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Airen Hall

@withoutaladder

Writer. Illustrator. Wild Feminist. Book lover. 1 wife, 3 kids, 3 cats. (She/her) http://withoutaladder.com/portfolio/ http://instagram.com/withoutaladder/

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04.09.2023
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Latest posts by Airen Hall @withoutaladder

So fun. I got 41/50, which seems solid?

23.02.2026 17:10 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Good morning to everyone except fellow white parents who,"don't talk to their younger kids about 'politics'." The manosphere didn't just spring fully formed out of some bigot's butt. Your looking away facilitates its growth. If you don't say something, someone will fill that void.

13.02.2026 13:53 πŸ‘ 29 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Oh, me too! Her illustrations are just amazing.

12.02.2026 00:22 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

EVERYBODY CAN MAKE ART IT CAME FREE WITH YOUR HUMAN SPIRIT

06.02.2026 18:42 πŸ‘ 5411 πŸ” 2445 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 29

Thanks! 😊 I buy the paper itself but then I paint or dye it myself. I use all different kinds of paper.

06.02.2026 14:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
cut paper collage illustration showing a red and gold hot air balloon soaring over a landscape with trees, fields, and mountains. Includes my contact info, www.withoutaladder.com

cut paper collage illustration showing a red and gold hot air balloon soaring over a landscape with trees, fields, and mountains. Includes my contact info, www.withoutaladder.com

Just a tiny bit late for #kidlitartpostcard! I create paper collages by hand. I'd love to work on PBs and covers.

#kidlitpostcardday #kidlit #kidlitart

06.02.2026 14:06 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
2026 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From! This year, consider ordering your Girl Scout cookies from a trans girl scout to make their day!

Hey everyone!

Huge news! Our trans girl scout list has sold a total of 146,000 boxes as of today!

But MANY trans girl scouts only have 20, 30, 40 boxes sold.

I just resorted our list to put those on the top.

Go get your girl scout cookies and make a trans kid's day!

03.02.2026 00:18 πŸ‘ 4509 πŸ” 2763 πŸ’¬ 61 πŸ“Œ 97

Abolish ICE.

There’s no reforming it.

There’s no compromise.

There’s only one way to rein in ICE’s terror campaign. Abolish it.

02.02.2026 23:27 πŸ‘ 40848 πŸ” 9144 πŸ’¬ 805 πŸ“Œ 319

Democratic leadership need to be waking up every morning with the singular goal of matching the energy of the heroes on the ground in Minnesota.

28.01.2026 14:02 πŸ‘ 1263 πŸ” 241 πŸ’¬ 27 πŸ“Œ 24

Great thread on the scale and hope of the defenders of Minneapolis. I hope all cities and communities can learn these lessons and come together in the face of this fascist threat.

Abolish ICE is the floor.

22.01.2026 11:43 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

lol, exactly

16.01.2026 18:12 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

If you are looking for a way to send support and love to Minneapolis

15.01.2026 11:43 πŸ‘ 67 πŸ” 58 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3

Now, more than ever, check out a novel from your public library, get yourself some snacks, and READ for pure joy. You deserve it.

15.01.2026 19:15 πŸ‘ 134 πŸ” 43 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 5

Great idea to help show Becky and other trans kids they are not alone.

13.01.2026 16:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I expected 2026 to be a rough year. Still. This has been a hell of a first week.

08.01.2026 00:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Congrats!

08.01.2026 00:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A 3x3 grid shows nine different images. In the center the image is a photograph of Airen Hall, a middle-aged white woman with dark hair, looking upward. The other pictures are various cut paper collage illustrations: a boy with a snowdrop, a woman with a snake, a girl doing a rain dance, a dwarf by a waterfall, Death personified, a ghostly woman with a lantern, an Earth goddess, and a woman looking out to a sailing ship.

A 3x3 grid shows nine different images. In the center the image is a photograph of Airen Hall, a middle-aged white woman with dark hair, looking upward. The other pictures are various cut paper collage illustrations: a boy with a snowdrop, a woman with a snake, a girl doing a rain dance, a dwarf by a waterfall, Death personified, a ghostly woman with a lantern, an Earth goddess, and a woman looking out to a sailing ship.

