A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed
Posted on August 1st, 2013
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed
by Amy Crook
My Series of Uncanny Fears is actually a series now, yay! I found it extra challenging to draw the pattern on the duvet with the monster glaring at me from under the bed all the while. Not that there is a monster, mind you, I’m sure it’s just shadows, and reflections. Nothing to fear. Nothing at all.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed, 5″x7″ pen & ink on paper.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can get a closer look at that space under the bed and the inexplicable shadows that are totally not reaching toward you now. Not at all. Below, it’s safely behind glass in a frame, just waiting to find the perfect owner.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: a series of uncanny fears, crosshatching, edward gorey, for sale, gorey, pen and ink, uncanny fears
State of the Artist
Posted on July 31st, 2013
This is where I do most of my art-related work,
and yes, it’s pretty much always this messy.
I realize I’m terrible about updating you, my darlings, whenever things shift and change in my life, so here’s a quick lowdown on things you might care about.
- I got about $1000 worth of dental work done, including a bite guard for sleeping that helps hugely with my cracked tooth pain, but have not yet had the other $3000 of root canal & crown done.
- My computer is not entirely paid off, but I’m still making good progress on it. And it works wonderfully, bright screen and fast processor and everything still gorgeous after a year. I love it, it is my baby, and we shall never be apart.
- I’ve had a bit of a famine spot, which is why #1 & #2 are what they are, but I’ve kept my head above water mostly and it seems to be moving back into feast, knock on wood. Ah, the joys of a freelance life.
- But in better news, I have healthcare for a while! Not sure how long it’ll last, but, I actually saw a doctor and got some routine blood tests and stuff. Yay.
- I’m trying to post one new card-ready comic a week on Saturdays, so if there’s anything you’ve ever desperately wanted, it’s a good time to send in unsubtle requests. Anyone who requests things will also get first dibs on the originals, since a lot of my fandom things sell quickly these days (a fact about which I am Very Happy!).
- Bookmarks are back underway, I have 3 done but I’m sort of thinking of keeping one of them for my own, preshuss. All right, actually there’s a 4th one, too, but that one I’m almost definitely hoarding.
- The cats are still happy and healthy. I’ve taken to making my bed every morning thanks to UFYH, and Pod has taken to un-making his side so he can get in and nap. Bella uses this opportunity to stretch out on my side and be queen of the world, of course.
I think that’s enough to be going on with. You see the results of my art life every day, after all!
Categories: Daily Art, Words Words Words
Tags: words
Foreign Object Debris
Posted on July 30th, 2013
Foreign Object Debris by Amy Crook
I showed this to a friend of mine when it was still a work in progress, and he said it reminded him of a piece of lost metal plating from a spaceship, made of some exotic, slightly damaged metal. I liked the idea so much I used it for the title. This piece started out with a layer of textured, dark purple acrylic, including the spot in one corner where it looks as though something horrible has happened to it. I added iridescent purple to give the whole thing a metallic look, and then went in later with a darker purple to add the sort of dirt that one expects on a much-handled object. The paint wraps around to the edges of the canvas, giving the whole thing the feeling of being one single strange object.
Foreign Object Debris, 12″x12″ acrylic and oil paint on canvas.
Foreign Object Debris, detail 1, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the way the light hits the violet paint, bringing up the sheen in the grooves of the original paint and canvas. Below, you can see the ‘damaged’ portion of heavily applied paint, gleaming in the sunlight.
Foreign Object Debris, detail 2, by Amy Crook
And finally, I took a photo of it still on my easel, because of reasons. The painting is a foot square, and will be wired and ready to hang when it finds itself a forever home.
Foreign Object Debris, painting by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: acrylic paint, canvas, for sale, metallic, oil paint, purple, silver sharpie
Growth 2
Posted on July 29th, 2013
Growth 2 by Amy Crook
I was playing around with my watercolors, and the deep green circle reminded me of the blue-black center of Growth. Before I knew it, I’d grabbed my dark green fountain pen and started making two rows of circles this time, inside and out, and then filling in the inner set while the watercolor was still slightly damp, before moving to the outside. This paper is very absorbent, which gives a softness to the pen lines even on the white.
I had to resist the urge to try to create randomness, and instead just stick with something that was interestingly varied to me. Humans do randomness terribly, and I always have to remember that. I found it interesting that the growths came out differently shaped than the original, more towers and less floaters, no long strands of growth reaching out or in.
Growth 2, 5″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.
Growth 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the paired-up circles of growth going in and outward from the double row at the border. Below, you can see both pieces together in their frames, making a diptych with endless visual interest.
Growth and Growth 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, green, growth, pen and ink, planet, watercolor
2 Comments »
Sunday Round-Up & Doctor Donna Sketch
Posted on July 28th, 2013
A full week chock full of fullness. Also, art.
What a week! I had a bit of flu the week before and early this week, so I wasn’t sure I’d manage to get you a whole week of art, but I squeaked by. Whew. Monday I indulged in a pencil drawing of another of my own characters. Tuesday there weren’t tentacles, but there was an abandoned city on some alien planet, so, close enough. Wednesday I found 3 watercolors that I love and reminded you that they’re waiting for new homes. Thursday there were more strange stars, and Friday Bilbo got an overabundance of flowers. Saturday we shared a lovely view from the TARDIS.
Today’s sketch is another TARDIS-y one, which was a thank-you gift for a lovely patron who bought some Doctor Who art. I might redo it into a proper bit of art one of these weeks, what do you think?
“Are you sure this is safe?”
“Just enjoy it!”
“That’s what they all say.”
Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
Tags: nfs, pencil, sketch
Lunch With a View
Posted on July 27th, 2013
Lunch With a View, Doctor Who fan comic by Amy Crook
I rewatched “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship” recently, and I just couldn’t resist the idea of drawing this peaceful moment with Rory’s Dad sitting on the edge of the TARDIS, suspended over Earth, eating his little packed lunch and looking content. He was kind of hard to draw without his very characteristic nose to help me out, but in the end I’m pretty happy with him. The stars are tiny painted dots of silver watercolor, which is the one thing I have that won’t absorb the black marker pigment and turn grey.
Lunch With a View, 5″x7″ pen & ink, Copic marker, and metallic watercolor on paper. On a whim, I also made him available as a blank card on Etsy.
Lunch With a View, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a silly little bottoms-up view of Mr. Williams’ feet dangling off the edge of the TARDIS and over the distant Earth. Below, you can see it in a frame, with my iPhone and my Sonic Screwdriver.
Lunch With a View, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, doctor who, for sale, pen and ink, stars, tardis, watercolor
Flowers for Bilbo
Posted on July 26th, 2013
Flowers for Bilbo, a Hobbit parody commission by Amy Crook
“Tears, Gandalf. Tears and murder.”
Yes, this is related to a fic. No, I’m not going to tell you where to find it. Just be amused by poor Bilbo getting courting bouquets by two infamous dwarves, Dwalin and Thorin. Don’t worry, I’m sure it all turns out all right in the end, no murder required.
Flowers for Bilbo, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, nfs (sold).
Flowers for Bilbo, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see Bilbo’s worried expression and pink blush, and some of my carefully-researched flowers. I had to look up what most things actually looked like, though I did know how to draw Lily of the Valley already. Below, you can see it hanging out in a temporary frame, looking spiffy before it gets shipped off to its new home.
Flowers for Bilbo, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: bilbo baggins, commission, copic marker, dwalin, dwarf, hobbit, nfs, pen and ink, sold, thorin
« Or Head Back That Way
More Art This Way »
