Angela Marie Morton: art & illustration

Wow, the last post of the year. I can hardly believe it. The past 12 months have flown by way too fast.  I thought a simple, cozy recipe would be an appropriate way to close out 2024, and this split pea soup fits the bill. I have been making it regularly for the past few months for my husband and myself, and it is one of our favorites, especially at this time of year. My husband is on a restrictive diet for health reasons, and he was so pleased to discover that this recently-introduced dinner option worked for him. As with many of the dinners I make, this recipe, can serve as a template for you to add or substitute ingredients as you like, or can be prepared as is. I’ll provide a few suggestions for additions at the end of the recipe. The quantities of the ingredients I use makes enough soup for us to have at least 2 nights. If there is any left over, I often add a bit of curry powder to it, and pair it with white rice as a simple dal for myself. With that, let’s get into this warm...

A few weeks ago, I was feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with everything I drew or painted. The harder I tried to create something “good”, the more unhappy I was with the result. Even sketching was frustrating. I knew I needed to do something to shake myself out of the funk I was in, besides my go-to standards of long walks and extended yoga sessions.     The first step was to acknowledge that whenever I work on an art project when I am lacking inspiration and enthusiasm, I am always disappointed in the end result, and do not enjoy the process of creating. Once I had accepted that, I knew the time had come for the second step: a break. While I live a quiet and simple life, I find taking deliberate breaks and rests difficult. I am better at it than I used to be, but it is still a challenge. For this particular break, I left the time-frame open-ended, because creativity is spontaneous and I wanted to allow for the flexibility to sketch ideas if they came to me. As it tur...

When I first proposed the idea of making vegan pancakes a couple of years ago, my husband was a bit skeptical (which is fair, as not everything I attempt ends up being a win), but these tasty cakes ended up starting a new weekly ritual for us that we deemed “Pancake Sunday”. I make pancakes, and he selects accompanying brunch music, which is usually either jazz or classical. We slow down, catch up with each other and the news, and ease into the day.  These pancakes use the minimum amount of ingredients and are super easy to prepare. The whole wheat flour, olive oil, and absence of salt or sugar make this a healthy breakfast option (as to what you use for toppings…that may be a different story). Simple Vegan Pancakes Supplies Measuring cup Measuring spoons Mixing bowl Sifter (optional) Frying pan Spatula Ingredients (Dry) 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder (Wet) 1 cup water 2 tablespoons olive oil 1-2 teaspoons vanilla Instructions Sift flour (optional, but I do it) ...

A small section of one of my bookcases Books. Titles. Authors. Genres. Series. Hardcover. Paperback. Short stories. Novels. Memoirs. Biographies. Contemporary. Classics. Fiction, Nonfiction. It can be overwhelming to decide which book to read (or which books, if you are someone who reads more than one at a time). If you are having trouble deciding what to read next, or where to start if you are new to the world of books, you might want to consider one (or all) of these books. In an effort to keep things focused, I have limited myself to just  three  of my favorite books. Each of them, in their own way, had a profound and lasting impact on me. There have been many books (and authors) that have stayed with me for one reason or another, and I will include those in future posts, but to start, I wanted to showcase my three favorites. The Razor's Edge , by W. Somerset Maugham. Published in 1944. My beloved hardcover of 'The Razor's Edge" “He is too modest to set himself up a...

   Hello there, I’m Angela. The writings on this blog are primarily about art and creativity, as well as other interests and hobbies that make life worth living. The main areas of focus for my art and illustration work are cozy character illustration, minimalist brush pen drawing, and watercolor painting. If you would like to see samples of my work, I invite you to browse my portfolio  or visit my shop . I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I currently live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with my husband and our many plants. I dream of one day living within view of an ocean. If you are interested in seeing more of my work, licensing a piece, or would like to discuss a project or commission, please contact me via the Contact Form in the dropdown menu on the home page , or email me at the below address. Thank you so much for stopping by! ange.morton@gmail.com

With summer at its peak, simple, quick, and cool foods are what I lean towards. As a born and raised California girl who now resides in the Pacific Northwest (which feels more and more like California with each passing year), I have always loved avocados. I know not everyone enjoys them, but if you are someone who does, this low-impact, healthy, delicious recipe is for you.  Ingredients Chickpeas (canned or, if you are like me and like to get the most bang for your buck, cook up a batch of the dried beans and keep them in the fridge to add to various recipes over the course of the week.) Avocado Bread (I used this homemade bread , but use whatever kind is your favorite. I also like this mixture on sourdough, as well as English muffins.) Spices These are all optional. There is definitely something to be said for simplicity, and I often refrain from using any spices at all in this recipe. When I do use them, it's typically a combination from the list below: Lemon juice Nutritional ye...

Bun with Dandelion Pen and watercolor pencils It is an age-old tale - the people who shout and stomp the loudest get the attention, while the quiet, reserved people often go unnoticed and underappreciated. In the age of social media, this is more evident than ever, with nearly everyone hustling and jockeying for likes, views, and followers. Some people are selling themselves, wanting to be famous for its own sake, while others use social media as a way to promote their business, cause, or point of view. It is a popularity contest on a toxic scale, with all of us pitched back into junior high.  As a culture, we are constantly being bombarded with “content,” and aggressive, yet stealthy marketing, both online and off. There is always an angle, and we are constantly put into the position of having to discern if something is legit, or a scam. It is exhausting, stressful, and defeating, especially if you are someone who is aware they are being manipulated. While I found studying this to...

