Angela Marie Morton

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

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. 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 local bookstore, where...

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 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...