M Johnson Illustration and Design

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M Johnson Illustration and Design

Illustrator for the everyday: quotes + cozy art prints, books and patterns that feel like real life. Https://www.mjdesignandillustration.com

09/09/2026

There are friends you catch up with… and then there are the friends who know the entire backstory, every questionable decision, every “don’t tell anyone I told you this” story, and exactly what you mean with one look.

At that point, there’s really no getting rid of each other.

Tag the friend who knows entirely too much. 😂🤍

09/08/2026

The best friendships aren’t always made up of big moments.

Sometimes it’s the person who checks in. Who remembers the little things. Who lets you show up exactly as you are. Who has been there so long that you can’t quite remember what life felt like before them.

You may never fully know the difference you’ve made in someone’s life just by being their friend.

But I hope someone tells you.

And if there’s someone you’re thinking of right now, tell them.

09/07/2026

The older I get, the more I realize how rare this kind of friendship is.

The kind where you don’t have to explain yourself. Where months can pass and you pick right back up. Where they’ve seen different versions of you and loved you through all of them.

The friends who celebrate the good, sit beside you through the hard, and somehow make ordinary days feel a little better.

If you have friendships like this, you’re lucky.

And if someone came to mind while reading this, maybe send it to them today. 🤍

09/06/2026

Well, this is disappointing.

The illustration on the left is mine. The image swipe to the right showed up while I was browsing Pinterest this morning.

I know that artists influence one another. I know ideas overlap. And I know there are only so many ways to illustrate two friends sitting on a couch drinking coffee.

But this one stopped me.

The composition is incredibly similar. The wording is the same. And most noticeably, the lettering is mine.

That handwriting isn’t a font I downloaded. It’s my own handwriting that I turned into a font specifically for my illustrations.

I’ve spent years developing a style that feels like me. The loose lines, the women, the everyday moments, the words, even the lettering are all pieces of that.

So seeing something this close to my original work is disappointing.

I’m sharing this because I think it’s an important conversation, especially now when artists’ work is so easy to save, repost, reference and recreate.

Inspiration is part of being an artist. But there should still be a line between being inspired by someone’s work and reproducing the pieces that make their work distinctly theirs.

Artists put a lot more into an illustration than what you see on the screen.

And yes, sometimes we notice.

09/05/2026

Saturdays are for slowing down.

For letting the coffee stay hot a little longer. For reading another chapter. For sitting somewhere cozy without thinking about what you should be doing next.

You don’t have to fill every open space with productivity.

Sometimes a quiet Saturday is exactly what you needed.

09/04/2026

My goodness, my hand is tired! 🥰 Every single Dear Friend envelope is hand stamped, and every package is put together one by one by me.

And truly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Seeing these little envelopes lined up and knowing each one is headed to someone who chose to be part of Dear Friend means so much to me. Thank you for supporting this little idea, for trusting me to create something for you each month, and for giving me a reason to keep making mail that feels personal.

I’m so grateful for every single one of you. 🤍

Comment Dear Friend for more info on these 🥰

09/04/2026

In a world full of chaos, protect your energy.

Protect the slow mornings. The little routines. The people who make you feel safe. The things that bring you back to yourself.

Not everything deserves your attention. Not everything needs a response.

Sometimes protecting your peace looks like turning down the noise and making a little more room for what feels good.

A small reminder I loved turning into a sticker with StickerHood 🤍

09/04/2026

There’s something about the start of fall that makes me think about the people who made the year feel a little softer.

The ones who sat with us through the hard days, laughed with us over coffee, answered the random texts, celebrated the little things, and simply kept showing up.

As we head into the cozy months and the year starts moving toward its final chapters, I hope you take a minute to think about those people.

And maybe send them this as a little reminder:

This year was better with you in it. 🤎

09/03/2026

There are days after school starts when I do nothing.

No catching up.
No trying to be productive.
No filling the quiet just because I finally have it.

I sit. I drink my coffee while it’s still warm. I let the house be quiet. I decompress.

And I’m learning that this doesn’t make me lazy. It doesn’t mean I love my kids any less or that I’m not grateful for the time we have together.

Sometimes you just need to recharge after weeks of being needed all day long.

The quiet isn’t something to feel guilty about.

Sometimes, this is enough.

09/02/2026

I just had several orders come through for this print today, and it made me smile because this one feels so true to friendship.

Every friend group has one who brings the snacks, one who somehow always has the advice, and one who brings just the right amount of chaos.

And somehow, it all works.

I love knowing this little scene is heading into several homes today. Thank you so much for supporting my art and seeing your own friendships in these illustrations.

Address

Portland, OR
97086-97299

Website

https://www.mjdesignandillustration.com/

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