This simple and humble cornbread is one of my husband's favorites, so I typically bake it once or twice a week. I have it streamlined to just 5 ingredients, which are inexpensive and always on hand. Years ago, we occasionally bought cornbread, and I feel like such a sucker now, as making it at home is so easy, which is why I wanted to share this recipe for fluffy, yummy, cheap and easy cornbread.  Minimalist Cornbread Supplies 8” round baking pan Measuring cup Measuring spoons Spatual Mixing bowl Cooling rack or cutting board Ingredients ( Dry ) 1 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat flour also works well, and gives it a bit of a rustic taste and  texture)  1 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon baking powder ( Wet ) ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 cup water (I've used almond milk, but found water works just fine, and is much more cost-effective) Optional ingredients   Pinch of salt A drizzle of agave or maple syrup, if you like a sweeter flavor Grated vegan cheese or a sprinkling of nutri...

Reading has always been a major part of my life. Since I began pursuing art and illustration full time, I have seen the impact a lifetime of reading has on my creativity, in both the process and the results. From Beatrix Potter, to D.T. Suzuki, and everyone in between, they are all represented in my work in some way.  My mom and grandma taught me to read before I began kindergarten, with books they bought, as well as books gifted by my aunt, who was a teacher and school librarian. Sadly, going to the local public library was like trying to find Brigadoon, or Shangri-La; it was the 1980s in California, and funding for libraries was virtually nonexistent. I enjoyed going to the library, but because it was nearly impossible to access consistently, it was mostly used as a resource for dreaded school reports when I was in grade school and junior high, rather than for pleasure. Because availability to the library was unreliable and limited, my mom would take me on regular visits to the l...

Vegan Chili Mac is one of our favorites, so we have it a few times a month. It is just my husband and myself in our household, so the amount I make is enough for several nights.  As is the case with most of recipes I use, this simple and cheap dinner is more of a template, rather than strict instructions to follow to the letter, which makes it pretty foolproof, and allows for additions or omissions depending on your preferences. Based on trial and error, we have settled on this combination of ingredients most of the time, with the occasional addition if we want try something different, or have something that needs to get used. Simple Vegan Chili Mac Ingredients 2 cups uncooked macaroni ½ cup dry red beans, or 1 15oz can, rinsed and drained. (I use dry beans because they are cost effective. A ½ cup dried will be about 2 cups cooked.) 1 15 oz can tomato sauce ¾-1  cup frozen corn (more/less, if desired) ¾-1  cup frozen kale (more/less if desired) 3 tablespoons chili powder ...

Zen Buddhist Monk Walking Brush pen and watercolor pencils This year is the “slow down and appreciate each moment for what it is” year for me. I learned the value of doing this when I got pretty seriously ill in December of 2018, and was reminded of it again when my life was abruptly upended in 2020. Now, in 2024, I am applying that skill to how I approach creating art. Slowing down enables me to be more thoughtful, whether it’s sketching, drawing a minimal, spontaneous piece, or working on something elaborate. This year, it has also allotted space to commit time and effort to a large (for me) project, knowing that it will require patience and focus, and will not yield a quick result. I’ve been working steadily on it since January and, even though I do get overwhelmed by how much I still have ahead of me, I am fully enjoying each day’s work. While I do still create other pieces, add new works to my shop, and continue to submit my illustrations and art to agencies and publishers (while ...

  This is the first post in a new series I’ve opted to call “A Capsule Kitchen”, which I will be incorporating into my blog every other month. Typically, I write about art and creativity, with the occasional off-topic piece peppered in for a bit of variety. This year, I came up with the idea of “A Capsule Kitchen”, and thought it would be a fun addition. Each post in the series will feature a tried-and-true recipe that is in regular rotation in my household. For the introduction of the series, I thought it might be helpful to provide some context and a brief background, before starting things off with a simple staple recipe. My husband and I eat a vegan diet, and I do the cooking and baking, which I enjoy, especially now that I have a curated collection of trusty go-tos we both like and that are easy to prepare. We are decidedly unfancy when it comes to our food preferences, both by choice and necessity, which will be clear from the recipes I will be sharing. I decided to call the ...

  A new year has always been a time I have looked forward to. As a child, I used to enjoy the start of the new school term - going to the store with my mom to stock up on new supplies, finding out who my teacher was going to be and seeing where my new classroom was, and generally getting emotionally and physically prepared to navigate my way through the coming school year.  As an adult, January brings that same feeling of a fresh start that began each new childhood academic year, though, as a woman in my 40s, I am much more aware of the passing years and seasons. In elementary school, the start of a term was approached with optimistic anticipation, mixed with some apprehension and giddiness. As an adult, the start of the calendar year is a bit melancholy, but also hopeful, as I plan my year and compile my goals, not knowing what the next 12 months will ultimately have in store for me, or for the world.  For the past several years, I have made lists of my creative goals an...