Janna Morton

Janna Morton is a Baltimore-based illustrator, writer, and fashion fiend

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I made this series of illustrations based on particularly patriotic Tinder profiles I’ve come across. Happy Fourth of July!

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I’m so excited to finally share this little comic with you! When my dad died in 2015 it was difficult for me to make much art about it, but words poured out of me. I wrote journal entries and Facebook posts. I recorded stories and snippets of conversation. I sketched out ideas for future artwork, too. A couple of months into the grieving process it occurred to me that the perfect way to utilize all of this writing would be to create a graphic novel about his death. A few months later my mother’s cancer returned, and chemotherapy failed, and I slowly came to terms with the horrible reality that I would soon be losing my mother too. I produced more and more writing and sketches and took notes throughout the last year of her life, the numerous hospital visits and scares, my moving back home to take care of her and her entering home hospice. As awful as a lot of this time was, I don’t want to lose any of it. I don’t want to lose any part of my parents, good or bad. I also really want to share some of this experience with others so that those who haven’t had similar experiences can have more empathy towards those who have, and so that those who have can feel less alone.

For obvious reasons this has been a difficult project to work on. The writing was doable, but the artistic aspect can be painful. It’s hard making it all come to life again. But now, almost a year after my mother’s death, it is also really rewarding. This is one of many short stories that I intend to join together into one graphic novel detailing my life ages 25-28, including tales about me, my parents, their deaths, and what came after. I just applied to a comics residency abroad that will be a perfect opportunity for me to work on this project, so keep your fingers crossed! I’m also planning to apply to others though, so send me recommendations if you have them! Also let me know if you know of any publishers who would be interested in this project. I intend to keep working on it on my own regardless, but deadlines are always helpful!

I’m looking forward to sharing more of these stories with you <3.

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This illustration for @longreads went live today! Everyone should go over and check out the article by @mindahoney "Politics as a Defense Against Heartbreak." It's about the difficulties of dating in one's 30s as a woke, feminist WOC. It is so good and, sadly, so relatable. It is hard out here for single ladies with political standards! Especially as a woman of color. The story is framed by insights from the Tarot. My cards here are inspired a bit by the 1974 Tarot of the Witches by Fergus hall, a gorgeous deck I found while rummaging in a box at the #stationnorthfleamarket and later gave to friend. Thanks so much to Kjell Reigstad and Katie Kosma of Longreads for thinking of me for this piece!

#illustration#illustratorsoninstagram#artistsoninstagram#thebmorecreatives#baltimoreartist #woc#poc #dating #onlinedating #woke #tarot#longreads #drawingwhileblack#femaleartist #womeninillustration#womenwhodraw #blackgirlmagic#livecolorfully #editorialillustration

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Get a Whopping 25% OFF in my Society6 shop TODAY and TOMORROW until 11:59PM PT Monday night!!! Get on it! https://society6.com/jannamorton

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MYTH CALENDAR 2018 is now LIVE ON KICKSTARTER. Come see just how tantalizingly gorgeous your year could be!

This preview features work by:

Aisleen Romano [ @aisleenromano ] Mady G [ @madygcomics ] Ten Van Winkle [ @tennyboo ] Shae Beagle [ @pencilshaevings ] Rian Sygn [ @riansygh ] Janna Morton [ @jannamorton ] Serena Henderson [ @omnomsenzubean ] Lokelani [ @lohkaydraws ] Muura & Sulo [ @muura & @suloruins ]

The Kickstarter will end on Nov 1, 2017. This is a one time chance as these calendars will only be produced one time. All profits from this campaign go directly into the artists’ pockets. Please help support the artists by pledging or spreading the word or hinting loudly that you’d love one as a holiday gift! Thank you so much!

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Hey, folks! Check out this Kickstarter calendar my work is included in!

