Corona
Posted on December 7th, 2016
Corona, 8″x8″ ink wash and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper
Like the inverse of a sun in eclipse, this dark corona shines out of a golden disk, creating an image almost like a crown of thorns or a winter wreath.
The rich golden hues are hard to reproduce, but they make a striking contrast to the dark, opaque black.
This piece looks amazing in a dark, wide frame, contemporary and dramatic, a perfect painting for a spot that needs a statement.
Corona, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the rich golden-yellow background, and the darkness of the black brushstrokes creating the strange halo. It’s been put in a beautiful frame below, striking and elegant.
Corona, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: brush and ink, ink wash, nfs, sold, watercolor, yellow
Sea Turtle 5
Posted on December 6th, 2016
Sea Turtle 5, 6″x4″ watercolor, Primatek watercolor, and interference watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
This grumpy sea turtle is giving you the side-eye as he glides through the sunlit water. He’s no more pleased about how 2016 is going than the rest of us.
The ocean is a rich blue streaked with secret shafts of sunlight that only show up at certain angles. The turtle in contrast is all of soft, natural pigments, muted and almost ghostly as he glides through his world of water and light.
This tiny painting would be perfect on a desk or in a cubicle, giving people the side eye for interrupting your work.
Sea Turtle 5, detail, by Amy Crook
The sunlight shines on the subtle interference blue paint, above, showing off the artwork’s hidden highlights. Below, this tiny painting is tucked away in a small frame, perfect for a niche, book nook, or small bit of empty wall.
Sea Turtle 5, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: interference, nfs, primatek, sea turtle, sold, watercolor
Blood Moon 7
Posted on December 5th, 2016
Blood Moon 7, 6″x6″ ink, watercolor, and gel pen on Fluid watercolor paper
An impressive wingspan gives the bird a gorgeous silhouette against this rich, golden-red blood moon. There are subtle copper stars twinkling in the black sky, and the whole image holds the rich texture of the paper it’s painted on.
The dramatic red and black would be beautiful in a wide black frame, but even in the narrow one in the photo it really makes a statement.
Where in your life do you need wings?
Blood Moon 7, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of the texture of feathers, of the surface of the moon, and the twinkle of stars out in the space beyond. Below, the small frame beautifully contains this dramatic work of art.
Blood Moon 7, detail, by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: blood moon, carrion crow, ink wash, moon, nfs, red, sold, watercolor
Smoulder
Posted on December 3rd, 2016
Smoulder, 7″x5″ watercolor, Primatek watercolor, and interference watercolor on hand-torn watercolor paper
This lovely, subtle Pathways painting is a reminder that even while the world burns, there’s still beauty in it.
The fiery colors are a mix of natural and artificial pigments, a limited palette with some soft sparkle and a lot of warmth that’s still muted enough to be sophisticated contemporary art.
This abstract painting would look stunning in your home or office.
Smoulder, detail, by Amy Crook
The muted warmth of this piece is hard to capture, but the detail above shows it pretty well, along with the texture of watercolor and paper and even the tiny hints of sparkle hiding in the paint. Below, you can see it in a temporary frame, floated on a white background to show off the hand-torn, hand-painted edges.
Smoulder, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, interference, pathways, primatek, red, watercolor, yellow
Autumn Leaves 2
Posted on December 2nd, 2016
Autumn Leaves 2, 7″x5″ ink wash on paper
A motley of red autumn leaves tumble in the breeze on this loose, lovely ink painting.
The colors range from soft reds to warm golden browns, getting lighter and looser as they fade into the background.
Oak and maple, aspen and apple, they celebrate the glory of fall.
What’s your favorite season?
Autumn Leaves 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the rich ink glow against the white paper, this oak leaf evoking all the colors of fall. Below, the piece is displayed in a frame, safe from the vagaries of wind and winter.
Autumn Leaves 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: autumn leaves, brush and ink, for sale, ink wash, j herbin, orange, red
Time Ends
Posted on November 29th, 2016
Time Ends, 5″x7″ pen & ink, pencil, and Copic marker on paper
The second in my commission series I’m calling All the Doctors, Twelve is saying another famous line, “Time Ends.” He’s wearing his snazzy Sonic Sunglasses, one of his more casual outfits with the hoodie and t-shirt under the fancy coat, and plaid trousers that were not a thing I recommend drawing by hand.
And yet, somehow, I keep drawing dudes in plaid. Go figure.
You can get this Doctor at my Etsy shop, where he’d make a great card to give to someone who’s just waiting for 2016 to be over already.
Twelfth Doctor greeting card by Amy Crook on Etsy
Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: all the doctors, commission, copic marker, doctor who, nfs, patreon, pen and ink, pencil, sold, twelfth doctor
Autumn Leaves
Posted on November 23rd, 2016
Autumn Leaves, 7″x5″ brush and ink on paper
Happy Thanksgiving* from America!
Despite everything about the country turning into a slow-burning trash fire, I’m still really grateful for a lot of things in life. My patrons who support me, my friends who put up with me, my family who loves me, and even my cats.
I asked my Patreon patrons to request two sketches last month to help fill out my Inktober calendar, and this was Kim’s second request. I used four different J. Herbin inks, including the lovely gold-accented Rouge Hematite, and did a loose, tumbling clutter of fallen leaves, blown together by an unseen wind. I can just hear the crunch-crunch of them underfoot.
You can get this lovely image on a card in my Etsy shop, and celebrate your own love of the changing seasons.
Autumn Leaves greeting card by Amy Crook at Etsy
yes, the actual holiday is tomorrow
Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: autumn, autumn leaves, brush and ink, etsy, j herbin, kim, nfs, patreon, sold
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