2025 has been such a crazy year! Some really difficult times in my personal life. Some amazing moments with my art life. I created some pieces I am really proud of this year. I am grateful for the time & space I have to make art & for the lovely people who have supported me. #ArtVSArtist2025

29.12.2025 17:46 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A 3x3 grid shows nine different images. In the center the image is a photograph of Airen Hall, a middle-aged white woman with dark hair, looking upward. The other pictures are various cut paper collage illustrations: a boy with a snowdrop, a woman with a snake, a girl doing a rain dance, a dwarf by a waterfall, Death personified, a ghostly woman with a lantern, an Earth goddess, and a woman looking out to a sailing ship.

A 3x3 grid shows nine different images. In the center the image is a photograph of Airen Hall, a middle-aged white woman with dark hair, looking upward. The other pictures are various cut paper collage illustrations: a boy with a snowdrop, a woman with a snake, a girl doing a rain dance, a dwarf by a waterfall, Death personified, a ghostly woman with a lantern, an Earth goddess, and a woman looking out to a sailing ship.

2025 has been such a crazy year! Some really difficult times in my personal life. Some amazing moments with my art life. I created some pieces I am really proud of this year. I am grateful for the time & space I have to make art & for the lovely people who have supported me. #ArtVSArtist2025

29.12.2025 17:46 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Here's to peace this Christmas.

Phases of the Moon - Winter Song, a unique hand coloured version of my etching which I made into my card this year.

25.12.2025 10:04 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Merry Yuletide to all, may the light beat back the darkness!

25.12.2025 12:24 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot from The Lord of the Rings Appendices

[3018] October

1 
Gandalf leaves Bree.

3
He is attacked at night on Weathertop.

6
The camp under Weathertop attacked at night. Frodo wounded.

9
Glorfindel leaves Rivendell.

11
He drives the Riders off the Bridge of Mitheithel.

13
Frodo crosses the Bridge.

18
Glorfindel finds Frodo at dusk. Gandalf reaches Rivendell.

20
Escape across the Ford of Bruinen.

24
Frodo recovers and wakes. Boromir arrives in Rivendell at night.

25
Council of Elrond.


December

25
The Company of the Ring leaves Rivendell at dusk.

Screenshot from The Lord of the Rings Appendices [3018] October 1 Gandalf leaves Bree. 3 He is attacked at night on Weathertop. 6 The camp under Weathertop attacked at night. Frodo wounded. 9 Glorfindel leaves Rivendell. 11 He drives the Riders off the Bridge of Mitheithel. 13 Frodo crosses the Bridge. 18 Glorfindel finds Frodo at dusk. Gandalf reaches Rivendell. 20 Escape across the Ford of Bruinen. 24 Frodo recovers and wakes. Boromir arrives in Rivendell at night. 25 Council of Elrond. December 25 The Company of the Ring leaves Rivendell at dusk.

a very happy The Fellowship Sets Forth from Rivendell Day (December 25) to all who celebrate

26.12.2024 02:40 πŸ‘ 977 πŸ” 267 πŸ’¬ 17 πŸ“Œ 4
A cut paper collage illustration shows a big stack of presents in brightly colored wrapping paper. There are three cats, an orange one sniffing a bow, a black one pawing at some ribbon, and a grey one hiding under the boxes.

A cut paper collage illustration shows a big stack of presents in brightly colored wrapping paper. There are three cats, an orange one sniffing a bow, a black one pawing at some ribbon, and a grey one hiding under the boxes.

Merry Christmas Eve! Whether or not you are celebrating, I wish you a stack of wonderful things.

