Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Sunday Round-Up and Doctor Watson sketch

Posted on June 23rd, 2013

it's been a week, there's been art

it’s been a week, there’s been art

I hope you’re having a lovely Sunday! Time for the usual week in review. Monday there were some pretty periwinkle flowers, and Tuesday a trio of squid went dancing on by. Thursday I started a new series, and creeped you all out with a mirror. Friday there was a kobold making curry, and Saturday the periwinkle came back with Sherlock on it this time.

And, of course, there’s a sketch to finish off the week. This time Dr. Watson is fed up with a certain whiny patient, and is going to get a temperature no matter how much he protests.

Open wide or drop trou, your choice, Sherlock.

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
Tags: , ,


Sherlock Bookmark 8

Posted on June 22nd, 2013

Sherlock Bookmark 8 by Amy Crook

Sherlock Bookmark 8
by Amy Crook

This bookmark was one of the first to sell when I sent my list a preview for last Bookmark Week, so I swapped it out for the Harvest Bookmark during posting. It qualifies for a Saturday cartoon now, however, so you can all covet what you can’t have, or something.

I often use the bookmarks to experiment with things I want to do in proper paintings, and in this case I was seeing if the opaque white would work for highlights over a toned paper. The white picks up the tone a bit too easily, I think, but it still made for a fun little Sherlock sketch.

Sherlock Bookmark 8, 2″x5″ watercolor on paper, nfs (sold).

Sherlock Bookmark 8, detail, by Amy Crook

Sherlock Bookmark 8, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of Sherlock’s unimpressed face. The highlights worked fine on hair and coat, but got lost in the blue on his face. Below, you can see it hanging out with a book, showing off its shapely dimensions.

Sherlock Bookmark 8, with book, by Amy Crook

Sherlock Bookmark 8, with book, by Amy Crook

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


Kobold Curry Chef

Posted on June 21st, 2013

Kobold Curry Chef for Jefferson, by Amy Crook

Kobold Curry Chef for Jefferson, by Amy Crook
commission, all rights reserved

This is one of those comic commissions that was just ridiculously fun to draw. He’s based on one of those in-jokey sort of anecdotes that are only really funny if you were there, but since I was there, I find him amusing. From the half-seen diagram of a chicken catapult to the blind albino cave chicken stiff with fear for his future as ammo, curry, or both, it all amuses me.

For those who wonder about such things, since he’s for personal, non-commercial use, I charged Jefferson the Be a Cartoon price, plus an extra fee for all the many extra props and details. Though not too much more, since I didn’t have to draw pants.

Kobold Curry Chef, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, nfs (commission).

Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: , , , , , ,


A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors

Posted on June 20th, 2013

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, by Amy Crook

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, by Amy Crook

I’ve had a note to start this series on my whiteboard for ages, but I finally sat down and worked on this first installment. A Series of Uncanny Fears will visually explore those things that we, as adults, know we shouldn’t be afraid of. It’s an echo of being a kid, feeling a shiver despite our grown-up logic.

Mirrors have been thoroughly demystified by science and yet hold a certain creepy fascination, especially in the dark. Fiction explores mirror worlds, mirror traps, things lurking behind mirrors or traveling through them, impressions left on them or even messages written.

In my bathroom I have a blue canary in the outlet by the light switch to watch over me (no, really!), but I still sometimes turn the lights on properly at 3am when it’s dark and creepy, because of reasons. Mirror reasons.

How about you, what’s your uncanny fear?

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, 5″x7″ pen & ink on paper.

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, detail, by Amy Crook

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see that I did go out of my way to make the mirror extra creepy with a skull motif as well as the built-in candleholders. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, with my quill pen and ink bottle for ambiance.

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, framed art by Amy Crook

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: , , , , , , ,
4 Comments »


A Trio of Dancing Squid

Posted on June 18th, 2013

A Trio of Dancing Squid by Amy Crook

A Trio of Dancing Squid by Amy Crook

I had originally thought of doing fatter, cuter, cartoony squid on this lusciously bright green background, but then when googling around for inspiration I found some pictures of swimming squid that were sleek and small with big golden eyes. And so we have this little trio, swimming past some big, mossy rock or perhaps a wall in some ruins somewhere. They’re painted in a shimmery turquoise with green-yellow eyes, and a scribble-painted dark teal for shadows and outlines. I imagine them cheerfully unaware of their audience, just twirling and dancing around as they swim on by.

A Trio of Dancing Squid, 7″x5″ watercolor, Japanese watercolor, and duochrome watercolor on Arches cover black paper.

A Trio of Dancing Squid, detail, by Amy Crook

A Trio of Dancing Squid, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sun shining off the iridescent paint. Below, you can see them in their frame, hanging out with some aquatic friends.

A Trio of Dancing Squid, framed art by Amy Crook

A Trio of Dancing Squid, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: , , , , , , ,


Periwinkle Flowers

Posted on June 17th, 2013

Periwinkle Flowers, watercolor by Amy Crook

Periwinkle Flowers, watercolor by Amy Crook, $250

I was thinking more of clouds when I first started painting these little puffs of periwinkle, but they came out so flower-like that I surrounded them with leaves and grass and gave them swirly centers of overlapping yellow and white spirals. I let them sit around in a frame for a few days while I decided if I liked them, and they grew on me (pun acknowledged if not intended).

Periwinkle Flowers, 5″x7″ watercolor on paper, $250 with free shipping.

Periwinkle Flowers, detail, by Amy Crook

Periwinkle Flowers, detail, by Amy Crook

Above you can see a slightly color-shifted detail of one of the soft watercolor flowers, which was blued over a bit by the bright sunshine. Below, the piece is framed and hanging out with my plush of Mei dressed as a Totoro, because it can.

Periwinkle Flowers, framed art by Amy Crook

Periwinkle Flowers, framed art by Amy Crook

  • Title: Periwinkle Flowers
  • 5 in. x 7 in. Japanese watercolor on paper
  • $250 for the original (tax will be added if you live in CA)
  • Frame is not included, but can be added for $50 (shipping included)
  • Shipping is free anywhere in the world
  • Payment plans are available, just email me
  • The button below will take you to Paypal – if you’d like to pay another way, just let me know and we’ll work it out

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: , , ,
1 Comment »


Sunday Round-Up & Doctor Who Sketch

Posted on June 16th, 2013

art things for an art week

art things for an art week

I hope you’re having a lovely Sunday! In case you missed it or just want to revisit, there was art this week. Shocking, I know. Monday started the week off morbidly with a crowned skull, but Tuesday the tentacles were cheerful enough to make up for it. Thursday there was mysterious dark matter, and Friday a spirally drunk lizard came to hang out. Saturday John and Sherlock were late for your birthday, and of course there’s a sketch for today.

The Tenth Doctor went along with someone’s packet of cards to make sure there was no nonsense with them, and they arrived in plenty of time for the festivities.

 

It's even got a TARDIS moo sticker!

It’s even got a TARDIS moo sticker!

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
Tags: , , ,


« Or Head Back That Way Drip divider More Art This Way »