Angela Marie Morton

Zen Buddhist Monk Walking by Angela Marie Morton (click to purchase) 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 publishe...

  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...

As late fall turns to winter, and the days get shorter and colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, I imagine many people find themselves reflecting on the past 12 months, just as I do. For most of the year, I am focused on each day, but in December, I tend to think about what the world has witnessed, what I have experienced in my own life, and about the goals I’d set for myself back in January. Globally, this year has been intense and, at times, horrific. Genocide, an ongoing pandemic, economic instability, global warming, mass shootings, all of which appear to be set to continue indefinitely. Appalling as they all are, for me, they also serve as stark reminders that life is precious and short, and can end without warning. The weight of that realization can feel crushing, but it also motivates me to not take my time on this earth for granted, and to try to contribute, even in just a small way, a bit of kindness and happiness to others through my actions and my art. Personally, this yea...

If, like me, you enjoy nerding out on all things art supplies. this post is for you. It is  all about the materials I have on constant rotation for my art, illustration, and hand lettering work.   I do research before making a purchase, so I do not accumulate masses of art supplies that will ultimately go unused. By doing my homework and being mindful, I ensure that I only bring in what I need. While I take a minimalist approach, both by choice and necessity, the limitations have encouraged me to be more creative, and to use up what I have before buying more.  So, fellow art supply lovers, here are my tried and true go-tos (this post is not sponsored): Paper   I use both watercolor paper and drawing paper. To get the most bang for my buck, I buy 9x12 pads and cut the sheets to the sizes I typically use, which are 5x5, 4x6, and 5x7. Occasionally I use the full 9x12 size, though 5x7 is my preferred size.  Drawing:   Canson Recycled Drawing Paper, 70lb. ...

  Mouse with Flower by Angela Marie Morton Life experiences, combined with personal spiritual practices and studies, have taught me the importance, value, and necessity of not looking outwardly for validation, self-worth, or identity. Refraining from dependency on external factors for fulfillment has led to a more balanced and contented life, increased confidence, and the ability to give back to people on an individual level, and to the world as a whole, with greater ease and sincerity. This simple (but not always easy to apply in practice) concept has enabled me to live more authentically, and regularly reduces decision fatigue, as I am not perpetually striving for the next material thing, stressing over things far out of my control, or taking actions based on someone else’s expectations.  One of the common themes found in the teachings of the Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, is the concept of non-attachment. The teachers, methods, and spiritual ends are different in eac...

A pre-pandemic photo of me taken at the Oregon Coast A few days ago, I had to acknowledge to myself that the piece I’d been working on for this month's blog post was just not coming together in the way that I wanted it to. Rather than finishing it in haste, I decided to put it aside for the time being. This meant I needed to come up with something for September ASAP, so I opted for a simple and brief personal post that wasn’t as mentally taxing to write. My posts are typically focused on art and the creative process, and less on my personal life (of course, there is a bit of overlap, since life influences art, and vice versa, but you get the idea), so I hope this piece is a fun read. A Collection of Some of my Favorite Things: Favorite flavor: Pumpkin Favorite TV show: Star Trek (the original) Favorite film director(s): Federico Fellini and Charlie Chaplin Favorite childhood movie: The Explorers Favorite book(s): The Razor’s Edge by William Somerset Maugham, and Lost Horizon by J...

This post is for anyone interested in budget-friendly (read: FREE) options for presenting, and selling, their artwork online. I know from experience how overwhelming it can be to get started, and what a challenge it is when you have limited funds. My hope in writing this post, is that the research I did for myself might be of use to others.  Before getting to the list of sites and platforms I use, I thought it might be helpful to provide some context to my choices: 1) I am not a tech-oriented person.  I   use the minimum amount of technology needed to be able to exist in the modern world. Between the pandemic, and my desire and determination to do something constructive with my art, it became necessary for me to delve into unfamiliar tech territory, both in terms of websites and social media platforms, as well as acquiring minor technical knowledge and skills.  2) The sites I use need to be free. Due to budget constraints, I immediately weeded out platforms that did...