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 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
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
Tags: bella, belladonna, pod
Best of 2017: Artist’s Choice
Posted on January 2nd, 2018
2017 had a couple of missed months, a lot of heartache for a lot of people, and while I’m very glad to see the last of it, some good did come out of it! There’s some really standout pieces from the past year that feel like a refinement of earlier themes, and it was harder than usual to find a half-dozen unsold pieces to go in the Floating Gallery for you.
The blog has been quiet this past month, but don’t worry, the cats will be posing for their usual state of the thing in a few days. =^~,~^=
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Words Words Words
Tags: favorites, info, words
Santa Cat
Posted on December 8th, 2017
Santa Cat, 7″x5″ ink on paper
Happy Holidays!
Santa Cat knows exactly what to do during the busy holiday season — sleep.
Rendered in gold-infused grey and red ink, and a softer grey, it takes just a few lines to suggest the shape of a sleeping cat that’s gotten into the Christmas decorations.
This would make a gorgeous holiday decoration, full of whimsy and peace, to bring out year after year.
Santa Cat, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see where there’s a teeny tiny bit of sparkle hiding in the ink. Below, you can enjoy the kitty napping away in its frame, pretending not to acknowledge the pun in the title. Ahem.
Santa Cat, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
Tags: brush and ink, cat, christmas, for sale, j herbin
Negative Space 2
Posted on December 7th, 2017
Negative Space 2, 8″x8″ watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
This painting is a love letter to imperfection, uniqueness, and letting those differences shine.
Each detail is exquisitely small, the silver paint filling in the spaces where the zen circle had voids, shining out of what had been nothingness and drawing you in.
It’s like two-dimensional kintsugi, taking what was a flaw and making it the most strikingly beautiful part of the final object.
It would be perfect to meditate on, or to serve as a reminder that where some see flaws, others see beauty.
Where would it fit in your life?
Negative Space 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the softness of the paper, the subtlety of the mineral color and the bright shine of silver in the places left behind. Below, the art is in a frame, just waiting to add some beauty and zen to your day.
Negative Space 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: for sale, formations, metallic, primatek, watercolor
To Have Ambition
Posted on December 6th, 2017
To Have Ambition, 7″x5″ ink and pencil on paper
Who would have thought that cheesy ’80s pop music would spawn further art? The Gang of Four song I Love a Man in a Uniform has always held this little gem that, on some tired days, feels like my life motto.
To have ambition is my ambition
This word art piece uses beautiful sparkling inks and has elaborate decorations in varying stages of doneness to represent the unfulfilled ambitions — from fully realized illumunation around the capital to the barely-sketched design beneath the final word, process becomes product.
To Have Ambition, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the shiny embedded in pretty much all of the ink used in this piece. Below, you can see how it looks in a frame, a gorgeous example of artistic hopefulness.
To Have Ambition, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Pretty Words, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: brush and ink, calligraphy, for sale, illumination, pen and ink, word art
Teacups
Posted on December 5th, 2017
Teacups, 7″x5″ Copic marker and gel pen on paper
A lovely, solid seafoam green mug. Beautiful blue-painted china with gold accents. A standard diner cup. A travel mug that says, “I like my coffee more than I like you.” A fluted, delicate china teacup in dreamy lavender. And finally, a giant piglet mug.
There’s so many ways to take your tea and coffee, from to-go cups to a favorite mug, fine porcelain to hand-thrown pottery. Enjoy half a dozen vessels drawn with no sketches or linework in loose, graceful art marker and highlighted in white gel pen.
How do you take your tea?
Teacups, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a bit of detail on the cups, though the color is more accurate in the scan. Below, the teacups are displayed in a frame, taking up quite a lot less space than the real thing!
Teacups, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: copic marker, for sale, gel pen, tea
Dragon Egg
Posted on December 4th, 2017
Dragon Egg, 5″x5″ watercolor on paper
This little egg is just starting to crack, its surface full of rough spirals and gradations in color. If you’re wondering what hatches out of such an egg, you can just keep scrolling and see the magnificent spiral purple dragon that it will grow into.
This lovely egg is a symbol of possibility, of potential getting ready to unfold, of something that’s almost done germinating and is ready to break out into the world
What else do you have in your life that’s like that, and how can you nuture it?
Dragon Egg, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the soft textures of paint and paper, just two colors of minerals to make up this whimsical image. Below, the egg is waiting in a frame to incubate and hatch whatever’s inside.
Dragon Egg, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
Tags: dragon, nfs, primatek, purple, watercolor
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