Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Arthur and Eames bookmarks

Posted on May 12th, 2016

Eames & Arthur bookmarks, Inception parody art by Amy Crook

Eames & Arthur bookmarks, Inception parody art

I actually drew these ages ago for a commission, with grumpy Arthur glaring at a smirking Eames, but due to a hiccup with my scanner and some subsequent fighting with Photoshop, I didn’t get around to posting them.

Eames’ shirt has a lovely pattern in the orange, and his coat suggests a hint of tweed. Arthur’s wearing an elegant windowpane check, subtly patterned tie in a complementary grey, and a cream shirt that sets off his scowl.

 

Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Selcouth

Posted on May 10th, 2016

Selcouth, word art & Star Wars fan art by Amy Crook

Selcouth: unfamiliar, unusual; strange, marvelous, wonderful,
7″x5″ pen & ink on paper – $70

This was the word art for May the Fourth, aka Star Wars day! Selcouth seemed to perfectly fit the fantastical world that was at once strange, marvelous, and wonderful, and of course BB-8 wanted to guest star as the perfect avatar of all of the above.

Come join me tomorrow on Periscope (starts around 2-3pm Pacific) and see what new word gets brought to life!

Categories: Pretty Words, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Oh, the Huge Manatee!

Posted on May 8th, 2016

Oh, the Huge Manatee! art by Amy Crook

Oh, the Huge Manatee!, 8″x8″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

This blobbily manatee is utterly unimpressed with the pun accompanying it, but still quite adorable. It looms in a friendly fashion, chilling in its spotlight.

You could hang this up anywhere you wanted a smile — a child’s room, an office space, or somewhere you do creative work. The paint is a muted mix of teal and granulated black that will add a touch of watery coolness to your space.

Oh, the Huge Manatee!, detail, by Amy Crook

Oh, the Huge Manatee!, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see this manatee’s adorable little face, and below you can enjoy how handsome it is swimming in its frame.

Oh, the Huge Manatee!, framed art by Amy Crook

Oh, the Huge Manatee!, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
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Calcifer

Posted on May 7th, 2016

Calcifer, Howl's Moving Castle art by Amy Crook

Calcifer, 6″x4″ ink wash and various watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Studio Ghibli has made some of the most amazing films, and one of my favorites is the adaptation of Howl’s Moving Castle. If you’ve seen it, the title will make perfect sense!

A glow-haloed, shadowy figure dances over the water through a rain of color and light, like a shining star in a fall of them, experiencing a few bright moments of joy before snuffing out.

This painting has several kinds of sparkle to it against a soft grey ink rain, and its real beauty shines through in person.

Calcifer, detail, by Amy Crook

Calcifer, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the iridescent, duochrome, and interference watercolors sparkle through the inky haze of rain. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, just waiting for its chance to shine for you.

Calcifer, framed art by Amy Crook

Calcifer, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Rust

Posted on May 6th, 2016

Rust, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook

Rust, 6″x6″ Primatek and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

A lovely paint made of real iron oxide adds a rich, rusty yellow ochre to the other natural earth tones from last month’s Storm, and the result is a painting that feels not like clouds but the encroaching entropy of some white metal left to the elements.

This abstract explores the idea of beauty in decay, and there’s just a touch of secret shine hiding in some of the darker areas that adds a hint of green. Growth as the next step in decay.

Rust, detail, by Amy Crook

Rust, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can just see the shine of green in the lower left, contrasting with the gorgeous earthy reds and ochres. Below, the painting sits in a frame, like a tiny piece of some post-apocalyptic future.

Rust, framed art by Amy Crook

Rust, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
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City Shadow

Posted on May 5th, 2016

City Shadow by Amy Crook

City Shadow, 8″x4″ Primatek watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Is it mirage, illusion, or reality?

A skyline rises up along the horizon, barely solid. The sky rains down in monochrome all around it, creating the feel of a city of mist and shadow.

Perhaps it’s like San Francisco, fog obscuring the borders, making it seem to float in between realities until you get there and find it mostly mundane. Or perhaps it’s like one of the fabled cities of faerie, that vanish when the moon sets, leaving the traveller stranded.

City Shadow, detail, by Amy Crook

City Shadow, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the beautifully textured rain over the shapes of the city. Below, the painting is tucked into a frame, just waiting to appear mysteriously on your wall.

City Shadow, framed art by Amy Crook

City Shadow, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Pond Diptych

Posted on May 4th, 2016

Pond Diptych, abstract watercolors by Amy Crook

Pond Diptych, two 6″x4″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Click here to get a bigger view of these two paired paintings!

Beautifully abstract, this diptych reminds me of algae blooming in a sunlit pond, mysterious clouds of green moving in the clear water.

These would be perfect for adding a splash of brilliant color to one of those awkward spaces in your home. You could hang them above a doorway to help give you reasons to look up more.

Pond Diptych, detail, by Amy Crook

Pond Diptych, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the beautiful movement and gorgeous green color up close. Below, these two paired paintings are together in frames, waiting for just the right wall or shelf.

Pond Diptych, framed art by Amy Crook

Pond Diptych, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
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