Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Next Big Thing

Posted on February 20th, 2018

Next Big Thing, Inception parody art by Amy Crook

Next Big Thing, 7″x5″ pen and ink and Copic marker on paper

There is an explanation for this art, but it’s long and strange and really all you need to know is that it’s a commission for the writer of the single most-commented fic on a certain archive.

It’s also another entry for FANbruary, which is a lovely celebration of fandom.

Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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No More

Posted on February 15th, 2018

No More, Doctor Who parody fan art by Amy Crook

No More, 7″x5″ pen and ink and Copic marker on paper

Another Doctor for my Patreon patron, Ian! He asked for the War Doctor next, and man am I glad I own like 20 colors of brown Copic markers because I think I used all of them on this outfit.

Seriously, though, John Hurt did a wonderful job portraying Doctor Who in this weird and difficult role, and this little cartoon captures that sense of exhausted sadness surprisingly well for not having a nose.

Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Alexander Nigel Frankfurt Benedict IV

Posted on February 13th, 2018

Alex Benedict, a flower fairy, and some ridiculous coattails, by Amy Crook

Alex Benedict, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

In my first self-published novel, The Courtship of Julian St. Albans, the main character Alex whistles up some magic butterflies to impress the young man he’s courting. He also manages to acquire a flower fairy, though that comes much later. At no point would he actually put up with the coattails, though he is awfully fond of black with black and a side of black as his palette.

I drew this for Inktober in 2015, and colored it the other day as a warm-up to commissions. Because if I don’t do my own characters for FANbruary, who will?

Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Rainy Day

Posted on February 8th, 2018

Rainy Day, abstract landscape by Amy Crook

Rainy Day, 6″x6″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Much like the fleeting shine of each individual raindrop, this painting is an optical illusion in your palm. On its face it seems like a softly violet abstract, with a depth and texture like a city street in the rain.

If you turn it into the light, blue ripples appear in the puddles, the last sun of twilight reflecting off the moment the drops hit just right.

Rain is so peaceful and soothing sometimes, and this painting is like a rainy day you can pull out at any time. What are you saving it for, and for it?

Rainy Day, detail, by Amy Crook

Rainy Day, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the illusion appear, shining swirls and ripples of light on the wet street. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, its illusion of rain peeking through in the sun.

Rainy Day, framed art by Amy Crook

Rainy Day, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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Storm Dragon

Posted on February 7th, 2018

Storm Dragon, watercolor art by Amy Crook

Storm Dragon, 8″x8″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Fans of Spirited Away will recognize the dragon flying off in the distance, though he’s color-shifted slightly bluer to match the gathering storm clouds.

The clouds are a celebration of filigree and fluffiness, looking heavy enough to squeeze rain out of and down onto the distant, unseen lands below. The sunrise is staining everything with the last of its bright mineral pink, and it sparkles off the hidden shine in the painting when seen from just the right angle.

Spirals small and large give the clouds their beautiful texture, adding dimension to the highlights as well as the shadows.

Storm Dragon, detail, by Amy Crook

Storm Dragon, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up on the far-away dragon, and the sun glinting off the iridescent paint like individual scales. Below, you can see it in a frame, just waiting to bring some gorgeous dreaminess to your home.

Storm Dragon, framed art by Amy Crook

Storm Dragon, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
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Seven for a Secret 2

Posted on February 6th, 2018

Seven for a Secret 2, spooky watercolor by Amy Crook

Seven for a Secret 2, 6″x6″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

This moody series of Counting Crows paintings has its seventh addition!

The tree here has clearly been through quite a bit of storm-tossing or other rough handling, with broken branches and even the top pointing jaggedly to the sky while it spreads itself as well as it can with what remains. A murder of crows alights, and a ghostly figure awaits in the fog.

Where would you show this seventh secret?

Seven for a Secret 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Seven for a Secret 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a couple of the crows, a fraction of the full murder. Below, they’re in a frame like looking through a window into another, spookier reality.

Seven for a Secret 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Seven for a Secret 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Shining Apocalypse

Posted on February 5th, 2018

Shining Apocalypse, watercolor ruins by Amy Crook

Shining Apocalypse, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Mood: The end of the world, but sparkly.

This painting is full of warm colors and sparkling mineral paints, despite the ghostly city half-destroyed against a burning sky. Carrion birds dot the sky above, circling for their dinner. The buildings have a loose, alien quality to make you wonder just where this city was, and who once lived among its now-abandoned streets.

Shining Apocalypse, detail, by Amy Crook

Shining Apocalypse, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the secret sparkle hiding in the simple palette. Below, you can see the painting framed and ready to let your imagination roam the landscape.

Shining Apocalypse, framed art by Amy Crook

Shining Apocalypse, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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