Airen Hall
@withoutaladder.bsky.social
Writer. Illustrator. Wild Feminist. Book lover. 1 wife, 3 kids, 3 cats. (She/her)
http://withoutaladder.com/portfolio/
http://instagram.com/withoutaladder/
http://withoutaladder.com/portfolio/
http://instagram.com/withoutaladder/
Pinned
Only a day late to #PortfolioDay! I create collaged illustration made of paper I paint and hand cut. I am especially interested in #kidlitart, but I also do private commissions.
www.instagram.com/withoutaladd...
www.withoutaladder.com
www.instagram.com/withoutaladd...
www.withoutaladder.com
Heading into a busy holiday market season with five markets coming up. If you're in the DMV, hope to see you at one of them!
November 9, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Heading into a busy holiday market season with five markets coming up. If you're in the DMV, hope to see you at one of them!
Reposted by Airen Hall
Daylight Saving Spring Forward
YouTube video by Positively Osceola
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Airen Hall
Many things are being destroyed & the news of it is a psychological & political onslaught.
So it’s important that you create things.
It can be art, cookies, a community pantry, a garden, a mask bloc. It can be beautiful, practical, silly. Just create & share.
It’ll do your brain & the world good.
So it’s important that you create things.
It can be art, cookies, a community pantry, a garden, a mask bloc. It can be beautiful, practical, silly. Just create & share.
It’ll do your brain & the world good.
October 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Many things are being destroyed & the news of it is a psychological & political onslaught.
So it’s important that you create things.
It can be art, cookies, a community pantry, a garden, a mask bloc. It can be beautiful, practical, silly. Just create & share.
It’ll do your brain & the world good.
So it’s important that you create things.
It can be art, cookies, a community pantry, a garden, a mask bloc. It can be beautiful, practical, silly. Just create & share.
It’ll do your brain & the world good.
Amen. I myself have been marathoning Columbo the last couple weeks as I work, and it has truly been a balm.
Peter Falk is hilariously comforting, and this show is absolutely visually soothing.
October 11, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Amen. I myself have been marathoning Columbo the last couple weeks as I work, and it has truly been a balm.
Really excellent piece on AI.
YES! THIS on GenAI!
Please read this absolutely splendid piece of writing that had me cheering, a little bit weepy, and writing in the margins:
"An extraordinary amount of money is spent by the AI industry to ensure that acquiescence is the only plausible response. But marketing is not destiny."
Please read this absolutely splendid piece of writing that had me cheering, a little bit weepy, and writing in the margins:
"An extraordinary amount of money is spent by the AI industry to ensure that acquiescence is the only plausible response. But marketing is not destiny."
Large Language Muddle | The Editors
The AI upheaval is unique in its ability to metabolize any number of dread-inducing transformations. The university is becoming more corporate, more politically oppressive, and all but hostile to the ...
www.nplusonemag.com
October 4, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Really excellent piece on AI.
Love this.
"I did not start my full time career as an artist until I was fifty and I have just turned 76 in July....I hope my story will be one that inspires others to pursue their dreams no matter how old they are and not to give up." - Jeanie Tomanek
To see more of her work: www.jeanietomanek.com
To see more of her work: www.jeanietomanek.com
September 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Love this.
Reposted by Airen Hall
I had never really thought about the fact that The Lord of the Rings is the 500,000+ word version of “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house” but here’s the explanation.
Since this whole debate is still happening, and since we are still not listening I will summarize what I understand the argument to be in the Lingua Franca of white nerds: Lord of the Rings analogies.
white cis men blocking people of color and other members of vulnerable communities because their risk factor is a lot different than ours is peak white nonsense.
It's also how I know they don't give a shit about us.
It's also how I know they don't give a shit about us.
September 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I had never really thought about the fact that The Lord of the Rings is the 500,000+ word version of “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house” but here’s the explanation.
Reposted by Airen Hall
Boromir falls for the power of the ring not because he likes Sauron, but because Boromir cannot imagine overthrowing the dark lord other than by force. He fundamentally doesn’t understand the nature of Sauron’s or the ring’s power, so he tries to take it and become a great captain of war.
September 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Boromir falls for the power of the ring not because he likes Sauron, but because Boromir cannot imagine overthrowing the dark lord other than by force. He fundamentally doesn’t understand the nature of Sauron’s or the ring’s power, so he tries to take it and become a great captain of war.
Reposted by Airen Hall
Folks, you can't report the United States to its manager. There's no superhero coming to save us.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
September 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Folks, you can't report the United States to its manager. There's no superhero coming to save us.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
Ugh. Sooo disappointing to see my rep @raskin.house.gov voted yes on this.
Everything wrong with the Democratic Party in a nutshell.
95 House Democrats (including Jeffries!) just voted to honor the life & legacy of Charlie Kirk.
Only 58 voted no.
38 voted present.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2025/rol...
95 House Democrats (including Jeffries!) just voted to honor the life & legacy of Charlie Kirk.
Only 58 voted no.
38 voted present.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2025/rol...
clerk.house.gov
September 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Ugh. Sooo disappointing to see my rep @raskin.house.gov voted yes on this.
Reposted by Airen Hall
Hey #kidlit illustrators!
We’re beginning to think through a mythology-themed beginning-reader series. I'm looking for someone w/ a commercial/punchy, character-forward style who can breath life into ancient lore.
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
We’re beginning to think through a mythology-themed beginning-reader series. I'm looking for someone w/ a commercial/punchy, character-forward style who can breath life into ancient lore.
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
September 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Hey #kidlit illustrators!
We’re beginning to think through a mythology-themed beginning-reader series. I'm looking for someone w/ a commercial/punchy, character-forward style who can breath life into ancient lore.
