Joan Morrison Explained

Joan Morrison
Birth Place:Wrotham, Kent, England
Occupation:Cartoonist, book illustrator
Known For:The Morrison Girl

Joan Morrison (1911 – 18 March 1969) was an Australian cartoonist and book illustrator. She signed her work Morrison and is best known for drawing "The Morrison Girl".

Early life and education

Born in Wrotham, Kent, England in 1911, Joan Morrison moved with her family to Tasmania three years later. Her earliest work was published in the [1] and Tasmanian Mail, including the Christmas editions of the latter in 1927[2] [3] and 1929.[4] [5]

She moved to Sydney to study with Rayner Hoff at East Sydney Technical College, where her work was described as having "originality and verve in every line".[6] Hoff stressed the importance of studying anatomy, "especially for black-and-white artists a full knowledge of the skeleton and the muscles of the human body is absolutely necessary, if one's work is to be at once vigorous and correct."[7] While still a student, she was encouraged by Norman Lindsay to create illustrations for a Hans Christian Andersen book.[8] While still at Tech she won first prize for a figure study in the 1930 Australian Watercolour Institute's exhibition.[9]

Career

In 1929, Morrison and Mollie Horseman were the first two women to be appointed cartoonists by Smith's Weekly.[10] Both were caricatured and written up in that publication in July 1932.[11] By 1935 she was known as "creator of the whimsical Morrison girl, a very imp of mischief with all the allure of audacious innocence".[12] In an article about cartooning in Walkabout, Jack Horner described her depictions of women as "lively Australian demi-mondaines".[13] The Morrison girl took over in popularity from Virgil Reilly's Virgil girl in Smith's Weekly.[14]

In 1940 she met English critic Neville Cardus who commented on her work, "She has depicted the Australian girl in all her grace as no other artist has succeeded in doing."[15] Her cartoons were popular with men serving overseas in the Army, Navy and Air Force during World War II.[16]

Morrison worked as a freelance illustrator from 1950.[17]

Personal and death

On 2 January 1936 Morrison married Alan Lyon O'Connor Wilkinson[18] (31 December 1902–27 July 1987).[19] [20] He served in the RAN during WWII and later worked as a port pilot and ships' surveyor.[21] [22]

Morrison died in Sydney on 18 March 1969.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Morrison . Joan . 1924-12-01 . The Casket of Gold . en . 10 . 52, 54 . The Triad . 2 . 2023-07-09.
  2. News: 1 December 1927 . The Christmas Mail . CXXVII . 8 . The Mercury . 18,743 . Tasmania, Australia . 9 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: 2 December 1927 . "Illustrated Mail" . CXXVII . 8 . The Mercury . 18,744 . Tasmania, Australia . 9 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: 5 December 1929 . "Illustrated Mail" . CXXXI . 8 . The Mercury . 19,369 . Tasmania, Australia . 9 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: 1929-12-04 . Christmas Panel . B . Illustrated Tasmanian Mail . 2023-07-09.
  6. News: 1926-12-09 . Sundry Shows . 47 . 34 . The Bulletin . 2443 . 2023-07-09.
  7. News: 21 August 1927 . Training Young Artists to Earn a Living . 28 . The Daily Telegraph . 17 . New South Wales, Australia . 9 July 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: 1927-04-08 . The Work of Joan Morrison . 13 . 10–11 . The Triad . 4 . 2023-07-09.
  9. News: 17 April 1930 . Watercolours . 20 . . 28,793 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 November 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  10. Web site: Foyle . Lindsay . Marie (Mollie) Compston Horseman . 2023-07-09 . Australian Cartoonists Association.
  11. News: 30 July 1932 . Seeing's Believing – "Smith's" Artists on Parade . XIV . 7 . . 25 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 November 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  12. 20 April 1935 . "Smith's" Gigantic Easter Egg . XVII . 26 . . 8 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 November 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  13. Web site: Horner . Jack . 1963-10-01 . An Art For Everyone (Vol. 29 No. 10) . 2024-01-31 . Trove . 18 . en.
  14. News: 31 January 1948 . How Smith's Founded an Art School . 1 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 7 . National Library of Australia . XXIX . 49.
  15. News: 28 December 1940 . Joan Morrison's Number . XXII . 1 . . 44 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 November 2023 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: 4 July 1942 . Joan Morrison in Moresby . 1 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 . National Library of Australia . XXIV . 18.
  17. Web site: Foyle . Lindsay . History of Australian Cartoonists / Australian Cartoonists Association . 2023-11-14 . Australian Cartoonists Association.
  18. News: 11 October 1947 . Anna and the Morrison Girls . 1 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 2 . National Library of Australia . XXIX . 33.
  19. Web site: Service Record of Williamson, Alan Lyon O'Connor . 2024-01-31 . National Archives of Australia.
  20. News: 1987-07-30 . Family notices . The Sydney Morning Herald . The Ryerson Index.
  21. News: 25 August 1942 . Naval Awards Announced . 1 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . 32,655.
  22. News: 1 October 1959 . Appointment of Surveyors . 1 February 2024 . Commonwealth of Australia Gazette . Australia . 3468 . National Library of Australia . 60.
  23. News: 1969-03-20 . Family notices . The Sydney Morning Herald . The Ryerson Index.

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