Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Ghost Trees

Posted on January 7th, 2016

Ghost Tree by Amy Crook

Ghost Tree, 6″x4″ ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

Everything about this ink wash is understated, soft, and ghostly. The pale sky just as the sunset fades into the gloaming. The shadowy tree like a ghost against the ink-streaked clouds. The birds flitting past like memories, barely there in the distance.

The first hints of night haunt the top of the page, washing away the color as the evening threatens to fall, dropping its curtain over those last washes of pink and violet and gold still lurking in the soft clouds.

Ghost Tree, detail, by Amy Crook

Ghost Tree, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the ghostly little ink wash birds swooping through the pale, fading daylight. Below, the tree sits in a frame, ready to haunt its new home.

Ghost Tree, framed art by Amy Crook

Ghost Tree, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Domed City

Posted on January 6th, 2016

Domed City by Amy Crook

Domed City, 4″x6″ iridescent watercolor and ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

Another painting with some hidden sparkle, this one’s mostly done in ink washes. The background is an amazing rich teal that none of my electronics want to pick up, and the domes sparkle with golden highlights beneath the iridescent blue dragon.

This tiny piece would add a lovely bit of scifi-fantasy allure to a desk, bookshelf, or reading nook.

Here there be dragon!

Domed City, detail, by Amy Crook

Domed City, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shining underbelly on the dragon that floats above the domed city. Below, a tiny window into this strange world as the painting is trapped behind glass in its frame.

Domed City, framed art by Amy Crook

Domed City, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
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Ghosts of Years Gone By

Posted on January 5th, 2016

Ghosts of Years Gone By by Amy Crook

Ghosts of Years Gone By, 5″x7″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Arches cover buff paper

These ghosts are here to remind you of years gone by, of triumphs and tragedies lurking in your past. That one on the left seems particularly intent in communicating its message, so maybe check you’re not about to repeat some horrible mistake from your past? Or perhaps it’s trying to encourage you in its creepy, staring way.

Their eyes have an eerie blue-green glow to them, which pops out of the soft creamy paper and deep matte colors of paint. There’s beautiful granulation in that adds amazing texture and detail to their ghostly, half-real forms.

What ghosts are waiting in your past to show you the path forward?

Ghosts of Years Gone By, detail, by Amy Crook

Ghosts of Years Gone By, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, this blue ghost seems particularly intent on getting its message across. Below, they’re lurking in their frame, a spooky-cute reminder of past triumphs and lessons.

Ghosts of Years Gone By, framed art by Amy Crook

Ghosts of Years Gone By, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Cuppa Cheer

Posted on January 4th, 2016

Cuppa Cheer by Amy Crook

Cuppa Cheer, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

If you’re on my (admittedly tiny) holiday card list, you’ve already seen this art! I haven’t yet put the gold paint on this image for scanning reasons, but I’d be happy to gild the cup’s golden edges for you if you want some extra sparkle for your home.

This painting would add some cheer to any Christmas-celebrating home. Put it in a frame and pull it out at the holidays every year to celebrate both the season and the value of a good cuppa tea.

What kind of tea do you like best?

Cuppa Cheer, detail, by Amy Crook

Cuppa Cheer, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the holly decorating the teabag tag on this cheerful cuppa. Below, it’s sitting in a plain frame, though one could easily find a beautiful holiday holder for future display.

Cuppa Cheer, framed art by Amy Crook

Cuppa Cheer, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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December Patron Sketches

Posted on December 30th, 2015

My darling patrons over at Patreon get to request sketches when their pledge is $5 or more a month (and color for $10), and I thought I would round up the three little sketches we have from a busy December.

Portrait of the Artist in a Weasley Sweater by Amy Crook

Portrait of the Artist in a Weasley Sweater by Amy Crook

Sam and Dean Winchester at Christmas by Amy Crook

Sam and Dean Winchester at Christmas by Amy Crook

Lestrade Takes Down the Decorations by Amy Crook

Lestrade Takes Down the Decorations by Amy Crook

Categories: Whimsical and Strange
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Best of 2015: 13 Artist’s Picks

Posted on December 28th, 2015

Artist's Choice: Best of 2015 from Amy Crook

It’s the most reflective time of the year, when we all think back on what was shiny and good in the previous year. Since I enjoyed the post so much last year, I thought I’d once again choose a baker’s dozen of favorites, first month by month and finally one art to rule them all. Or something.

Read the rest of this entry »

Categories: Words Words Words
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Ghost

Posted on December 8th, 2015

Ghost by Amy Crook

Ghost by Amy Crook

What haunts you?

The inspiration from this image came from dozens of images of ghosts over many years. The faces pushing through the wall in Frighteners. Photographs of sheets with a vague sense of a human underneath that clearly show there is no one. The classic Halloween costume of a sheet with eye holes.

This ink is a beautiful pale grey with ghostly lavender undertones that worked perfectly to created the subtle shadows in this piece. Is it just a bunch of shapes, or is there really a face? Is that shadows against a wall, or is it really reaching out for you?

Ghost, 5″x7″ ink wash on paper.

Ghost, detail, by Amy Crook

Ghost, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the detail of his serious, ghostly face. Below, he’s trapped in a frame, just waiting to spook up the right house.

Ghost, framed art by Amy Crook

Ghost, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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