Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

(On the) Twelfth Doctor of Christmas

Posted on November 17th, 2016

(On the) Twelfth Doctor of Christmas, Doctor Who parody art by Amy Crook

(On the) Twelfth Doctor of Christmas, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

The Twelfth Doctor is all done up in his velvety holiday finery, floofy hair and a cup of something warmly seasonal, but he’s just got one question — is there something on his head?

You can send this delightful Christmas greeting to all the Doctor Who fans in your life — buy the card here today.

Twelfth Doctor Christmas card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Twelfth Doctor Christmas card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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Sherlock’s Perfect Christmas

Posted on November 15th, 2016

Sherlock's Perfect Christmas, parody art by Amy Crook

Sherlock’s Perfect Christmas, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

This year for Sherlock’s annual holiday card, I decided to give him a little bit of all of his favorite things — from Victorian wallpaper to modern murder, there’s a perfect Sherlock Christmas in the making.

I’m particularly fond of the gingerdead man — what’s your favorite part?

Sherlock holiday card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Sherlock holiday card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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A Murder of Crows 3

Posted on November 8th, 2016

A Murder of Crows 3, art by Amy Crook

A Murder of Crows 3, 6″x4″ ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

Blues and violets and soft lavenders glow against the rich black of the tree and crows, the sky softly textured as if with a mist that’s parted to display the shining moon in all her glory.

Nine dark crows are coming to roost in the sparse winter tree, its branches ravaged by some accident of the past, lightning or storm or some other act of man or nature.

A full moon brings clarity and insight with it, shining its light into all the branching processes of your decisions and thoughts.

A Murder of Crows 3, detail, by Amy Crook

A Murder of Crows 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the blue midnight sky, glowing violet moon, and deep black of the twisty tree and gathered birds. Below, it’s in a temporary frame, just waiting to fly to its new roost.

A Murder of Crows 3, framed art by Amy Crook

A Murder of Crows 3, framed art by Amy Crook

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

Posted on November 7th, 2016

Pink Sunset by Amy Crook

Pink Sunset, 6″x4″ ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

This magnificent pink and gold sunset uses a mix of rose and amber inks to create a glowing bank of clouds, with just a hint of red near the horizon. A softer brown brings the trees and birds into closer focus than the darker silhouettes of black in some of the other Horizons pieces.

Although the colors in this are intense, the overall effect is gorgeous rather than gaudy, like a tiny window into a world where the sun is forever painting the sky in bright, glowing hues.

Pink Sunset, detail, by Amy Crook

Pink Sunset, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the intense pink clouds and soft, textured brown of the intricate branches. Below, the tiny art is tucked into a frame, ready to bring a bright burst of color into your life.

Pink Sunset, framed art by Amy Crook

Pink Sunset, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Harvest Moon 3

Posted on November 5th, 2016

Harvest Moon 3, art by Amy Crook

Harvest Moon 3, 6″x6″ ink wash and gel pen on Fluid watercolor paper

Remember, remember, the fifth of November — happy Guy Fawkes Day, Brits! Don’t forget to check your bonfire for hedgehogs and Watsons (same thing, really).

This ink painting uses a gorgeous wash of honey-gold to create a lush harvest moon, and then a deep, opaque black for the sky and silhouetted crow flying across the moon. There are slightly shimmery copper stars in the vast blackness of the sky adding a touch of life to the dramatic image.

There is a beautiful sense of movement as the crow glides across the moon, not quite centered but wonderfully detailed despite being a single color of deep black.

This golden harvest moon will add a bit of mystery to its new home.

Harvest Moon 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Harvest Moon 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see all the lovely pinfeathers in silhouette against the orange moon. Below, the piece is stunning in its frame.

Harvest Moon, framed art by Amy Crook

Harvest Moon, framed art by Amy Crook

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

Posted on November 4th, 2016

Shadow City, art by Amy Crook

Shadow City, 8″x8″ ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

An alien city made of shadow rises up through a sky so thick with glittering golden stars it’s almost its own kind of light. A violet moon rises up behind it, huge and full, showing the buildings to be insubstantial, or perhaps existing on an entirely different plane than the light that goes right through them.

Last year’s Inktober brought the beautiful, bold Blood Moon 6. This year’s sequel features a much softer moon dripping with violet mystery, and a taller shadowy city glowing with its stolen light.

Which of these oddling structures is your favorite?

Shadow City, detail, by Amy Crook

Shadow City, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the exquisite detail on the shadowy, insubstantial buildings, and the beautiful texture of the violet moon. Below, the art looks gorgeous in a frame, just waiting for a permanent place to shine.

Shadow City, framed art by Amy Crook

Shadow City, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Growth 7

Posted on November 3rd, 2016

Growth 7, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 7, 7″x5″ brush & ink and pen & ink on paper

This is the first of my Growth series to actually have a Zen circle as its central motif. It explores the idea of directionality, suggesting a different kind of movement than the previous ones with their more symmetrical designs.

The softer grey ink circles seem to propel the larger one rather than being thrust from it, ghostly next to the solidity of the black.

The liminal space is tangible here, messy, a dark presence that dominates visually while still giving a grounding point for the vaporous grey bubbles, like matter changing to another state.

Growth 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the tiny cluster of growths on the inner surface of the Zen circle. Below, this ink art is in a frame, a petite exploration of liminality and motion.

Growth 7, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 7, framed art by Amy Crook

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