Death of a Comet
Posted on January 8th, 2014
Death of a Comet, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook
This painting feels a little like a Rorschach blot to me — I look and see ephemera, fleeting beauty, something that will melt or shift or fade away. Frost on a dark window. Clouds lit up against a midnight sky. Or the comet ISON that it’s named for, breaking up in the blackness of space after flying, Icarus-like, too close to the sun.
What do you see?
Death of a Comet, 7″x5″ iridescent watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Death of a Comet, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the way the iridescent paint seems to float above the black paper. This paper is made by setting off a chemical process in the paper pulp rather than dying, so the color will stay a rich, soft black for years. Below, you can see it contrast with the shining paint in sunlight, blossoming in the simple frame.
Death of a Comet, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: black paper, iridescent, nfs, sold, watercolor
Shadow
Posted on January 7th, 2014
Shadow, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook
This is really more of a zen spiral than a circle, but the softly broken brush strokes at the top make me think of a zen circle anyway. The pigments pooled and settled with the texture of the paper, giving it more detail than you would think for such a small, simple painting.
Everything about this painting is subtle, muted, desaturated. It makes me think of shadows on a cloudy day, softened by the lack of direct light but still there if you think to look.
Shadow, 5″x5″ watercolor on watercolor paper.
Shadow, detail, by Amy Crook
The photo above is tinged blue by the sun, but you can still see the textures of paper and paint, and how they interact to create layers of detail. Below, you can see it in a frame, hanging out with my cell phone for size.
Shadow, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: for sale, watercolor, zen circle
Hobbits Love Cherries
Posted on January 3rd, 2014
“You’re as sweet as a bowl full of cherries!”
The Hobbit parody art by Amy Crook
Bilbo Baggins has a flower-petal bowl full of summer goodness — cherries are perfectly appropriate to Middle Earth New Zealand this time of year! He thinks you’re just as sweet as those luscious little fruits, and I’m inclined to agree.
He’s not for sale, though, so if you want to share his sentiment with someone you love, you’ll have to get him on a card in my Etsy shop.
Hobbits Love Cherries, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Hobbit Valentine by Amy Crook on Etsy
Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: bilbo baggins, copic marker, etsy, hobbit, nfs, pen and ink
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Tea is Love
Posted on January 2nd, 2014
Tea is Love, Sherlock parody art by Amy Crook
There’s just something special about that person who makes you tea when they make their own without being asked. Despite the contentious onscreen friendship, I’ve always thought there must be quiet moments at 221b Baker Street where John and Sherlock get along.
You can get this sweet image as one of this year’s Valentines in my Etsy shop, and give it to someone else you adore to show you appreciate the little things they do for you. Or to suggest they make you tea* more often. One of those.
Tea is Love, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Sherlock Valentine by Amy Crook
(hedgehog not included)
*I’d love a cup of Earl Grey, thanks.
Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, etsy, john watson, nfs, pen and ink, sherlock, sherlock bbc, sherlock holmes, sold, tea
TARDIS Valentine
Posted on January 1st, 2014
“You make my heart bigger on the inside.”
a TARDIS Valentine by Amy Crook
It’s not actually all that Valentine-y on the outside, but the card says, “You make my heart bigger on the inside.” And that’s a very loving sort of sentiment, don’t you think?
You can get the card in my Etsy shop. Ooh, shiny!
TARDIS Valentine, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Awwwww.
Categories: Card Design, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, doctor who, etsy, for sale, pen and ink, tardis
Happy New Year!
Posted on December 31st, 2013
I hope you’re having a wonderful last day of 2013. I’ve been trying to enjoy the holidays as much as possible this year, myself, which has included a number of unscheduled days off to go with the scheduled days off. Belladonna and Pod have gotten some extra petting and some extra alone time as my BFF dragged me willingly out and about, not to mention the days spent out on my own shopping.
It’s been a wonderful recharge to get me back into the groove to start the new year, and I decided to start 2014 the way I mean to go on – with a little forgiveness. So…
January’s Floating Gallery will be late!
I’m going to open next Monday, January 6, and close it the following Monday on the 13th. 13 was always a lucky number for me, anyway!
This will give me time to finish a few of the half-dozen pieces that are almost but not quite ready to go, and to do the coding without going crosseyed.
This week, instead you’ll get a look at my Valentines for 2014! It’s already starting to be that time of year, believe it or not, and I’ve got 3 done and 2 more in the works.
Have a toast…
May all your surprises be good ones, all your efforts bear fruit, and all your experiments produce useful results. May the doctor always be there when you need him, may keen eyes see to the heart of you, and may the tentacles hug you in a non-devouring sort of way.
Happy 2014!
Categories: Words Words Words
Holly the Organized Elf
Posted on December 18th, 2013
Holly the Organized Elf, a comic commission
for Beverly Army Williams by Amy Crook
When Beverly approached me to draw her an Organized Elf, at first I had a totally different image in mind. But she sent me some great answers and with a little bit of googling, we got our mental images to match. Holly is the mascot for Beverly’s excellent year-long Organized Elf Project, helping to keep you as organized as she is from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Peace, not perfectionism!
Holly was really fun for me to draw, because I had carte blanche to put whatever oddities seemed to fit in her holiday kit. So, I decided on one of those fabric-lined craft project baskets, on which we put a lovely silver monogrammed plate, and then stuffed it with knitting, wintery fabric, sewing accessories, and even an emergency snowflake template. Because every elf has snowflake emergencies, right?
Beverly sent me the sweetest testimonial, which she’s letting me share with you:
“If we had worked together in person, in the same room, it would have looked something like this:
Me (waving hands in air): I see an elf. An elegant, swank elf. She’s organized. And pretty.
Amy: Here are ten questions to help you get more specific. I want to create your vision.
Me (studiously answers questions): Like this?
Amy: wonderful! (sketches) Does she look like your Organized Elf?
Me: You are amazing. She’s even better than I imagined. (hugs Amy. Kisses sketch.)
The reality is that we worked via email. Still, the process was that easy—I made some big sweeping statements about the ideas I had, Amy asked specific, thought-provoking questions, and from my answers, she sketched, inked, and colored a beautiful illustration that really is beyond what I imagined.
Amy’s professionalism is unparalleled; she meets (well ahead of time) the deadlines she set, and she is straightforward about what to expect. I can’t wait for another reason to work with her!”
If you’d like an illustration of your very own, email me to get started!
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: all rights reserved, beverly army williams, commission, elf, holiday, nfs, pen and ink
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