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- author Jackie French

Thursday 2 June 2016

Meet the Illustrator: Sally Fawcett

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Children full of emotion and wonder in the natural world.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Drawing board, light box, ink pencils, paintbrush, coffee and music.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Derwent inktense pencils are my thing at the moment.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Picasso, Steven Michael King, Oliver Jeffers.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
The cubist period.  I am not a fan of realism. I appreciate the amazing skill that it takes to create a realistic piece of art, however I love seeing art that depicts the world in a new way that can only be seen through that piece of art or through the artist’s eyes.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
Tania McCartney’s 52-Week Illustration Challenge!  I really did not have the self-belief or the skill level until I began the challenge and drew almost every day.  It’s amazing how much you can improve when you practice lots and lots.  Anyone can draw, you just have to want to do it and practice!

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often?



What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
Thinking of ideas.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Just do it! And do it often, and keep doing it.  Perhaps develop your own style.  Although I didn’t really intentionally develop a style, but I think it just happens from drawing a lot and drawing images that come from your soul.


Sally Fawcett is an Australian author and illustrator living in Western Australia. Her debut picture book, What Could It Be?, is published by EK Books. Visit Sally's website and Facebook page for more information about her writing and creative projects.