Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Sunday Round-Up & Eldritch Tea

Posted on May 19th, 2013

quiet week has few artses

quiet week has few artses

I wasn’t feeling all that well last week, so this was a quiet week for posting art. Wednesday we met a whole bunch of monsters and Friday we saw some of their very specific brethren. Then Saturday we went birdwatching and I showed you a heron.

Today there’s a little doodle from someone’s Cthulhu Coloring Book. Will that be one tentacle or two?

Eldritch Tea sketch by Amy Crook

Eldritch Tea sketch by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
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Birdwatching

Posted on May 18th, 2013

Birdwatching by Amy Crook

Birdwatching by Amy Crook

I’ve been working on this in amongst the Monster paintings, starting with a rather banal watercolor layer and adding in bold scribbles, shimmery iridescent highlights and even some pencil shading. I’ve grown fond of the odd perspective, of peering at the herons through the grasses, and catching a glimpse of both halves of this couple.

Birdwatching, 6″x4″ watercolor, iridescent Japanese watercolor, pen & ink, and pencil on Fluid watercolor paper.

Birdwatching, detail, by Amy Crook

Birdwatching, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a bit of the golden wash at the very edge of the sky, and a sheen off several bits of iridescent paint in several colors, from the soft gold along the beak to the blue in the feathers and silvery clouds. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, making it seem more than ever like a peek into some hidden natural wonder.

Birdwatching, framed art by Amy Crook

Birdwatching, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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No No No Monsters

Posted on May 17th, 2013

No No No Monsters by Amy Crook

No No No Monsters by Amy Crook

After sharing Wednesday’s Miasma of Monsters with my friends at the Starship, we all agreed that this trio was a big one for anyone running an ittybiz. First the raggedy, staticky fluffball of “No Energy,” then the red-eyed “No Time,” and their green friend with his unexpected sharp bits, “No Money.” Definitely a trio that demands attention!

I’m feeling a bit less poorly, myself, but still moving quite slowly when it comes to getting art done and ready to go, so you can expect updates to be a bit erratic until I’m all better. I’m just grateful for Tylenol.

No No No Monsters, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.

No No No Monsters, detail, by Amy Crook

No No No Monsters, detail, by Amy Crook

Above you can see the red glaring clock of the time monster, telling you to stop or go faster, or possibly both. Below you can see them in a frame, looking just as silly as ever.

No No No Monsters, framed art by Amy Crook

No No No Monsters, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Miasma of Monsters

Posted on May 15th, 2013

Miasma of Monsters by Amy Crook

Miasma of Monsters by Amy Crook, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper

I swear, whenever I get sicky or ouchie my mood goes down with my physical wellness and I just feel uncreative and awful. Like my immune system is somehow responsible for keeping these critters at bay as well as the microscopic sort. I called this a miasma because that’s what their little cloud of doubt and blah reminded me of, a miasma that fills the mental air and makes it hard to see anything else.

My favorite is the guy in back, who is staring and not saying anything. You know what you did, his magenta evil eye says it all for him, though I’m fond of them all for one reason or another. The guy on the right looks like he’s about to erupt into a temper tantrum worthy of a 3-year-old, where the one on the left is very sternly lecturing you. He uses big words, I bet.

Painting them, I must admit, did help lift the miasma a bit. They’re just so cute!

Miasma of Monsters, detail, by Amy Crook

Miasma of Monsters, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see my favorite monster staring at you. Always staring. Disapprovingly staring. Below, he’s still staring out of the frame, so you can see what these guys look like trapped behind glass.

Miasma of Monsters, framed art by Amy Crook

Miasma of Monsters, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Sunday Round-Up & Fishy sketch

Posted on May 12th, 2013

this was a week with attitude

this was a week with attitude

Monday I showed off my lovely Heron, and Tuesday there were not only tentacles but classic Holmes and Watson. Wednesday I talked about my teeth and the pain both physical and financial I’m dealing with. Thursday the Motherfucking Bunny dared you to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse, and Friday Spock urged you all to live long and prosper. Finally, Saturday we saw a wee tiny sketch of Bilbo and Smaug on a bookmark.

For today here’s a little cheer-up sketch I sent a friend who’s having a really shitty year, which has hopefully arrived in her mail by now.

Fishy sketch is fishy

Fishy sketch is fishy

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
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Bilbo and Smaug Bookmark 2

Posted on May 11th, 2013

Bilbo and Smaug Bookmark 2 by Amy Crook

Bilbo and Smaug Bookmark 2 by Amy Crook

Here, there be dragons! Well, dragon. Well, Smaug.

After I sold the first Bilbo & Smaug bookmark, I drew up a second one for someone else who’d asked after it. I went a little more elaborate on this one, intending to use it for promo bookmarks, just like yesterday’s Spock. It’s still sketchy and whimsical, but with more elaborate coloring and a bit of gold to go with the big purple dragon.

If you’d like a bookmark of your own, there’s still a few left from prior Bookmark Weeks!

Bilbo and Smaug Bookmark 2, 7″x2.5″ pen & ink and Copic marker, nfs (sold).

Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Live Long and Prosper

Posted on May 10th, 2013

Live Long and Prosper, Star Trek fan art by Amy Crook

Live Long and Prosper, Star Trek fan art by Amy Crook

I’ve decided to start pricing my fan art using my own formula for commissions, which makes it much easier on me (and you!) to figure out how much stuff should be. I drew up this Spock intending to use him on some promo bookmarks to go in Etsy packages, though I haven’t printed any yet. I rather enjoy his little cartoon LLAP sign, though. Fingers, shmingers, he’s got as many as he needs!

Live Long and Prosper, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, nfs (sold).

Live Long and Prosper, detail, by Amy Crook

Live Long and Prosper, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see Spock and his raised eyebrow and cute little paw-hand up close and personal. Below, he’s in a frame with a chibi version of himself. Because of reasons.

Live Long and Prosper, framed art by Amy Crook

Live Long and Prosper, framed art by Amy Crook

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