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An illustration of a person and a child sitting on a woven ottoman, watching a television. On the screen, a person wearing a wide, structured blue headpiece looks forward.

Illustrator Sally Nixon celebrates fabulous females in her charming vignettes

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Date
5 April 2016

Illustrator Sally Nixon says she loves drawing girls because they’re “pretty” but far from just depicting beautiful babes, there’s depth and nuance to all of her characters. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sally’s illustrations are boxed into squares, which act like windows into her ladies’ daily lives. 

Sally’s work, which has been featured several times in Lenny Letter, is strongest when she draws a whole scene as opposed to single portraits. It’s here the illustrator’s expressive style shines through as girls get changed, make French toast and even go to the loo. While these activities are relatively mundane, they’re still engaging because of the little details Sally includes whether it’s the books that surround her characters, the clothes she puts them in or the environment she’s created around them.

An illustration of a person with their eyes closed and arms crossed, standing in a room. The walls are covered in a collage of posters, photos and sketches, including a red poster of a figure. To the left, a wooden dresser holds a lamp, a telephone and various small trinkets.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person bent over, pulling on a pair of black tights. They stand on a red quilted bedspread in a room with green floral wallpaper, surrounded by scattered clothes on the floor.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person with a bob haircut sitting on a closed toilet lid in a green bathroom. A small black and white dog sits on the tiled floor, looking up at them.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person with long blonde hair sitting cross-legged on a striped bed, reading a book. Several other books are scattered around them on the mattress against a wood-panelled wall.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of two people sitting at a small table with a pink tablecloth against a red tiled wall. They both wear sunglasses and hold drinks, with a menu and glassware between them.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person in a black top standing in a kitchen, preparing food. They hold a piece of bread over a blue bowl, surrounded by ingredients including eggs, milk and a frying pan on the stove.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person in a brown robe and green T-shirt sitting at a wooden table. They hold a piece of cake on a fork, looking thoughtful against a pink floral wallpaper.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person standing under a running shower in a room with green tiled walls. They stand thoughtfully with one hand on their hip and a finger to their lips.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person and a dog asleep on a green floral sofa. The person is covered by a colourful patchwork quilt, with a remote control resting beside them.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person wearing sunglasses and a St. Louis Cardinals T-shirt standing in a kitchen. They eat a slice of cake, with another piece remaining on a plate on the green countertop.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of two people relaxing on a patterned picnic blanket in a green field. One person sits up, reaching into a pink shoebox, while the other lies back with their hands behind their head.
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Sally Nixon

An illustration of a person with short dark hair and sunglasses sitting in a diner booth. They are eating a stack of pancakes from a white plate on a wooden table.
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Sally Nixon

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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