Z is for Zoomorphic
Posted on February 21st, 2013
Z is for Zoomorphic, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook
It was surprisingly easy to find a theme for my Z, and then once I’d decided on a zoomorphic letter, cats was the second most obvious choice (after zebras). Even the border fits the theme, with little abstract silver and gold mouse kissing all around these sleeping cats. Their poses are inspired by my own fickle felines, but I chose to go with different markings, a nice grey top kitty with a slumbering tabby for the base.
This is the end of my Alphabet! It’s almost sad that it’s over, except that I have at least two more letters to do, and I might go back and “fill in” the sold pieces with variants so I can display the whole set somewhere. I’m happy to take commissions on any letters someone wants in a different style, or that’s already sold (I’m already doing a second J!), and you can click here for the details.
Z is for Zoomorphic, 5″x5″ Japanese watercolor, pen & ink and glitter gel pen on paper.
Z is for Zoomorphic, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a bit of the kissing-mice border, with their simple curves of body, tail and ear. Below, you can see it tucked into a frame, though I forgot to sneak my iPhone into the shot.
Z is for Zoomorphic, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: alphabet, black, calligraphy, cats, for sale, glitter gel pen, gold, green, illumination, pen and ink, silver, watercolor
Crows, Singular and in Murders
Posted on February 20th, 2013
Today we’re revisiting paintings of crows, singular and plural, in murders and on wires. Click on any image to see its details.
Categories: Daily Art
Tags: crow, wordless weds
Tentacle Idol
Posted on February 19th, 2013
Tentacle Idol by Amy Crook
When I look at the final piece, I imagine some sort of dizzying bas relief in a hidden temple under the depths of the ocean or out of some horrific dreamland in one of HP Lovecraft’s tales. The sepia shadows and gold highlights give this art a steampunk air, but the way the art fades to a vortex of swirling madness is pure horror.
Tentacle Idol, 8″x8″ sumi-e ink, Sharpie marker, and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Tentacle Idol, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of some of the swirling tentacles, their gilt textured and worn, the spirals and suckers just uneven enough to be unsettling if you stare too long. Below, you can see a the art in a frame, up on one of my lovely wheat-gold walls.
Tentacle Idol, framed art by Amy Crook
And this time we have a bit of a bonus! This art started life as an experiment, layering sumi-e ink with Sharpie marker and gold paint and getting… mush. And so, I took photos from the point of mush to show how I nurtured it past the ass point and into a piece of art worth going on your wall.
Getting Past the Ass Point – with Tentacles!
a demonstrative gif by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Tentacles
Tags: for sale, gold, sharpie marker, sumi-e ink, tentacles, watercolor
Storm
Posted on February 18th, 2013
“I hope the Dwarves find some shelter before those Stone Giants really get going.”
Storm, The Hobbit fan art by Amy Crook
My tiny fandom obsession continues! The mountains dried with lovely blue-violet swirls in their depths, and now there’s Gandalf, contemplating the oncoming storm as he starts to head into the Misty Mountains after Thorin et al. He’s done all in shades of grey as is appropriate, with Glamdring at his side and his staff in hand. Plus the pointy hat, of course.
Storm, 6″x6″ Japanese watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Storm, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of Gandalf with the colors tweaked to help bring out his eyes, er, details. Below, you can see it snugly resting in an 8″x8″ frame, waiting to find a new home.
Storm, 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, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: for sale, gandalf, hobbit, mountains, sky, spirals, tiny fandom, watercolor
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Dresden Bookmark 2
Posted on February 16th, 2013
Harry Dresden bookmark
by Amy Crook
After I posted the other Dresden bookmark I’d done as a gift for a friend, one of my regular patrons gave me puppy eyes asking to do one for her, too. I’m working my way up to another Bookmark Week, so I drew this up for her the other day. It’s already sold, but the ones I post in a few weeks will be available to those without puppy-eye privileges.
If you want to be first on the list to see which ones are coming out, you can join my mailing list here.
Dresden Bookmark 2, 2″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on cardstock, nfs (sold).
Dresden Files bookmark, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of Dresden’s sheepish little face, like, “Oh hey didn’t see you there.” Below, you can see him hanging out with my copy of Cold Days.
Dresden Files bookmark, with book, by Amy Crook
Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: bookmark, copic marker, dresden, nfs, pen and ink, sold
Ampersand
Posted on February 14th, 2013
Ampersand, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook
I find it appropriate that my Ampersand has fallen on Valentine’s Day. The penultimate character in my alphabet, this black cut paper ampersand floats above the intricately detailed green and gold circuit board background like a particularly gothic microchip. This whole series has been about using modern, nontraditional materials to explore a Medieval art form, and so the ampersand ties it all together.
Ampersand, 5″x5″ Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen with Arches cover black paper and glue on paper.
Ampersand, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the intricate pattern of interlocking gold on top of the bright circuit board green watercolor, and the three-dimensional ampersand itself really stands out, floating on its spikey feet. Below, in honor of the holiday, I’ve put U & I together.
U & I, framed calligraphy by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: alphabet, black paper, calligraphy, collage, for sale, glitter gel pen, gold, green, illumination, watercolor
Filigree
Posted on February 13th, 2013
One of the things that I find both tedious and delightful with my glitter pens and spirals is to draw filigree, in moons and skies and planets, so enjoy a bit of sparkle in your Wednesday.
Click any image to visit its original post. Happy Wednesday!
Categories: Daily Art
Tags: filigree, wordless weds
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