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
We’re beginning to think through a mythology-themed beginning-reader series. I'm looking for someone w/ a commercial/punchy, character-forward style who can breath life into ancient lore.
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
Reposted by Airen Hall
And that's just from the Pragmatist side, just WAIT until I bust out the Confucian and classical Japanese aesthetics, both of which argue that damaging our ability to appreciate art is to damage our very humanity, our ability to HAVE experience.
September 16, 2025 at 6:09 AM
And that's just from the Pragmatist side, just WAIT until I bust out the Confucian and classical Japanese aesthetics, both of which argue that damaging our ability to appreciate art is to damage our very humanity, our ability to HAVE experience.
Reposted by Airen Hall
No but actually, art enables us to share experience across difference. Indeed, there are some things that are best communicated through art and any situation that damages our ability to appreciate art damages our ability to communicate across difference.
You know it’s a grievance I have that probably shouldn’t rank as highly as it does but it pisses me off that as a result of All This our ability to culturally appreciate art & have access to art will be worse off. Yes, art is my favorite thing, but also I think it’s objectively a really bad thing.
September 16, 2025 at 6:09 AM
No but actually, art enables us to share experience across difference. Indeed, there are some things that are best communicated through art and any situation that damages our ability to appreciate art damages our ability to communicate across difference.
In DC? Stop by the Van Ness Main Street pop-up market today! I'll be here until 3.
September 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
In DC? Stop by the Van Ness Main Street pop-up market today! I'll be here until 3.
Reposted by Airen Hall
"A couple hundred dollars to a working artist could make a difference" is so, so true. An unexpected boon of a couple hundred would be the difference between paying off bills, and stopping the cycle of transferring credit card balances from whichever card is offering no interest to another.
September 5, 2025 at 3:37 PM
"A couple hundred dollars to a working artist could make a difference" is so, so true. An unexpected boon of a couple hundred would be the difference between paying off bills, and stopping the cycle of transferring credit card balances from whichever card is offering no interest to another.
This.
I see some folks say “I have no problem with AI in art as long as…”
No! There is nothing that makes it more okay, and pretending it does to make your point more palatable or whatever else isn’t helping. This is a firm line, yes or no—there is no sometimes with this particular issue
No! There is nothing that makes it more okay, and pretending it does to make your point more palatable or whatever else isn’t helping. This is a firm line, yes or no—there is no sometimes with this particular issue
September 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
This.
Got my flu and covid vaccines this morning! I know I'm lucky to be in MD and have fairly easy access to both vaccines. Please get yourself and your family vaccinated if you're able to do so. It's such a simple way to protect yourself and your community.
September 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Got my flu and covid vaccines this morning! I know I'm lucky to be in MD and have fairly easy access to both vaccines. Please get yourself and your family vaccinated if you're able to do so. It's such a simple way to protect yourself and your community.
Reposted by Airen Hall
Happy #kidlitartpostcard for September! I create collaged illustrations using paper I paint and cut by hand. Looking for representation and interested in PBs and covers.
www.withoutaladder.com
www.withoutaladder.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Happy #kidlitartpostcard for September! I create collaged illustrations using paper I paint and cut by hand. Looking for representation and interested in PBs and covers.
www.withoutaladder.com
www.withoutaladder.com
Happy #kidlitartpostcard for September! I create collaged illustrations using paper I paint and cut by hand. Looking for representation and interested in PBs and covers.
www.withoutaladder.com
www.withoutaladder.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Happy #kidlitartpostcard for September! I create collaged illustrations using paper I paint and cut by hand. Looking for representation and interested in PBs and covers.
www.withoutaladder.com
www.withoutaladder.com
Amen
Let's give a shout out to the men & women who labor in the fields to put food on our tables. #WeFeedYou #LaborDay.
Mandemosle un saludo a los hombres y mujeres que trabajan en el campo para poner comida en nuestras mesas.
Thank you Ignacio Gomez for letting us use this art
Mandemosle un saludo a los hombres y mujeres que trabajan en el campo para poner comida en nuestras mesas.
Thank you Ignacio Gomez for letting us use this art
September 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Amen
Reposted by Airen Hall
My favorite evergreen Molly Ivins quote:
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag."
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag."
August 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
My favorite evergreen Molly Ivins quote:
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag."
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag."
Reposted by Airen Hall
Reading is Resistance.
Knowledge is Power.
Read with your kids.
Read with your spouse or partner.
Read with your friends.
Read with your classmates
Join a book club.
Form a book club.
Resist this vile, fascist regime.
Resist these monstrous evildoers
Reading is Resistance.
Knowledge is Power.
Knowledge is Power.
Read with your kids.
Read with your spouse or partner.
Read with your friends.
Read with your classmates
Join a book club.
Form a book club.
Resist this vile, fascist regime.
Resist these monstrous evildoers
Reading is Resistance.
Knowledge is Power.
August 22, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reading is Resistance.
Knowledge is Power.
Read with your kids.
Read with your spouse or partner.
Read with your friends.
Read with your classmates
Join a book club.
Form a book club.
Resist this vile, fascist regime.
Resist these monstrous evildoers
Reading is Resistance.
Knowledge is Power.
Knowledge is Power.
Read with your kids.
Read with your spouse or partner.
Read with your friends.
Read with your classmates
Join a book club.
Form a book club.
Resist this vile, fascist regime.
Resist these monstrous evildoers
Reading is Resistance.
Knowledge is Power.
Reposted by Airen Hall
Know-your-rights trainings, cop watching, and more taking place over the upcoming weeks. 51st.news/making-some-...
Your weekly roundup of ways to get involved in D.C.
How to fight back this month.
51st.news
August 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Know-your-rights trainings, cop watching, and more taking place over the upcoming weeks. 51st.news/making-some-...