Angela Marie Morton: art & illustration

Bare Branches Photo by Angela Marie Morton With year’s end approaching, I recently spent a bit of time reviewing my 2022 goals and areas of focus I had jotted down at around this time last year. Every month or so, I looked at my list to see if I had forgotten something, and crossed off any actionable task I had completed (so satisfying).  My list had several items on it, a few of which were specific projects, and the rest were reminders of what I wanted to focus on over the course of the year, to help keep me on track. I am good at structuring my time, and am definitely no procrastinator, but I have a tendency to feel overwhelmed when I lack a clear goal or focus, so having something to refer to helps immensely. A couple specific tasks I had on my list were:  ○  Start a blog ○ Research illustration agencies An example of a more abstract item on my list was: ○  Continue developing my styles Reviewing my full list, I found I had accomplished everything on it and, in some cases, did bette

Field in Springtime Photo by Angela Marie Morton This post is different from my usual writings, in that it does not tie into art or creativity. Instead, this month I chose to write a brief recollection of a childhood memory that I felt was worth preserving on virtual paper . Lying in bed, wide awake at 2am on a recent morning, a childhood memory I had not thought about for ages popped into my head: a place the local kids referred to as “Cardboard Hill”. It was near “The Rope Swing”, both of which were on a portion of undeveloped land behind our suburban housing development, in the East Bay of San Francisco. At the end of a cul de sac, there was an access point to a path that branched off in four directions: to the right, you were headed to a large community park, with several Weeping Willow-lined ponds, grassy spaces perfect for flying kites, and picnic tables. If you went up, you were led to “The Flag”; a Vietnam War memorial which overlooked the park, and was where the locals would c

Two Mice in the Fall Pen and watercolor pencils October is my favorite month of the year. In addition to being the month of my birthday and Halloween, it also signals the beginning of autumn, which is my favorite season. The changing colors of the leaves, soft sweaters, crisp weather that is perfect for long walks, and pumpkin infused treats, are all the sweeter after a brutally hot summer. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I always enjoyed the autumn months, but as an adult living in the Pacific Northwest, I have a real appreciation for the changing of the seasons, and always look forward to this time of year. This season is also beneficial for my productivity. I don’t know that I am necessarily more creative in the cooler months, but I do find that I am more focused on getting things done. Spring and summer have a slower, more casual pace to them, and I don’t feel quite as determined and efficient as I do in the autumn and winter. In the warmer months, I tend to write a lot o

Getting a little glimpse into someone’s daily life feels slightly indulgent. It can also be inspiring, or even just relaxing. I thought it might be fun to do a “day in my life” post about my quiet, simple life as a fledgling illustrator.  As I am new to the field and still learning and growing, a large portion of my time is spent honing my skills, and challenging myself, artistically. I also work on curating and updating my portfolio, as I continue to create characters, designs, and one-off pieces. Additionally, over the past 2 years, I have been working on a picture book, which I recently took out of hiding, after putting away the first draft several months ago. This blog is a monthly priority as well, as it helps me to organize and clarify my thoughts about the creative process. And finally, as I am currently seeking work and/or representation, I do A LOT of research, and am actively submitting my portfolio to companies and agencies. And now, with all that said, here is my typical da

  Lemonade Stand Pen and watercolor pencils After having more than enough training over the past 2 ½ years, I think I can say, with all honesty, that I have improved my ability to handle the unexpected, if not with grace and calmness, at least with creativity, and perspective. Not every mistake, hassle, or inconvenience is that big of a deal. Got lemons in your grocery pickup order instead of the oranges you ordered? Make lemonade, and maybe and some natural, all-purpose cleaner. You might discover you actually want to order lemons next week, because you now have a couple of new things you enjoy making that you wouldn’t even know about if that mistake hadn’t happened, and if you didn’t use your new-found perspective and creativity. I am not an optimist, and I do not believe that anyone can force a beneficial outcome to occur, no matter how much positive thinking they practice. There are laws of the universe that cannot be altered; even if a short term win is made, by unnatural or une

Hello Script Pen and watercolor pencils When I was in fifth grade, our teacher, in addition to teaching us origami, basic perspective drawing, and a few words of greeting in Japanese, taught us the art of calligraphy. I took to it instantly, and practiced on my own for fun. I loved everything about it, from the pens, (particularly the kind that has that little space in the middle of the tip, so there is a line of negative space through the wording) to the end result of beautifully written text. My mom gifted me a calligraphy set that year, and I stuck with it for quite awhile. I don't remember when or why I stopped, but eventually I did. I enjoy doing line work and detailed illustrations, and a natural evolution of those techniques led me to explore hand lettering, which looks similar to calligraphy. I had done a bit on my own already but wanted to improve my skills, so I did a little research, and bought an instructional book. I practiced each style in the book, and did the exerci

