the choice of pursuing a career as a pilot and drawing as a hobby or becoming a designer and flying for pleasure, he chose the latter. After studying at the École Estienne, he went on to illustrate aviation reference books, including some for the French Air Force. His work largely focuses on aviation comics, particularly from the World War eras. Drawing inspiration from the pin-ups of that time, he authored several artbooks titled *Pin-Up Wings*. To date, he has sold over 800,000 prints.
I’ve been closely following the exquisite work of Romain Hugault, a French artist known for his stunning and realistic illustrations. His distinctive, personal style features precise depictions of flying machines and portraits, all while capturing the nostalgic essence of vintage aviation. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Hugault, and the interview is presented below, along with a selection of his finest artwork. We’re confident you’ll be amazed by what you see!
A Passion for Aviation from the Start
Romain Hugault’s love for aviation was practically inherited. Growing up, he was deeply influenced by his father, Alain, a cargo and special operations pilot in the French Air Force. Alain flew the C-160 Transall, a military transport aircraft similar in size to the C-130 Hercules, as well as the De Havilland Twin Otter. He was also a private pilot instructor, and flying became a family affair. Romain recalls how, like many children, he would draw his family, the house, and the sun—but always with a plane included.
His father passed on his passion for flying to Romain and his brother, Sébastien. Sébastien went on to become a flight instructor and now runs a pilot school in France, in addition to flying a Boeing Business Jet around the world. Romain himself learned to fly under his father’s guidance and earned his private pilot’s license at the age of 17. Today, Romain is the proud owner of a 1942 Piper L-4B Cub, an aircraft that saw action during World War II in Europe. He purchased it in 2009 and meticulously restored it to its original condition in 2018. Sadly, Romain’s mother, Catherine, who took up flying after retiring from her career as a schoolteacher, passed away two years ago when the DR400 Robin she was flying crashed during a landing in poor weather.
A Lifelong Love for Drawing
Romain’s journey as an artist began as soon as he could hold a pencil, and he never stopped drawing. While most children eventually transition from drawing to writing as their primary means of expression, Romain continued to refine his drawing skills. Being the “kid who draws” in school helped him build self-confidence and fueled his passion for art. At 19, Romain faced a pivotal decision: to become a professional pilot or an artist. Wanting to keep flying as a hobby while pursuing his love for drawing, he chose the latter and enrolled in an art school in Paris. There, he spent five years learning the fundamentals of drawing, industrial design, and illustration. Initially, Romain never imagined he could make a living from drawing airplanes; he assumed it would remain a personal passion alongside a more traditional job in the arts. However, his early works gained popularity, motivating him to continue down this path. Today, with 20 years of work and 26 books published in 15 countries, including Japan, Korea, Italy, and Germany, Romain has sold over a million copies of his works.
A Continuous Evolution of Craft
When asked if he has a favorite drawing, Romain explains that he doesn’t have one specific favorite. Instead, he finds the greatest interest in whatever project he’s currently working on. Once a drawing is complete, the next one becomes his new focus, driving him to continually improve his craft. Romain is not just a master of aviation art; he is also a skilled comic book artist. Unlike a one-off illustration for an airshow poster or model plane box art, creating a comic book requires a broad range of skills. Romain is responsible for everything from drawing backgrounds and vehicles to capturing the correct expressions on characters, controlling story rhythm, lighting, and maintaining the reader’s interest from page to page. He likens the process to making a Hollywood blockbuster—but all by himself with just paper and pencil.
A Diverse Clientele
Although his primary job is as a comic book artist, working with Swiss publisher Paquet Éditions, Romain has a diverse range of clients. He creates posters and graphic designs for airshows around the world, including La Ferté Alais in France since 2008, and the Chino and Santa Maria airshows in the USA since 2017. He also designs all seven posters for the Shuttleworth Collection airshows in the UK each year. Additionally, Romain has collaborated on coin collections for La Monnaie de Paris, the world’s oldest mint, with themes centered on aviation, D-Day, and history. He was particularly proud to work on shop decorations and catalogs for the renowned IWC Schaffhausen pilot watch company when they sponsored the Silver Spitfire’s around-the-world tour.
A Unique Drawing and Coloring Technique
Romain’s creative process begins with thorough research and visualization. He starts by sketching on A4 200g paper using a blue pencil to outline shapes, perspectives, and structures. He then finalizes the lines with a B graphite pencil, adding details before scanning the drawing and digitally erasing the blue sketch lines. The final step is to color the drawing using a computer and stylus, simulating traditional painting techniques. Romain emphasizes the importance of thinking about the ambiance and mood he wants to recreate—whether it’s a sunset, a rainy day, or a fast, low pass.
For Romain, the most challenging part of creating his artwork is translating the image in his mind onto paper. He strives to ensure that readers feel the speed, height, and atmosphere he envisions. The ultimate compliment for him is when someone says they can feel the planes flying, smell the exhaust, and sense the vibrations and engine noise in his books. The time it takes Romain to complete a drawing varies depending on the subject and level of detail, typically taking between one and two days for line work and another one to two days for coloring. Given that a comic book typically contains around 50 pages with 5 to 8 panels per page, Romain estimates that it takes him about a year to complete a book, which involves creating approximately 300-400 drawings.
Where to Find His Work
Romain’s books can be found in bookstores across Europe or on Amazon, and they will soon be available in the U.S. market through a Kickstarter campaign promoting his upcoming book Tomcat, set to release in October. His work can also be purchased online at romainhugault.com, which will soon be translated into English.
A New Chapter: Tomcat
Romain’s latest book, “Tomcat”, tells the story of the famous F-14 Tomcat serial 160390, known as Fast Eagle 107. This marks the first time Romain has depicted modern jets, as his previous works have focused on World War I and World War II stories. He will also be attending the Santa Maria Airshow on September 21-22, where he created the event poster. Romain looks forward to meeting fellow aviation enthusiasts and, of course, seeing the marvelous warbirds.
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art