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An illustration of two figures walking along a path through a yellow and orange forest. A person in a red coat runs ahead with a small dog, shouting “YAY! WE’RE FINALLY HERE!”. Behind them, a person carrying a large barrel on their back replies with a short “YES.”.

Illustration: Intriguing comics and sweet illustrations from Talya Modlin

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Date
12 March 2014

There’s something of a divide at It’s Nice That between those who appreciate comics and those who don’t, which is why artists like Talya are perfect for us as she dabbles in both comic book-making and brilliant illustration. Her red-nosed characters lounge in rays of sunshine, hike through forests and – like all great comic book stars – discuss and grapple with the bigger questions that can hang over our daily lives. I’m pretty sure Talya’s artwork isn’t for everyone, but I’m certain that it’s some of the most intriguing, beautiful, and unique illustration I’ve seen for a while. Anyone who sees this image and doesn’t immediately feel the sun on their face and the prospect of summer needs to get their eyes tested.

An illustration in black and orange ink of three people sitting together. One person appears to be shouting or speaking intensely, with jagged lines emanating from their mouth.
Above

Talya Modlin: Be on Fire

An illustration of a person with their hair in a bun, wearing a red and white spotted dress. They lie on their side on a yellow surface, looking towards a sketched crowd of people.
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Talya Modlin: Untitled

An illustration of a person wearing sunglasses lounging in a yellow garden chair. They hold a newspaper while surrounded by a radio, a handbag, and a bottle of cola.
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Talya Modlin: Untitled

An illustration of a group of figures in a living room. A person in a red hoodie and white shorts claps their hands, surrounded by yellow “CLAP” speech bubbles. Above them, a sequence of hands demonstrates a clapping rhythm with the words “CLAP” and “PAUSE”. A figure in a blue cloak and wide-brimmed hat looks on as another person reclines on a patterned sofa.
Above

Talya Modlin: Blimpakind 20

A comic strip featuring two characters in a conversation. A person in a wide-brimmed hat asks Udell, a person with spiky yellow hair, what they were asked that morning. Udell suggests they were told to throw out “those festering piles of gob you call sweet cakes, Udell.” In the final panel, Udell remembers the person actually said, “I’ll take a nap I’m tired as balls”.
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Talya Modlin: Blimpakind

An illustration on lined paper of a person wearing a wide-brimmed orange hat and a neck scarf. They hold a bouquet of yellow and red flowers with their eyes closed.
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Talya Modlin: Untitled

An illustration of a person with blonde hair reaching out towards a lamp with a floral shade. They wear a black and white patterned top and stand in a room with a hanging plant and a paper lantern.
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Talya Modlin: Sketchbook

An illustration in blue, orange and pale yellow showing a group of people in a city. A person sits leaning back against a brick wall, while another bows their head beside them. A sign on the wall reads “NO LOITER NO LITTER” and “SECTOR 45 WARD 20”.
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Talya Modlin: Sketch with Colour

An illustration of a person with an elongated nose peering over a grassy hill. Behind them, a person in a red coat leans against a large tree under a sky of pink clouds and the word “WELCOME”.
Above

Talya Modlin: Untitled

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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