24.12.2025 19:13 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Not making New Year’s resolutions, but pacts with ancient forest gods, alliances with scheming wizards, bargains with charming archdevils

22.12.2025 16:01 πŸ‘ 47 πŸ” 16 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
I want to draw especial attention to the treatment of AIβ€”artificial intelligenceβ€”in these narratives. Think of Ex Machina or Blade Runner. I spoke at TED two years in a row, and one year, there were back-to-back talks about whether or not AI was going to evolve out of control and β€œkill us all.” I realized that that scenario is just something I have never been afraid of. And at the same moment, I noticed that the people who are terrified of machine super-intelligence are almost exclusively white men. I don’t think anxiety about AI is really about AI at all. I think it’s certain white men’s displaced anxiety upon realizing that women and people of color have, and have always had, sentience, and are beginning to act on it on scales that they’re unprepared for. There’s a reason that AI is almost exclusively gendered as female, in fiction and in life. There’s a reason they’re almost exclusively in service positions, in fiction and in life. I’m not worried about how we’re going to treat AI some distant day, I’m worried about how we treat other humans, now, today, all over the world, far worse than anything that’s depicted in AI movies. It matters that still, the vast majority of science fiction narratives that appear in popular culture are imagined by, written by, directed by, and funded by white men who interpret the crumbling of their world as the crumbling of the world.

I want to draw especial attention to the treatment of AIβ€”artificial intelligenceβ€”in these narratives. Think of Ex Machina or Blade Runner. I spoke at TED two years in a row, and one year, there were back-to-back talks about whether or not AI was going to evolve out of control and β€œkill us all.” I realized that that scenario is just something I have never been afraid of. And at the same moment, I noticed that the people who are terrified of machine super-intelligence are almost exclusively white men. I don’t think anxiety about AI is really about AI at all. I think it’s certain white men’s displaced anxiety upon realizing that women and people of color have, and have always had, sentience, and are beginning to act on it on scales that they’re unprepared for. There’s a reason that AI is almost exclusively gendered as female, in fiction and in life. There’s a reason they’re almost exclusively in service positions, in fiction and in life. I’m not worried about how we’re going to treat AI some distant day, I’m worried about how we treat other humans, now, today, all over the world, far worse than anything that’s depicted in AI movies. It matters that still, the vast majority of science fiction narratives that appear in popular culture are imagined by, written by, directed by, and funded by white men who interpret the crumbling of their world as the crumbling of the world.

YES to that last repost from @tressiemcphd.bsky.social. Relatedly, I gave this talk all the way back in 2018.

(Back then, β€˜AI movies’ meant movies about AI, not movies made with AI πŸ₯΄)

19.12.2025 17:57 πŸ‘ 139 πŸ” 44 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 3
A girl is carrying a Christmas branch with a dog and birds. Joy holiday card.

A girl is carrying a Christmas branch with a dog and birds. Joy holiday card.

#Peace be with you in this sad #2025holiday season. #Hope you may find small #joy. This is from my old #Christmascards collection.

#childrensart #picturebookart #childrensillustration #picturebookillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookart #kidslitart #kidlitillustration

16.12.2025 15:07 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Also, congratulations everyone who made something this year. A comic, a song, a film, a novel, a painting, a poem, a short story, a sculpture, crochet, embroidery, whatever it is. In this era of slop and theft, if you *make* something you are a shining jewel and I am so grateful for you.

11.12.2025 16:38 πŸ‘ 5441 πŸ” 2772 πŸ’¬ 61 πŸ“Œ 59

The handmade, human qualities of your work are more valuable than they've ever been. Don't doubt that for a second.

11.12.2025 16:54 πŸ‘ 4894 πŸ” 1956 πŸ’¬ 19 πŸ“Œ 33
A collection of the seven folktale week cut paper collage illustrations I made

A collection of the seven folktale week cut paper collage illustrations I made

It was another fantastic #FolktaleWeek. I really loved participating this year and I'm so glad I made the time to do it.
#FolktaleWeek2025

24.11.2025 23:11 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Amen!

24.11.2025 17:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A cut paper collage illustration depicting Aurora, Roman goddess of the dawn. She is standing, riding through the sky on a chariot with golden wings. She wear white robes and a golden sun goes before her.

A cut paper collage illustration depicting Aurora, Roman goddess of the dawn. She is standing, riding through the sky on a chariot with golden wings. She wear white robes and a golden sun goes before her.

Final day of #FolktaleWeek2025: DAWN. I was happy to see this prompt because I had already been thinking of doing a piece with the Roman goddess Aurora and her winged chariot. Synchronicity!
#folktaleweek #mythology

23.11.2025 13:39 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1