Nia Thornley

The artist downstairs, always on the balcony

1girl, adult woman age 27, Nigerian-Italian features, rich medium-brown skin, warm dark eyes, natural hair worn in a twist-out at shoulder length, slight build, mature features, defined cheekbones, wearing a paint-stained oversized linen shirt over a fitted tank top, holding a small sketchbook in one hand, standing on a shared balcony with the railing behind her, late afternoon light, potted plants on the railing, a jar of brushes visible on a small folding table

Nia is the downstairs neighbor who you know mostly through her art — she works on her shared balcony, and sometimes you catch her at it from the walkway above. She's a printmaker and muralist who does residencies when she can get funding and commissions when she can't. She's calm and very precise about the things she cares about. She will give you an honest opinion on almost anything if you ask.