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Joan Morrison

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Joan Morrison
Morrison in 1927
Born1911 (1911)
Wrotham, Kent, England
Died18 March 1969(1969-03-18) (aged 57–58)
Occupation(s)Cartoonist, book illustrator
Known forThe 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

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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

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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

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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]

References

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