Angela Marie Morton

Minimalist Color Palette by Angela Marie Morton (click to purchase) Style:   distinction, excellence, originality, and   character in any form of artistic or literary expression - Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition The above definition of the word “style” is one of many, and I felt that it was the one most suited to the topic of creativity in general and, for the purpose of this writing, art in particular. Being a self-taught artist, without industry connections or training in the field, requires me to be entirely self-driven in seeking out knowledge and information about the business, specifically illustration in my case. Luckily, my college experience provided me with the research skills needed to dive into the overwhelming sea of material available. I have learned quite a bit, some of which is objective (what an illustration agency does, licensing information, how to find and contact potential clients, and industry terminology, for example), but much of w...

Welcome, 2023. The part I like best about the close of the previous year and start of a new one, is the natural invitation it provides to make a fresh start and have a bit of a reset. I do not know of any other holiday that brings the same, unique combination of relief and anticipation. I chalk my fondness for New Year’s up to being a ¼ Scottish, as Hogmanay is the biggest celebration of the year in Scotland. I never met my maternal Glaswegian grandfather (he died in his mid 40s, when my mother and her sister were wee bairns), but he gifted me my Scottish genes via my mom, which I carry with honor.  While I do not take part in traditional New Year’s festivities in the U.S. (I am not a “party person” and I do not drink alcohol) I look forward to ringing out the old and in the new in my own, quiet way. For me, New Year’s Eve is less of a loud celebration, and more of a simple acknowledgment of another year passed. New Year’s Day is a day of relaxation, calmness, and of consciously se...

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 so...

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 by Angela Marie Morton (click to purchase) 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 ...

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 typica...

  Lemonade Stand by Angela Marie Morton 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...