[jannamorton]

Presenting "Creepy People," my #inktober2017 project! I bought some ink the other day and was all ready to do more spooky B&W illustrations this year, but then I saw the #inkmonstergirls prompt list by @periwinkei and I got the idea to continue my marker portraits using their themes! I'm not sure if I'll do these all October or just make these for a while and switch to doing something else in ink for the rest of the month. We'll see. Follow me on Instagram @janmort3000 for daily updates all month long 🎃👿👽👻👾🐱💀!!!!

[jannamorton]

Inspired by that doodle I did while babysitting the other day, I decided to buy myself a fresh pack of #crayola markers. I've been sick with the flu but also bored out of my skull, so I decided to experiment with them tonight. This was made mostly with a mixture of Crayola markers and #Posca paint pens, but also #carandache #aquacolors and ink pen and milky pen and a teensy bit of #holbeinacrylagouache . You can tell I have autumn on my mind!

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Happy first day of fall!

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My James Baldwin illustration is LIVE now on the site prayingwithjamesbaldwin.com ! Check out the website to download the devotional "Praying With James Baldwin in an Age of #BlackLivesMatter" and check back for daily updates all August long. More info on the project: "This project offers 30 days of prayers for an age of #BlackLivesMatter. It looks to author and artist James Baldwin as a guide. Over 30 days we pray with the "Last Words" of those who have been killed by racism and police violence, and we pray for the courage to take "First Steps" to change the world around us. You can download a free PDF of the full project or check daily for prayers beginning August 2, 2017."

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Wishing a very happy birthday to the Boy Who Lived!

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Happy 20th anniversary, Harry!

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I have a new illustration in Lenny “Why Democratic Unity is Nothing Without Women” by Cristina Garcia. Many thanks to AD Laia Garcia! http://www.lennyletter.com/politics/a880/women-are-the-backbone-of-the-democratic-party/

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I was thinking about this conversation last night and decided to make this short comic about it. It takes place about a month and a half before my dad died.

[jannamorton]

I made seven illustrations for Lenny Letter's daily affirmation column for this month! You can see the rest here: http://www.lennyletter.com/life/advice/g98/youre-capable-new-kinds-shredding-all-the-time/ The charming and heartfelt affirmations were written by Amy Rose Spiegel. Big thanks go out to AD, Laia Garcia! I'm super excited to be included in a newsletter/lifestyle site that features so many great illustrators and writers.

[jannamorton]

Happy Valentine's Day!

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These little kitties are ready for Valentine's Day!

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Since it’s the first day of Black History Month, it seems appropriate that I share this portrait of Marjorie Lee Browne, who was one of the first African-American women to receive a doctorate in mathematics. Quoted from Wikipedia: 

Browne’s work on classical groups demonstrated simple proofs of important topological properties of and relations between classical groups. Her work in general focused on linear and matrix algebra. Browne saw the importance of computer science early on, writing a $60,000 grant to IBM to bring a computer to NCCU in 1960 – one of the first computers in academic computing, and probably the first at a historically black school. Throughout her career, Browne worked to help gifted mathematics students, educating them and offering them financial support to pursue higher education. Notable students included Joseph Battle, William Fletcher, Asamoah Nkwanta, and Nathan Simms. She established summer institutes to provide continuing education in mathematics for high school teachers. In 1974 she was awarded the first W. W. Rankin Memorial Award from the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics for her work with mathematics education.

I completed this illustration a while back for Women’s Work, a really awesome zine on women - past and present - working in STEM. The project was put together and curated by the wonderfully talented Shannon May and Celine Loup. You can learn more about the zine and see more art here. 

*EDIT* A math teacher approached me about purchasing a print of this illustration for her classroom. I’ve made 7x10 prints available in my shop, here. 

[jannamorton]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from me to you! 

I made this illustration for the December spread of a 2016 risograph calendar for Paperbase. The theme is “The Artist’s Closet,” so I depicted myself in the sort of splendid holiday adornment I wish my closet truly contained. This is my first time designing for risograph printing, so I’m really excited to see the result. I’ll post some pics when I get the calendar in my hands!

[jannamorton]

Still a few more days left of the holiday season!