Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Tentacle Critters from Ann Littell

Posted on July 17th, 2013

What's in the mysterious box?

What’s in the mysterious box?

I did not make these things! The wonderful Ann Littell, with whom I went to high school, came out to CA and brought me the awesomest surprise of all. I was not expecting her to have a gift for me, and I have some guilt that I haven’t returned the favor yet, but it’s fleeting because I was totally gobsmacked. Also I keep getting distracted by how awesome these are.

Note that Ann doesn’t make these for sale, so I’m just luckier than you.

Blue paper like water! And ooooooh tentacles.

Blue paper like water! And ooooooh tentacles.

Above, you can see what I saw as I opened the box, and share in my excitement. TENTACLES! What could they beeee? Below, they’re out of their box and sitting on top.

Three Wee Beasties!

Three Wee Beasties!

They’re really well-made and I love the colors! The squid is a lovely blue-grey with lighter fins, and his tentacles have this great curl to them. The jellyfish is this great combo of two shimmery pink yarns that work really well together, and he’s got a really good mix of tentacle sizes and lengths. The octopus is such a great color set, all bright and cheery in very Amy colors, and when laid flat on the table his tentacles make a great little swoopy pattern that translates well into sitting around. You’ve already seen these guys guest starring on some of my art posts, and you can expect to see more of them!

Thanks, Ann!

Squid, Jellyfish and Octopus, an awesome Trifecta

Squid, Jellyfish and Octopus, an awesome Trifecta

Categories: Words Words Words
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Tentacle Spiral 6

Posted on July 16th, 2013

Tentacle Spiral 6 by Amy Crook

Tentacle Spiral 6 by Amy Crook

This painting reminds me of looking into a pool of water that reflects the silvery moon. Not that I’ve ever been able to see writhing tentacles reaching in from all sides, slithering under the water and trying to capture the moon in their curls. The silver seems to float on top of everything else, even the details that were added after, though there’s little pen-and-ink details that scratch their way through the surface to add an extra bit of visual interest.

Tentacle Spiral 6, 6″x4″ Japanese watercolor, metallic watercolor, pen & ink and Sharpie marker on watercolor paper.

Tentacle Spiral 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Tentacle Spiral 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the secret coppery pen-scratches adding little halos of movement around some of the tentacles, and the deeper blacks etched into the silvery Sharpie curls as well. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, giving the tentacles a more otherworldly feel as they sneak in from all sides, grasping at moonlight.

Tentacle Spiral 6, framed art by Amy Crook

Tentacle Spiral 6, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books
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Straight On ‘Til Yesterday

Posted on July 15th, 2013

Straight On 'Til Yesterday, watercolor by Amy Crook

Straight On ‘Til Yesterday, watercolor by Amy Crook

Another watercolor sky, this one dreamy and just a bit odd, with the stars out in full force and a strange planetary-atmosphere glow of color. This is one of those which my scanner just cannot get right, but the framed photo at the bottom gives a really nice sense of the colors involved.

I think of this as secret Doctor Who art, actually — I imagine him standing in the doorway of the TARDIS with his latest companion, pointing up at the stars and making a Peter Pan joke. To the very right you can see the edge of something, planet or satellite or moon, which is completely hidden when it’s in the frame, like a little secret between the artist and collector, or perhaps that’s where the Doctor means to take us after all.

Straight On ‘Til Yesterday, 7″x5″ Japanese watercolor and silver watercolor on Arches cover black paper.

Straight On 'Til Yesterday, detail, by Amy Crook

Straight On ‘Til Yesterday, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the softly textured sky and bright, twinkling silver stars, and a bit of the fade from turquoise to blue to black. Below, you can see it in a frame, with a sonic screwdriver and much more accurate colors.

Straight On 'Til Yesterday, framed art by Amy Crook

Straight On ‘Til Yesterday, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Sunday Round-Up & Dr. John’s Thermometer sketch

Posted on July 14th, 2013

a very full week indeed, with a novel and everything

a very full week indeed, with a novel and everything

This week, lots of things! Monday I posted art from the cover of my new novel, wot I self-published myself and stuff, and Tuesday I posted a giveaway of one hard copy of the book, so if you haven’t commented there you should! Wednesday the wonderful Jo VanEvery agreed to talk about how she uses my illustrations in her business. Thursday we gazed up at the Milky Way, and Friday there were mysterious silver swirls. Saturday Captain Jack Harkness came along to cheer us all up, and now it’s time for a sketch!

John Watson reminds Sherlock he’s a doctor, and is not putting up with any of Sherlock’s whinging about being sick. He’s got no problem doing this the hard way.

Open Wide or Drop Trou, your choice, Sherlock

Open Wide or Drop Trou, your choice, Sherlock

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
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Not Dead Yet

Posted on July 13th, 2013

Not Dead Yet, Captain Jack Harkness fan art by Amy Crook

Not Dead Yet,
Captain Jack Harkness fan art by Amy Crook

After doing all three of the new Doctors, I decided that Captain Jack Harkness needed a card of his own! It’s sort of a get well card, but could really be used to cheer up anyone who’s a bit down. Just don’t try to use it as a sympathy card.

I did, you will notice, get his cheeky wink this time.

Not Dead Yet, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, nfs (sold).

Not Dead Yet, detail, by Amy Crook

Not Dead Yet, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a detail of his face, from cheeky wink to cleft chin. Below, he’s in a frame with a naughtily borrowed Sonic Screwdriver, and my iPhone for scale of course.

Not Dead Yet, framed Doctor Who fan art by Amy Crook

Not Dead Yet, framed Doctor Who fan art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Silver Filigree

Posted on July 12th, 2013

Silver Filigree by Amy Crook

Silver Filigree by Amy Crook

At this point, I have to conclude that not only do I love to draw it, I just adore the word filigree. This one’s a little different from its predecessors, though, with the filigree fading from silver into mist as it pours down into the dark, strange painting. Not a single speck of glitter was used!

Silver Filigree, 5″x5″ Japanese watercolor and salt on Arches cover black paper.

Silver Filigree, detail, by Amy Crook

Silver Filigree, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see how the spirals grow fainter and more transparent as they travel away from their origin. Below, you can see the painting in a frame on my bookshelf, where it lived all through Sharpie week.

Silver Filigree, framed art by Amy Crook

Silver Filigree, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Series and Books
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Milky Way

Posted on July 11th, 2013

Milky Way by Amy Crook

Milky Way by Amy Crook

I painted a number of these dark backgrounds all together after Dark Matter came out so well, and this was another one that looked like a mysterious sky to me. Instead of space, though, there was a hint of earth down at the bottom, and so I enhanced the black ground and dusted the little figure with silver starlight so you could watch the Milky Way pass by with him.

Milky Way, 4″x6″ salt and Japanese watercolor on paper, nfs (sold).

Milky Way, detail, by Amy Crook

Milky Way, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a little slice of the painting close up, with the textures of salt and paint and paper mixing to create the illusion of a field of twinkling stars. Below, you can see it in a frame, with what’s probably the most accurate color of all three images.

Milky Way, framed art by Amy Crook

Milky Way, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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