Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Collard Greens

Posted on March 21st, 2019

Collard Greens, an illustrated recipe by Amy Crook

Collard Greens, 5″x8.25″ pen & ink and watercolor in a watercolor Moleskine

Another addition to the cookbook project — you can see that I did the inks back in 2017, before the universe entirely fell apart around me, and am finally getting the scan edited and ready to share with you.

I get collard greens in my produce box sometimes, and since I don’t like pork we had to google around to find a way to cook them. I discovered that 2 turkey legs is a lot of meat, so we end up doubling up the collards with something else from the box a lot. Rainbow chard is a favorite!

I’m entirely certain that my red beans & rice recipe is Very White so I haven’t included it, as is this one, really, so take it with a grain of salt.

The advantage of this is that all the ingredients are pretty inexpensive, even out here in California. I can usually get a pair of turkey legs for around $5 and make a lot of meals out of this when the turkey meat is chopped up and added back into the mix.

Enjoy!

Categories: Completed Commissions, Pretty Words, Series and Books
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You Are Enough

Posted on March 19th, 2019

soft goat farmer Bucky knows you are enough just as you are

You Are Enough, 8″x10″ ink on paper

Another day, another finished commission! Roxanne asked me for an affirmation, along with a chibi, on a larger page than my usual. Since I knew she likes the Winter Soldier, I drew soft goat farmer Bucky from end of Black Panther, though I gave him a gold wrap instead of the red one to go with his blue shawl.

The goats are both from goat memes, and they just really wanted to come along for the ride.

All of them agree on one thing, though: You are enough just as you are.

Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Thirteen

Posted on March 14th, 2019

Thirteen by Amy Crook, an abstract painting in TARDIS blue with 13th Doctor stripes

Thirteen, 8″x10″ watercolor on paper

One of my patrons suggested that something related to the new Doctor Who, specifically the 13th Doctor’s sweater, would make a fun abstract in the same style as the trio styled after Marvel characters from last year. They then claimed it when the preview went up on Patreon, so clearly it was a good suggestion.

Bright TARDIS blue offsets the not-quite-rainbow stripes, color bubbling up through the image in drops and drips and drabs.

Which Doctor’s your favorite?

Thirteen, detail, by Amy Crook

Thirteen, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the stripes on the sweater, with all its texture and swirls of color. Below, the painting is in its frame, waiting for its new owner to retrieve it.

Thirteen, framed art by Amy Crook

Thirteen, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Concentric 3

Posted on March 12th, 2019

Concentric 3 by Amy Crook, an abstract painting of bursts of shiny color against a deep amethyst background

Concentric 3, 8″x8″ watercolor on paper

Another Concentric abstract this time, one that holds some of the meditative quality of its creation.

This one sparkles in every layer, from the tiny chips of amethyst in the background depths, to the mix of shimmery special effects paints used in the foreground. The final effect is like fireworks against a violet, star-speckled sky, brightening the room with their shine.

Concentric 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Concentric 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a small section of the firework-like bursts of concentric rings. Below, the painting sits in a frame, resting before its trip to its new home.

Concentric 3, framed art by Amy Crook

Concentric 3, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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March’s Floating Gallery is CLOSED!

Posted on March 9th, 2019

See you again next month!

The Floating Gallery has pulled up stakes and drifted off into the sunset!

I hope you enjoyed March’s temporary exhibits, and will be back in May for more. This month’s pieces have been sold or retired to make room for all new art. Join the email list to get an early pass into all the future Floating Galleries.

In the meantime, my Etsy shop is still open, and there will be comics and other, stranger posts here on the blog. You can also support me on Patreon if you want to make sketch requests, get downloads, or just feel good about yourself as a patron of the arts!

Categories: Floating Gallery
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Hillside

Posted on March 8th, 2019

Hillside by Amy Crook, a mist-shrouded tree against a glowing sky with a stooping bird of prey overhead

Hillside, 4″x6″ Primatek watercolor on paper

A bird of prey stoops above, but our mere human eyes can’t see what it’s diving for down in the scrub grass clinging to the hillside despite the season. The tree is stripped of its foliage, half vanishing against the twilight, everything softened by mist and distance.

The limited palette blends beautifully, mineral paints that cling together on the soft paper. The sunshine is rust, the sky turquoise and amethyst and barely-there vivianite, creating a glow against which the bloodstone paint seems almost transcendent.

There’s a missing corner on the lower right, but as you can see in the photo, a frame will easily hide the slight imperfection so only you and your artist will know it’s there.

Hillside, detail, by Amy Crook

Hillside, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the twining branches of the tree vanishing into the mists. Below, this small painting rests in its frame, the perfect size to tuck a bit of mystery into your life.

Hillside, framed art by Amy Crook

Hillside, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
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Where the Sun Gives No Light

Posted on March 7th, 2019

Where the Sun Gives No Light by Amy Crook, an alien city skyline against a strange sky filled with birds

Where the Sun Gives No Light, 8″x4″ watercolor on paper

Despite the bleak (and vaguely naughty) title, this painting is full of light and hope. The sun is a dim orb above the city but its light casts no shadows, which are instead from something off the page entirely.

There’s soft glasslike round buildings, strange towers, completely normal skyscrapers, and of course a sneaky cat. Whimsy and wonder in one alien city, silhouetted against a glow that has no source but still illuminates better than the wan sunlight.

Where the Sun Gives No Light, detail, by Amy Crook

Where the Sun Gives No Light, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the warm stripe of light reflecting off the distant skyline. Below, the city waits in a temporary frame, trying to find its forever world.

Where the Sun Gives No Light, framed art by Amy Crook

Where the Sun Gives No Light, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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