Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe

Posted on June 25th, 2014

Invent the Universe by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe by Amy Crook

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

– Carl Sagan

Whether you see a big bang for just the light at the end of the tunnel, this painting feels full of possibility. If you wish to succeed at any endeavor, you have to invent inside yourself the universe in which it can happen. What’s amazing to me is that you can do it, that people can bring whole worlds to life inside themselves and then make them a part of our world, as well.

What do you want in your Universe?

Invent the Universe, 8″x8″ Japanese and metallic watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Invent the Universe, detail, by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the silver paint picking up the light as it curves around the central vortex. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, glowing with sunlight and possibility.

Invent the Universe, framed art by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe, framed art by Amy Crook

This painting will be available in July’s Floating Gallery; join my list to get an early chance at it.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Things I'm a Fan Of, Words Words Words
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Murder Plaid

Posted on June 24th, 2014

Murder Plaid, abstract art by Amy Crook

Murder Plaid, abstract art by Amy Crook

Even though Hannibal and I are on a break that will, I suspect, last beyond the actual hiatus of the show, I couldn’t resist making a reference in the title of this painting. There’s layers of semi-opaque Japanese watercolor in four shades of red, mixing and blurring until you get a very creepy not-quite-face staring out at you from something resembling a murder scene. The broken gold lines run through the whole thing like gold thread through one of Dr. Lecter’s murder ties, not to mention the understated plaids that make up most of his wardrobe.

Murder Plaid, 5″x7″ Japanese and metallic watercolor on Arches cover black paper.

Murder Plaid, detail, by Amy Crook

Murder Plaid, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the textured pinks and reds and oranges layered together, with light glinting off the ‘threads’ of gold. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, staring at you, daring you to take it home.

Murder Plaid, framed art by Amy Crook

Murder Plaid, framed art by Amy Crook

It really is that creepy in person. Also, now in a drawer.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Exploding Cufflinks

Posted on June 23rd, 2014

Exploding Cufflinks, a James Bond comic by Amy Crook

Exploding Cufflinks,
a James Bond comic by Amy Crook

The same darling patron who now owns all of my Baker Street Tinies has asked me to indulge her in a pair of MI6 Tinies. A new fandom means new character designs, so I drew up this ridiculous little comic of Daniel Craig’s James Bond, and the new Q as played by Ben Whishaw. The coloring was totally unnecessary for design purposes, but I couldn’t resist giving Bond a properly lovely tuxedo, not to mention the ridiculous check on Q’s hipster trousers.

Bond: “Not even some exploding cufflinks?” *adjusts his cuffs elegantly*
Q: “No.”
Bond: “hmph. Next time?”
Q: “…maybe”

Exploding Cufflinks, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper. The original will be available in July’s Floating Gallery, or you can get them on a card in my Etsy shop.

Exploding Cufflinks, blank card by Amy Crook at Etsy

Exploding Cufflinks, blank card by Amy Crook at Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Performance

Posted on June 19th, 2014

Performance, Daron's Guitar Chronicles art by Amy Crook

Performance,
Daron’s Guitar Chronicles art by Amy Crook

Now that Ziggy’s finally back in Daron’s Guitar Chronicles, I couldn’t resist drawing him, too! Everything’s a performance for Ziggy, so I drew him onstage much like Daron, half out of his frilly shirt and looking emo about whatever power ballad they’re about to sing. No telling if this is a glimpse of the real him, or just another performance, but it’s Ziggy all over, either way.

When asked for comment, Daron just said Ziggy’s nipples were cute, so go figure.

I decided to put Daron & Ziggy together in my Etsy shop, so if you want adorable male nipples on a greeting card, now’s your chance! If you want to get your grabby hands on the originals, they’ll be in July’s Floating Gallery. Just try not to make Daron too jealous.

Performance, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Daron and Ziggy greeting cards by Amy Crook on Etsy

Daron and Ziggy greeting cards by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Battle Scarred

Posted on June 18th, 2014

Battle Scarred, abstract art by Amy Crook

Battle Scarred, abstract art by Amy Crook

There are two distinct layers to this painting, both filled with shining metallics. The copper in the back is marked and scarred like armor that survived a great battle, with blue glittery enamel filigree over the top, decoration that either came after the battle, or survived unmarked by whatever damaged the surface below. Or perhaps it’s a tracery of some magic used to preserve this artifact of past battles, won or lost.

Battle Scarred, 5″x7″ watercolor, salt, metallic watercolor, and glitter gel pen on paper.

Battle Scarred, detail, by Amy Crook

Battle Scarred, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the copper paint catching the light, the sparkle of the glitter pen and the salt interacting. The blue pen has picked up a slight green tinge in places from the color beneath it, and the metal ranges from a blushing copper to more golden to the green of tarnish in places. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, sunlight giving it a brilliant sheen.

Battle Scarred, framed art by Amy Crook

Battle Scarred, framed art by Amy Crook

This one-of-a-kind piece will be available in the Floating Gallery for July; you can join my list to get an early chance to buy.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
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Graduating is Cool

Posted on June 17th, 2014

Graduating is Cool, a Doctor Who commission by Amy Crook

Graduating is Cool, a Doctor Who commission by Amy Crook

This was also a commission, by the coolest Aunt in the world, for her niece that’s going into fashion design in the fall. The bright purple of the original is, as always, hard to reproduce on the computer, but the Doctor is all kitted up for the ceremony, including a proper tassel on his (very cool) fez!

Want a little Doctor of your own? You can commission art for yourself or a friend!

Graduating is Cool, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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In or Out

Posted on June 12th, 2014

In or Out, Doctor Who parody art by Amy Crook

In or Out, Doctor Who parody art by Amy Crook

Peter Capaldi is most famous in England for his role as the foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It — or at least he was, until he got cast as the twelfth Doctor. We haven’t seen anything about him except his costume, and August refuses to hurry here, so this bit of Doctor Who fan art uses a quote from Malcolm’s mouth.

This art was a commission for one of my favorite patrons, but she’s kindly allowed me to put them on cards for my Etsy shop, so you can enjoy some sweary twelfth Doctor of your very own!

In or Out, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

In or Out, Doctor Who greeting card by Amy Crook on Etsy

In or Out, Doctor Who greeting card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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