Archive for the ‘Whimsical and Strange’ Category
Leafy Sea Dragon
Friday, September 2nd, 2016
Leafy Sea Dragon, 12″x9″ watercolor on Strathmore watercolor paper
The leafy seadragon is a type of sea horse, which directly inspired this gorgeous creature in all its glory.
The body is textured in watery violet scales, exploring the richness of purple from pinks to blues in the way the paint overlaps and blends. The intricate frills imitate seaweed in a gorgeous blue-green mix, and a rich rusty garnet finishes off the horns.
The best part, though, is the dragon’s attitude, as though they’re telling you like it is and won’t take any of your guff. This is not a dragon whose hoard you want to mess with!
Leafy Sea Dragon, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the beautiful, watery details of both the scaled body and translucent frills. Below, this lovely large painting is in a frame, just waiting to add some elemental attitude to your space.
Leafy Sea Dragon, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: dragon, for sale, purple, watercolor
Two Modes of Cat
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016
Two Modes of Cat: Rambunctious Fuckery (bottom) and Rest (top),
brush pen sketches on bookmarks with brush and ink embellishment
I actually have four Patreon patron sketches to do this month, but the first two went together so well I did them as a set. I feel like this is part of an endless cycle, play, sleep, play, sleep, with food taking up some space in there as well.
The top one is drawn with my trusty ink-filled water brush, and the bottom uses another brush pen, plus some diluted amber ink for the embellishments, and a few red dots to amuse myself (and the cats).
Categories: Completed Commissions, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: brush and ink, brush lettering, brush pen, cats, patreon, sketch, word art
Garnet Fox
Monday, August 8th, 2016
Garnet Fox, 8″x8″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper
The final piece in this month’s gallery is last little bit of shine brilliance, with interference red providing the delicate details on this fox’s garnet fur.
A whimsical, graphical style is paired with intricate pattern work for a gorgeous piece of art that would brighten any home or office.
Like any trickster fox, this one only shows its best side when it wants to, and in this case the lovely red shines against the rich garnet paint of its fur only when turned into the light.
Garnet Fox, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the way the paint on the designs catches the light and shines in metallic red on the fox’s garnet coat. Below, she’s waiting in a frame, just waiting for the right foxhole to adorn.
Garnet Fox, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: animal spirits, fox, interference, nfs, primatek, sold, watercolor
Artship
Saturday, August 6th, 2016
Artship, 7″x5″ pen & ink, watercolor, and duochrome watercolor on paper
I think it’s fair to say this is the perfect art for a fan of my work!
There’s a little hint of everything, from the secret spirals in shining duochrome paint, to the tiny fluttering paintings that make up the rudder. There’s even a warm little teacup with the purple-haired pilot riding up front.
Which detail delights you the most?
Artship, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the secret spirals that only show up in just the right light. Below, the airship is drifting along in a frame, just waiting to find a home on your wall.
Artship, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: airship, duochrome, floating gallery, nfs, pen and ink, sold, watercolor
Firefly Moon
Friday, August 5th, 2016
Firefly Moon, 6″x4″ interference watercolor and Japanese watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper
Fireflies flash and hide in this misty, delicately textured night scene. The sky is full of soft clouds and the subtle shine of stars behind them, the bright moon glowing against the fog.
The beautiful green shines when the light hits it, but nearly vanishes when it’s in shadow, just the way real fireflies only sometimes glow with their mysterious phosphorescence.
Did you used to chase them on lazy summer nights, trying to hold the stars in the palm of your hand?
Firefly Moon, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the green shine catch the light and glow against the misty sky behind it. Below, this tiny beauty is waiting in a frame so you can keep those summer memories always close at hand.
Firefly Moon, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: fireflies, interference, japanese watercolor, moon, nfs, sold, watercolor
Arthur and Eames sticker designs
Thursday, July 14th, 2016
Arthur & Eames stickers by Amy Crook
Tumblr is celebrating the 6th anniversary of Inception, and they held an all-day chat dedicated to getting people to finish their works in progress. The lovely person running it asked me to design some stickers for those who participated, so I made Arthur for anyone who came to write at all, and Eames for those who finished & posted something.
I didn’t have a ton of time, and these stickers are actually only 1.5″ high, so I went for a quick, colorful chibi design to give us the essence of these two lovely characters without getting all fussy about the details.
Happy Inceptiversary!
Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: arthur, chibi, copic marker, eames, inception, inceptiversary, pen and ink
Dragonfly Airship
Thursday, July 7th, 2016
Dragonfly Airship, 7″x5″ Japanese watercolor and pen & ink on paper
This is the first of the end-of-gallery Airship series that really gelled in a beautiful, detailed way. The gorgeously patterned dragonfly wings work with the body of the ship. The windows on the body imply a fascinating sense of scale. The ornamentation hovers somewhere between the whimsy of steampunk and the sleekness of retro-futurism, with the flower-petal propeller adding the final touch of whimsy.
This painting is perfect for sparking the imagination, sending your mind on short flights of fancy to keep your day floating along peacefully.
Dragonfly Airship, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a detail of the painted pattern, evoking without copying a firefly’s delicate wings. Below, the art is sitting in a frame, just waiting to fly off to its new home.
Dragonfly Airship, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: airship, japanese watercolor, nfs, pen and ink, sold, watercolor
« Or Head Back That Way
More Art This Way »
