Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Monster Heart Coloring Book

Posted on January 6th, 2011

Monster Heart Coloring Book, front + inside, by Amy Crook

Monster Heart Coloring Book, front + inside, by Amy Crook

The perfect gift for the horror-loving Valentine in your life — a Monster Heart Coloring Book. Each monster is presented with his heart on the opposite page, from Frankenstein’s Monster’s stitched-together heart to the Mummy’s bandage-wrapped one. And as a bonus, a few of the monsters have brides! Dracula, modeled after the very classic performance by Bela Lugosi, even has a trio of his brides.

My Cthulhu Coloring Books got great reviews last year, so I decided to put out something special for Valentine’s day. This one’s a little longer, with 4 extra illustrations, and there’s all-new art including a Zombie and a brand-new Cthulhu.

Check out the Monster Heart Coloring Book at my Etsy shop – it’s sure to make you smile.

Monster Heart Coloring Book, back + inside, by Amy Crook

Monster Heart Coloring Book, back + inside, by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Weeble Wednesday: The Mummy

Posted on January 5th, 2011

The Mummy + Heart by Amy Crook

The Mummy + Heart by Amy Crook

I got laid up yesterday by illness and missed my 2nd art post of the new year! Not the best way to begin, but there wasn’t much else I could do. Still not feeling my best, but I got my new coloring books done!

Today I have the fully-colored Mummy illustration from my new Monster Heart Coloring Book. He was fun to color despite the simplicity, I got to use some techniques to age his bandages without making him totally yellowed. I even have a marker called “old linen” that I used.

You can get him for your mummy-loving Valentine at Etsy, or buy the original below.

The Mummy and The Mummy’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: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Sherlock BBC Sketch

Posted on January 3rd, 2011

Sherlock BBC, sketch 1, by Amy Crook

Sherlock BBC, sketch 1, by Amy Crook

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I took most of last week off here, just posting Frankenstein’s Monster on Weeble Wednesday, and otherwise relaxing and taking care of end-of-year things.

One of the things I did was watch one of my Christmas presents over and over, that being the new BBC series Sherlock. I really love the dialogue, and all the little references to the original Holmes, and the wonderful rapport between the two main actors. Also, I have a desperate, hopeless lust for the coat Sherlock wears — it’s everything I’ve longed for in a coat, except that it’s wool, so I couldn’t wear it even if I could afford one (it’s a very pricey designer brand from Britain, and last year’s line on top of that).

In honour of my newest fangirlish obsession, my first post of the new year is Sherlock Holmes, as re-imagined by the BBC in modern times. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good start — I’m sure I’ll do at least one or two more, and a couple of Dr. Watson as well. I have some Moleskines lying around that could be easily Holmes-ified.

Also coming up for the new year is another coloring book (with all-new art that’s very nearly done), weeble monster Valentines, the opportunity to be a Zombie, and a window full of art up in a local book shop for the month of February.

Happy New Year! What are you all up to for 2011?

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Weeble Wednesday: Frankenstein’s Monster

Posted on December 29th, 2010

Frankenstein's Monster + Heart by Amy Crook

Frankenstein’s Monster + Heart by Amy Crook

I colored up one of the monsters for my upcoming Monster Heart Coloring Book for next year! This is Frankenstein’s Monster, and his heart. He’s an awfully charming monster, I sort of imagine he’d say, “How you doin’?” if he could talk.

These are actually two separate pieces that go together. The coloring book will have all-new art in it, and I’m having a ton of fun with the hearts and weebles. I mean, who knew Cthulhu could make puppy eyes? But you’ll have to wait a bit to see that. 😉

Frankenstein’s Monster and Frankenstein’s Monster’s Heart, both 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Spirit Cruicifix

Posted on December 25th, 2010

Spirit Crucifix by Amy Crook

Spirit Crucifix by Amy Crook

I’m always frustrated by how hard it is to get beautiful, intense blues and reds to shine through in an electronic image. This monoprint retained a lot of the brush-stroke feel of the original plate, only slightly softened by its trip through the printing press.

This is my favorite of the small series of cruciform images I did at the time. It has an intense burst of sunset color with the rich, calm blue floating above it, almost like someone floating on a pool of water. There’s a real sense of peace and spirituality to it that suits the season.

Spirit Crucifix, 18″x14″ monoprint on 22.5″x15″ watercolor paper, $399 with free shipping.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books
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Chibi Zombie Girl

Posted on December 24th, 2010

Chibi Zombie Girl by Amy Crook

Chibi Zombie Girl by Amy Crook

For Christmas Eve, also known as Zombie Yule Eve by certain people (you know who you are), I give you the very last bonus zombie from my Cthulhu Coloring Book. Starting next week, you’ll be spammed with images from my new coloring book, instead!

This style is called “chibi” or “super deformed” Japanese manga and anime artists — the giant head and body that’s 1-2 heads high, that is, not the crazy-eyed zombie part. It’s one of the styles I offer when Cartoonifying people, so I decided to do a zombie example, because really, who hasn’t wanted to be a cartoon zombie?

I’ve had a lot of fun coloring my various zombies, too. She’s done in a very soft blue with shading in grey, where the severed head she’s keeping for a snack later is done in a pale pale flesh tone with shadows in two shades of blue. Her lips are a nice blue, as well, and her sharp, sharp teeth have just a hint of blood on them.

Chibi Zombie Girl, 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Sneak Preview – Cthulhu Heart

Posted on December 23rd, 2010

Cthulhu Heart inks by Amy Crook

Cthulhu Heart inks by Amy Crook

Here’s a little sneak preview of my next awesome thing, a Monster Heart Coloring Book for Valentine’s Day! I’m giving you a sneak peek here with Cthulhu’s tentacley little heart, which he’s offering up to you. I’ll be drawing a new Cthulhu to go with it, along with a bunch of other great classic monsters like Dracula and the Mummy.

Also, instead of bonus zombies, I’m drawing Bonus Brides! After all, it Frankenstein’s Monster wouldn’t be complete without his bride.

This coloring book will be 4 images bigger than the last, but sell for the same price — $13.13 for printed & mailed, and $9.13 for the download. I’m hoping to have them up before Jan. 1, so you can make sure your valentine is all ready. There will even be matching cards!

So, who’s your favorite classic monster, from film or literature?

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Works In Progress
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