Angela Marie Morton: art & illustration

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 topic

Snippets: a series of brief summaries describing what I have been working on recently, plus a few personal tidbits . Finished Works Mouse on Branch Having Tea Red-Crowned Cranes Series 04 Red Flowers in Vase   Works in Progress Pencil outline of the finished piece of "Mouse on Branch Having Tea"  Monk in progress (no title yet) Red Flowers in Vase (about mid-way through the process) Red-Crowned Cranes Series 04 (before watercolor was added) New in the Shop (Click to purchase) Origami Boat at Shinto Shrine in Japan Ducklings at Water's Edge Japanese Tea Ceremony Projects and Updates Each season, I like to give my portfolio an update, which helps ensure I always have something current on offer. With summer now upon us, my portfolio has had its seasonal edit. I’ve added a few new works, and polished things up a bit.  July’s blog post is in the works, which is about the challenges of being a quiet and calm artist in a world full of noise and aggression. I am constantly insp

Snippets: a series of brief summaries describing what I have been working on recently, plus a few personal tidbits. Finished Works Magpie on Branch Boatman in Paper Boat with Shinto Shrine Ducklings at Water's Edge Works in Progress None! Aside from an ongoing project I am still keeping mum about. New in the Shop (Click to purchase) Egret with Wispy Feathers Red-Crowned Cranes Series: 02 Red-Crowned Cranes Series: 03 Projects and Updates June's blog post is up, which is an installment of "A Capsule Kitchen", featuring a recipe for simple and fluffy Minimalist Cornbread . Drool. The Red-Crowned Cranes series that I am working on now has a section of its very own in my shop , as the individual pieces work as a cohesive collection. As I create more in the series, they will be added to my shop.   Also shop-related, with summer just around the corner, I have updated the featured collection , which is chock-full of pieces that evoke warm nights, cool ocean breezes, and drea

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 nutritional yeas