Monk Climbing Steps pen and pencil Koan: In Zen Buddhism, a koan is a phrase from a sutra or teaching on Zen realization; it points to the nature of ulitmate reality. Essential to a koan is paradox - that which is "beyond thinking", which transcends the logical or conceptual. It cannot be solved by reason, and requires a leap to another level of comprehension. Inspiration is a curious thing. Why does something inspire one artist, but not another? What is it about the object, or scene that appeals to the artist as a subject? As for myself, I tend to draw on my interests (fortunately, I collect interests like a black dress collects pet hair), though I do occasionally get inspired by something new, which is always exciting.  The themes that have consistently provided me with inspiration are: nature, particularly plants and anything involving water; Japanese art and culture; spirituality, with a heavy emphasis on Zen Buddhism and Saint Francis of Assisi; the Greek Islands; and bo

  Zen Stones Pen and watercolors Samadhi: collectedness of the mind on a single object through (gradual) calming of mental activity. A nondualistic state of consciousness in which the consciousness of the experiencing "subject" becomes one with the experienced "object". While I thoroughly enjoy doing artwork, sometimes I get so overwhelmed with trying to pick the next project to start, I get stressed. (Does this happen to other people, too?) Once I am over that bump, the actual practice of creating the art gives me a reason to get up in the morning. I have two main project lists: one is for large, ongoing projects which I dip in and out of, and the other is for one-off hand lettering and illustration pieces. As I think of ideas, I add them to the lists. Once a piece is finished and crossed off the list (so satisfying), I look forward to starting something new….. but then that sense of being overwhelmed takes over. Do I work on a section of one of the larger, ongoing

Sand Dunes at Oregon Coast Photo by Angela Marie Morton Right this very moment, there are unknown artists of every sort out there, working away at their craft. In all probability, the majority of them will never get their lucky break. They are putting their time, soul, and energy into their work, without being recognized or acknowledged. But they keep at it. Because you never know.     To me, art does not need to have a message, or be groundbreaking. If someone likes it, that is enough for it to be “art”. Even if that someone is only the artist. It is difficult to stay motivated at times, when the only person who is holding you accountable is yourself. But if you don’t do the work, it is certain nothing with come of it. If you do the work, there is always a chance.  Here's to all the artists out there, who stick with it, no matter what. Create, even if no one is watching.     

I live in a small, one bedroom apartment with my husband. We are both home all the time and, while we enjoy each other’s company, we each feel the need to do our own thing on a regular basis. It is a bit tricky due to the layout of our place, but we are fairly reasonable people, and are able to make it work. When I began working on my art seriously and regularly, I used our round dining table. That was fine for working on, but it was far from practical, as we needed the table to be clear when I wasn’t using it. Having my own workspace, however small, was something we felt was necessary, both physically and psychologically.  I began looking at options online, and measured the area we designated for my new space. After several months of research, I selected a desk and a chair, which my mom kindly purchased as a Christmas gift. The desk is sleek and minimal, and the chair is simple, yet ergonomic. I could not be happier with my little workspace, which we stationed in front of our large wi

Minimalist Pencil Cup Pen and watercolor pencils I am a believer in, and an advocate of, working with what you have, in all aspects of life. It builds character, keeps you humble, exercises your critical thinking ability, saves money and resources, and challenges the status quo. Especially now, with nearly everything available in an instant, by click, tap, or shout (“Alexa, toilet paper!”), and no doubt very soon by mere thought, resisting the urge to acquire is a powerful and subversive act. My financial circumstances necessitate the practice of minimalism when it comes to art supplies. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating, but more often than not, I actually prefer the challenge of constraints imposed on my work. I suspect the same principle was at play when I was in college, and performed better under pressure and a quick deadline, than I did when I had an entire term to complete a project. While I am definitely not a procrastinator, having some sort of structure and limitation

In the spring of 2020, in addition to the pandemic itself, and, in part, as a direct result of it, several life-changing events happened in a short period of time, and I was hurled into a new and unstable reality. I very quickly realized that I am someone who needs a focus and a purpose.  One morning, I came across a grainy black and white photo of Buddhist monks walking from their monastery down a hill. As I studied the photo, individual shapes and perspectives began to emerge from the overall image. Despite not having done any drawing for years, I was inspired to try to sketch the picture. I found an old journal with plain pages, and a pencil, and went to work. Then I did it again. And again. Then I did a version that combined elements of the photo with my own ideas. Then I went over it, painstakingly, in pen. Then I did it with pen and added some color with a long-ago-gifted set of watercolor pencils. The final result was a small, stylized, detailed illustration. Monks on Alms Pen a