London-based illustrator, author, and musician, Sarah Lippett, is a master of storytelling. With two graphic novels behind her and collaborations with publications like the New York Times, the Guardian, and Time Out, her voice is one worth hearing.
“A successful piece of illustration works because it communicates,” she once explained in an interview with Design Inspiration. “You may have the fanciest style going but if it doesn’t communicate the point the illustrator has failed.” Sometimes, if we’re lucky, these illustrations communicate the unheard stories of people we’re unlikely to come across within our day to day lives. Such are the illustrations of Lippett, which tend to focus on the underdogs.
Talking about her influence, she says that “inspiration is everywhere.” “I could list and list and list and still wouldn’t be able to get down everything I find exciting that makes me want to keep on drawing,” she says. “Drawing is my way of getting it all out of my head and out into the world. Just overhearing a comment can get the creative juices going!”
But, being a musician, she’s also greatly inspired by music. “Music is very inspiring to me,” she says. “I listen to a lot of music and radio when I am working on projects/commissions so its a massive part of my life. Most always Animal Collective are my favorites, you can find something new in their records everytime you listen and they’re brilliant live. I also love Mark Kermodes film reviews on BBC 5live, he’s an inspirational character.” And when she isn’t drawing or writing, she plays bass in the indie rock band Fever Dream.
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