Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Growth 2

Posted on July 29th, 2013

Growth 2 by Amy Crook

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

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

Growth and Growth 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Series and Books
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Sunday Round-Up & Doctor Donna Sketch

Posted on July 28th, 2013

A full week chock full of fullness. Also, art.

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."

“Are you sure this is safe?”
“Just enjoy it!”
“That’s what they all say.”

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
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Lunch With a View

Posted on July 27th, 2013

Lunch With a View, Doctor Who fan comic by Amy Crook

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

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

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
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Flowers for Bilbo

Posted on July 26th, 2013

Flowers for Bilbo, a Hobbit parody commission by Amy Crook

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

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

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
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Convergence

Posted on July 25th, 2013

Convergence, watercolor by Amy Crook

Convergence, watercolor by Amy Crook

There is a distinct feeling of motion to this piece in person, the sparkling salt stars coming in from above and below, the inky black sweeping on on the sides, all converging in the center of the page. I kind of wanted to add a TARDIS to the picture, but I couldn’t figure out the right place to put it that wouldn’t ruin the sense of forces converging in the vastness of space. You can just imagine it’s floating there in the center with its shields up, the invisible force drawing everything inward.

The salt-crystal “stars” are a bit lost to my scanner, but you can see them much better below, along with a slightly better sense of the colors, though the rich, deep royal purple is just not coming through on my monitor, alas. This is definitely a piece that’s better in real life.

Convergence, 10″x8″ Japanese watercolor and salt on Arches cover white paper.

Convergence, detail, by Amy Crook

Convergence, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the texture of salt crystals studded over the paper, and the swirling nebulae of color they swim in. Below, the piece is in a frame, hanging out with my iPhone and looking awesome.

Convergence, framed art by Amy Crook

Convergence, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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3 Strange Watercolors

Posted on July 24th, 2013

Something different for today, three paintings I love and wish were in good homes being loved and appreciated.

Water Lilies 1 by Amy Crook

Blue Moon 4 by Amy Crook

Skull Paper by Amy Crook

 

Categories: Daily Art
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Con the Earth Sprite

Posted on July 22nd, 2013

Con the Earth Sprite by Amy Crook

Con the Earth Sprite by Amy Crook

Con here is another character from my book! I’m not sure this quite captures the potato-like grumpiness of the character, but I had fun drawing his wrinkly little head and stumpy body.

I’ve chosen a winner to get the hard copy of the book using an old-fashioned D&D die, and Andria’s already written me back so she’ll get hers next week. The freebie days were quite successful, and the book itself continues to trickle out a few copies each day. I’ve already got an idea for a sequel, which I’ll probably start during NaNoWriMo this year, but given that this book was started back in 2010, don’t hold your breath! The new book will focus on Julian, who wanted to have a say of his own.

Con the Earth Sprite, 5″x7″ pencil on paper. If you read & liked the book, I’d love it if you’d review me on Amazon!

Con the Earth Sprite, and the book from which he came, both by Amy Crook

Con the Earth Sprite, and the book from which he came,
both by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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