Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Hatbox 2

Posted on January 25th, 2011

Goth Hatbox by Amy Crook

Still working hard on display bits for my window. After covering the horrifying cabbage roses with black, this one got a dose of white oil paint Sharpie. I had originally planned on skulls, but I decided on a more decorative theme, mainly because they’re being used upside-down in the window, but will be displayed right-side-up with their (now plain black) lids once I get them home.

Categories: Daily Art


Hatbox 1

Posted on January 24th, 2011

Hatbox 1 decorated by Amy Crook

I’m going to have art in the window at The Book Shop in Hayward, CA starting Saturday, and going all through the month of February. I’ve been working on getting things ready for it, including cannibalizing some hatboxes I had sitting around. They’ve been repainted, and this one got a tedious bit of Sharpie marker shading to add some interest. There’s two more, one white and one black, which will be getting tentacles and skulls, respectively.

If you live in the Bay Area, stop by and see!

Categories: Daily Art
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Animal Instincts

Posted on January 22nd, 2011

Animal Instincts by Amy Crook

Animal Instincts by Amy Crook

Photo etching is an interesting process where you start with a photograph, have film negatives made, and then use that to control exposure of a light-sensitive material to, well, light. Then it’s done like normal etching, except the parts where the light hit are more solid, so they don’t dissolve, and you’re left with the positive image eaten away, all ready to take ink.

My model at the time asked to have his back painted to try out his idea for a tiger stripes tattoo, so I got ink and a sumi-e brush and painted him up and took photos. I’ve had a chance to use those images for several things, including this piece.

Animal Instincts, 3″x3″ photo etching, $199 with free shipping.

This was printed in an edition of 26, of which I still have 4 + 1 with tea stains (oops).

These prints are on thick watercolor paper, but aren’t really suitable for display as is. I’m happy to frame it for you for a wee extra fee, though.

Categories: Nudes and Other Sexy Things, People, Figures and Faces
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Commission: Winter Octopus

Posted on January 21st, 2011

Winter Octopus Commission for Gretchen by Amy Crook

Winter Octopus Commission for Gretchen by Amy Crook

Aside from my own, I did get to do one other winter card this year as a commission. Gretchen (proud owner of Nugget) saw my Squittens card design and asked me to draw her up a cheerful cephalopod all her own. We decided on cool wintry colors, and having him making snowflakes as a proper activity for a cute little octopus celebrating the season. The hat was a last-minute addition that gave him a bit of extra interest, and really pulled together the whole theme of the piece.

She’s gotten her cards sent and received by now, so I thought I’d give a last bit of holiday cheer by sharing the art with you.

Winter Octopus, 5″x7″ pen and ink and copic markers on watercolor paper, nfs.

Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange
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Sherlock Sketch 3

Posted on January 20th, 2011

Sherlock sketch 3 by Amy Crook

Sherlock sketch 3 by Amy Crook

This time I only allowed myself about 10 minutes to work on this sketch, so I spent a lot of it trying to bring out the unusual things about Sherlock aka Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance. First, of curse I roughed in the basic shape, face and hair and that ridiculously long, well-postured neck of his, and then I concentrated on the unique shape of his mouth, the Cupid’s-bow upper lip and full, squarish lower lip. The eyes are his other most striking feature (well, after the cheekbones), and one of the hardest to capture. His nose got sort of roughed in and left there, I’m afraid, but it does all right.

I think the drawing would benefit from another five minutes, but the point of the exercise was to get something recognizable as the actor in a short amount of time, and I like to think I’ve succeeded.

Sherlock sketch 3, 2.67″x4″ pencil on notebook paper, nfs.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Weeble Wednesday: Zombie Hearts Brains

Posted on January 19th, 2011

Zombie + Heart by Amy Crook

Zombie + Heart by Amy Crook

This charming fellow is another of the creepy cuties in my Monster Heart Coloring Book. His “heart” is a brain, which is a zombie’s real favorite thing, showing the real depth of his love that he’s willing to share. Of course, he’s got his heart in his hand as a spare, just in case brains aren’t your style.

Zombie 6 and Zombie’s Heart, both 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper. $129 for the pair in a double frame, with free shipping.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Work in Progress: Swirls

Posted on January 18th, 2011

Work in Progress - Swirls by Amy Crook

Work in Progress - Swirls by Amy Crook

When I was painting this weekend, I pulled out this 5″x7″ canvas with its lovely wrapped edges and added the first layer of something to it. I’m not sure what it’s going to be, if it’ll stay abstract or perhaps grow some sort of Lovecraftian tentacle monster, but I like the swirly, watery feel of it.

Categories: Daily Art, Works In Progress
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