Marla Norton
Rooted in Strength
Hand-drawn ink style rendered digitally
Artist Statement
Rooted in Strength was born from two loves colliding: a recent journey through Northern Europe, where folk art feels woven into daily life, and a deep admiration for Delft pottery, the iconic blue and white language of flowers, symmetry, and endurance. Traveling through the north, the tree of life appeared everywhere — in tile work, textiles, painted ceramics. Always a symbol not of perfection, but of perseverance. It survives winters. It keeps reaching upward even when its roots are tested. The deep navy against soft white feels calm and resolute, it doesn't shout, it endures. The intricate symmetry represents balance: not the false kind untouched by hardship, but the real kind, the way people fighting illness still find moments of joy, the way a community mirrors its strength back to those who need it most. This piece is dedicated to everyone in my life; family, friends, neighbors, coworkers — facing cancer, or sitting beside someone who is. Rooted in strength. Branching toward light.
52 Views of Cancer
52 Views of Cancer is a deck of playing cards illustrated by people who know cancer firsthand. Each of the 52 cards carries original artwork by a different cancer patient, survivor, or immediate family member, each with their own view of the disease.
The artwork comes first. We're bringing the deck to major scientific and medical conferences and putting these artists' work directly into the hands of the researchers and clinicians working on the cancers they've faced.
Learn more about Invenra’s efforts to fight cancer.
