Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Best of 2016: Artist’s Choice

Posted on December 21st, 2016

Artist's Choice: Best of 2016 from Amy Crook

2016 has been a terrible year for so many reasons, but as I went through my backlist I found that I still like a lot of the art I made, despite everything else that was going on.

I’ve chosen all art that’s unsold this time around, a baker’s dozen with one from each month and an overall favorite that I can’t really explain my devotion to, but really, really love.

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Categories: Words Words Words
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Advent 2016, week 2

Posted on December 18th, 2016

2016 is almost over!

To celebrate the end of this terrible year, I’m doing one sketch every day. They’re in various media on these cheap-but-archival 5.5″x8.5″ embossed white cards. Some of these will be available as cards, some of them will be in a special sale for my email list next month, and some of them are already spoken for.

Advent 2016 day 11: Kiss my Cat

Advent 2016 day 11: Kiss my Cat, $30

Advent 2016 day 12: Minimalist TARDIS

Advent 2016 day 12: Minimalist TARDIS, sold

Advent 2016 day 13: Silver Ornaments

Advent 2016 day 13: Silver Ornaments, $10

Advent 2016 day 14: BODE

Advent 2016 day 14: BODE, $5

Advent 2016 day 15: Catboy Arthur, Inception parody art

Advent 2016 day 15: Catboy Arthur, Inception parody art, $25

Advent 2016 day 16: Croissants

Advent 2016 day 16: Croissants, $10

Advent 2016 day 17: Ghost Gifts

Advent 2016 day 17: Ghost Gifts, $5

PS – I’ve had the flu all week, so pardon the varying levels of weirdness and quality.

PPS – #BODE

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Advent 2016, week 1

Posted on December 11th, 2016

2016 is almost over!

To celebrate the end of this terrible year, I’m doing one sketch every day. They’re in various media on these cheap-but-archival 5.5″x8.5″ embossed white cards. Some of these will be available as cards, some of them will be in a special sale for my email list next month, and some of them are already spoken for.

Advent 2016 day 1: Enraptured, Q/tea parody art for Kim

Advent 2016 day 1: Enraptured, Q/tea parody art for Kim, sold

Advent 2016 day 2: Revolting Spoons, for Jeff

Advent 2016 day 2: Revolting Spoons, for Jeff, sold

Advent 2016 day 3: Festive Tentacles

Advent 2016 day 3: Festive Tentacles, sold

Advent 2016 day 4: December Airship

Advent 2016 day 4: December Airship, $20

Advent 2016 day 5: Cat Love

Advent 2016 day 5: Cat Love, $10

Advent 2016 day 6: Grinch

Advent 2016 day 6: Grinch, $15

Advent 2016 day 7: Seasonal Cross-Contamination

Advent 2016 day 7: Seasonal Cross-Contamination, $25

Advent 2016 day 8: Sister Act, White Christmas parody art for CC & Dami

Advent 2016 day 8: Sister Act, White Christmas parody art for CC & Dami, $25

Advent 2016 day 9: Sherrinford the Skull

Advent 2016 day 9: Sherrinford the Skull, $20

Advent 2016 day 10: Christmas Tea for Kim

Advent 2016 day 10: Christmas Tea for Kim, sold

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Catnap

Posted on December 8th, 2016

Catnap by Amy Crook

Catnap, 12″x9″ ink on Strathmore watercolor paper

If you’ve admired my sketchbook cats, this one is for you — a full-size zen kitty napping away, graceful sweeps of the brush creating a beautifully minimalist rendition of feline repose.

The larger size looks elegant in a frame, the simple black and white adding the perfect touch to any room.

The contrast between the loose stroke of the back and tail and the finer detail in the ears and face evokes the many contrasts inherent in a cat’s nature.

Catnap, detail, by Amy Crook

Catnap, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the delightful contrast between the delicate ears and swooping tail. Below, the art is in a frame, the larger size giving a lovely elegance to the charming image. This is one piece of cat art no one will call kitsch!

Catnap, framed art by Amy Crook

Catnap, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
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Corona

Posted on December 7th, 2016

Corona, abstract art by Amy Crook

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

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

Corona, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
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Sea Turtle 5

Posted on December 6th, 2016

Sea Turtle 5 by Amy Crook

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

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

Sea Turtle 5, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Blood Moon 7

Posted on December 5th, 2016

Blood Moon 7 by Amy Crook

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

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

Blood Moon 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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