Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Adam the Earth Elemental

Posted on April 27th, 2010

Adam the Earth Elemental by Amy Crook

Adam the Earth Elemental by Amy Crook

Today’s sketch is a character from an original story I’m working on, an earth elemental named Adam. He’s got the ability to disappear into a pot of earth and reappear out of another one elsewhere, traveling through his element. He’s only about half a meter tall, and quite wide and stocky for that height, with no hair to speak of, or a belly button, which I had to remind myself of because I kept wanting to put one in. It’s an interesting challenge to draw a character who’s humanish without being actually human, because the urge to correct this or that is hard to resist!

I’m really working on my perfectionism with this one, because as soon as I scanned it I could see things I didn’t like, but sketches like this aren’t really finished pieces, so I left it as is.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art
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Fish Man

Posted on April 26th, 2010

Fish Man by Amy Crook

Fish Man by Amy Crook

This piece was entirely inspired by reading Koldo Barosso’s wonderful blog posts on the process of creating an album cover. The flying fish with a man’s face stuck with me, and the image of this man stuck in my head until I got up late one night and drew him, coloring his scales on a couple of subsequent late nights, using some old colored pencils. Something about the shape of his nose, the angle of elbow and arm and hand against his fishy body called out to be brought to life, and I just couldn’t not draw him, once his image popped into my mind.

Categories: Whimsical and Strange
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Cthulhu Egg

Posted on April 25th, 2010

Cthulhu Egg by Amy Crook

Cthulhu Egg by Amy Crook

I wanted to make some Easter-ish cards this year, but I found myself resisting the idea of hearts and flowers and happy little bunnies. So, after doing a more standard Easter egg sort of card, I allowed myself to do something a little more to my own tastes.

This image is extremely loosely based on the works of HP Lovecraft, and the horrific Elder God Cthulhu, who waits and slumbers in R’lyeh, down under the vasty deeps. Mostly it’s just a little tentacle monster hatching to give someone an unpleasant surprise.

Cthulhu Egg, 4″x6″ watercolor on a watercolor postcard, sold.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Tentacles
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Sachimoto

Posted on April 24th, 2010

Sachimoto by Amy Crook

Sachimoto by Amy Crook

Today’s art is a birthday card I made for a friend this year, an illustration of her newest kitten, Sachi. I did a very soft sketch of him using a photo reference, then used my new Japanese watercolor inks to paint him in, and finally erased the lines so all that’s left is the ghost of his dark markings and pink nose and ears.

Sometimes when I’m coming to visit them, I see him sitting in the sun in the window with this peaceful expression on his face. Of course, that’s one of the few times Sachi ever sits still, but hopefully he’ll grow out of being quite such a troublemaker. We have a habit of expanding cat names into nicknames, and one of his first ones was Sachimoto.

Categories: Daily Art, Whimsical and Strange
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My Heart Bleeds

Posted on April 23rd, 2010

My Heart Bleeds by Amy Crook

My Heart Bleeds by Amy Crook

This rather morbid watercolor was one of my unValentines this year, a cross between a tradition and realistic heart. The blood red paint dried in thick pools and was allowed to drip naturally, nearly to the bottom of the card — in its frame, the chrome picks up the reflection as it disappears at the bottom edge. Blue veins call to mind a real heart as they trace across the surface.

My Heart Bleeds, 4″x6″, watercolor on watercolor postcard.

Categories: Daily Art, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Daily Art & Wood Sprite

Posted on April 22nd, 2010

Wood Sprite by Amy Crook

Wood Sprite by Amy Crook

I’m trying an experiment for the rest of April and all of May — daily art posts. I have a ton of art lying around, some of it for sale, some of it not, some if it not suitable to be sold like this handsome fellow who’s on the back of some notes from a client meeting.

This wood sprite is inspired by the beautiful illustrations by Brian Froud in his collaboration with Charles de Lint, The Wild Wood.

Enjoy!

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
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Cartoon: Skaja Wills

Posted on February 19th, 2010

Skaja Wills, final, by Amy Crook

Skaja Wills, final, by Amy Crook

Ever wondered what it’s like to become a cartoon? Skaja Wills was kind enough to let me share the process with you.

Read the rest of this entry »

Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
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