Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

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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Fettered

Posted on May 3rd, 2016

Fettered, word art by Amy Crook

Fettered: chained; shackled; confined; restrained,
5″x7″ pen & ink on paper – $45

One of my Patreon patrons requested this word for their sketch last month, so we’re taking a quick break from May’s gallery to show the last of April’s word art.

This illustration involves some naughty kitties — or one rather distressed one, and one very smug one, rather. Anyone who knows my cats knows who is meant to be who here, despite their lack of markings.*

*Pod deserves it, the fuzzy little jerkface.

Categories: Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Weeping Willows

Posted on May 2nd, 2016

Weeping Willows watercolor by Amy Crook

Weeping Willows, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Are you weeping because it’s Monday? Me, too! Ah, well, the weekends can’t last forever.

Rain breaks up the blue of the sky, rivulets of white that weigh down the weeping willow trees below. The vault of the sky above presses downward, drawing the eye to the ground and the faded, ghostly figure walking among the branches.

The bare trees give a wintry feel to the scene, as does the cool turquoise blue of the sky, just barely desaturated by the gloom of the rainstorm.

Where in your life could you use a small reminder of the beauty in the death of the year?

Weeping Willows, detail, by Amy Crook

Weeping Willows, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the ghostly figure moving through the winter willows. Below, the art has been tucked into a temporary frame to dream of finding its permanent home with you.

Weeping Willows, framed art by Amy Crook

Weeping Willows, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books
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Tea: Molly Hooper

Posted on April 28th, 2016

Tea: Molly Hooper, Sherlock parody art by Amy Crook

Tea: Molly Hooper, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

One of my favourite patrons commissioned me to draw a series of 4 little comic portraits of her favourite characters with their favourite teas. Favourites all around!

This last piece in the Tea Series features the adorkable Molly Hooper, the pathologist from whose morgue Sherlock keeps borrowing all manner of unpleasant items. She’s got a soothing cup of Darjeeling, probably to help her nerves after one of Sherlock’s visits.

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

Posted on April 26th, 2016

Discombobulate, word art by Amy Crook

Discombobulate: to confuse or disconcert,
5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper – $70

I couldn’t resist the idea of Bond totally confusing his Quartermaster with intact, fully functioning equipment. Gun not fed to a komodo dragon. Earpiece not dropped into a glass of champagne. Unexploded pen!

So confusing.

Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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