Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

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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Hoarfrost

Posted on February 3rd, 2018

Hoarfrost, abstract art by Amy Crook

Hoarfrost, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

Frost forms in the dark and cold, climbing up unseen supports to turn the world into an alien landscape. This icy black-and-white beauty has a slight sheen of copper, the hint of sunrise glinting off its shapes and surfaces.

This latest Pathways painting is a small window into a world of chill beauty — perfect for those winter babies among us who love the idea of frost all year round.

These paintings have a kind of contemplative complexity to them, for all their simple palettes and design. A moment of meditation at your fingertips.

Hoarfrost, detail, by Amy Crook

Hoarfrost, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shine of copper mixed in with the white, like a sunrise just peeking over the horizon and reflecting off the night’s frost. Below, the painting rests in its small frame, waiting to add a little bite of winter to a bookshelf, niche, or hidden corner.

Hoarfrost, framed art by Amy Crook

Hoarfrost, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Harvest Moon 4

Posted on February 2nd, 2018

Harvest Moon 4, watercolor by Amy Crook

Harvest Moon 4, 8″x8″ watercolor on Arches watercolor paper

A colony of bats crosses a golden harvest moon in a graceful, curving flight. Dozens of batty forms flit their way from here to there, each one frozen in a single moment of time.

Bring these bats home to roost and you’ll never get tired of finding new ones to admire.

My Patreon supporters voted on what to add to this glowing golden moon, and bats won hands down. Sky puppies are popular!

What’s your favorite thing to see silhouetted against the moon?

Harvest Moon 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Harvest Moon 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of a few of the many specific bat poses that are scattered in an curve across the moon. Below, the moon is trapped in a frame, forever frozen in its moment of fullness.

Harvest Moon 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Harvest Moon 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Oi! Happy Holidays!

Posted on January 23rd, 2018

Oi! Happy Holidays! an Orphan Black parody comic by Amy Crook

Oi! Happy Holidays! 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

Another commission! I’m clearing out my queue to make room for my wait list, lol, so if you’re thinking of getting something now’s the time to toss your hat in the ring!

This is Felix from Orphan Black, celebrating the winter holidays in a way only he can. We made a card with him saying, “Oi! Merry Christmas!” and “Oi! Happy Hanukkah!” His robe is nicely Solstice-y, too!

Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books
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Cuplets

Posted on January 18th, 2018

Cuplets, commission comic portraits by Amy Crook

Cuplets, 7″x5″ pen and ink and Copic marker on paper

My lovely patron, who sometimes gets called a teacup-sized human, has made some tiny humans of their own! They asked to be immortalized in chibi form, and thus we have the cuplets. We went with a mix of new-school design and old-school bright comic colors for our Wonder Woman, and old school all the way for Spock’s cosplay.

Basically, they have the best parent and I have the best patrons.

Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces
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Podzilla & Bellaboo: state of the kitties

Posted on January 11th, 2018

As we all know, excellent cats are a crucial component of your artist’s mental health and happiness. I’m happy to report that both kitties also survived 2017!

Belladonna, aka Thing 1

Belladonna, aka Thing 1

Belladonna is a grumpy old lady, going on 16 years this spring. She’s got some arthritis and other senior cat health issues, but 10 minutes before this picture was taken she was zooming around the apartment like a kitten, so clearly she’s still doing pretty well. We’re saving up to take her to the vet for another elder pet check-up, which involves a $250 blood test, so feel free to contribute to her wellness in any way you like.

She’s very cuddly when she wants to be, and spends a lot of time sleeping on her heated cat bed. She’s started draping herself over the back of my loveseat and onto my shoulder to demand petting, and because she’s 16 she gets what she wants. Frankly, when I’m that old, I hope someone spoils me half as well.

Pteropodidae, aka Thing 2, aka Pod, Poddleston, Podling, Podzilla, Podsworth, and Jerkface

Pteropodidae, aka Thing 2, aka Pod, Poddleston, Podling, Podzilla, Podsworth, and Jerkface

Pod is a mere 9 this past fall, and has moved into his middle age with extra bonus naps and a bit of bodaciousness in the back end. He’s also doubled down on his tendency to tuck himself into a purrito, so I always have to check blankets before I move or sit on them now.

When not sleeping underneath, he’s a spot-stealing little jerkface. He’s also due for a checkup and claw clipping, but it’s going to be a normal, reasonable amount of money since he’s not yet at the old man stage. Since he’s already spoiled enough that he gets to sleep all day and then for a change of pace sleep all night, I’m not sure much will change for him when he officially hits old age.

If you want to keep up with them during the rest of the year (and see what I’m working on, art-wise), you can follow me on Instagram for regular doses of spoiled kitties.

Categories: Words Words Words
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