Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Murder for Christmas

Posted on September 14th, 2015

Murder for Christmas, a Sherlock parody comic by Amy Crook

Murder for Christmas, a Sherlock parody comic by Amy Crook

I’d worry for the day someone actually tries to give Sherlock a murder for Christmas (as does John), but Lestrade can only be happy that he’s jumping for joy instead of refusing to help.

If you’ve got a friend who’d appreciate a little murder for their holidays, send them a card from my Etsy shop.

Murder for Christmas, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker.

Murder for Christmas card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Murder for Christmas card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Cuppa Gratitude

Posted on September 8th, 2015

Cuppa Gratitude by Amy Crook

Cuppa Gratitude by Amy Crook

It’s the last day of September’s Floating Gallery, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s emailed me to comment on a piece, set up a payment plan, or bought art outright. Every one of you is awesome!

The latest Cuppa is charmingly decked out in a warm, cosy piece of knitwear! The bright red cable knit cradles the bright green cup, almost a holiday feel with the gold gilding the edges but also evoking the color of new leaves and green tea.

Hand knits always make me think of gifts created with love, especially one that fits its intended wearer so well. The intricacies of cabling and seed stitch evoke hours of careful attention to detail, and the feeling of warmth seeping through the wool.

What better to be grateful for than a hot cup of tea?

Cuppa Gratitude, 7″x5″ pen & ink, watercolor, and metallic watercolor on paper.

Cuppa Gratitude, detail, by Amy Crook

Cuppa Gratitude, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the slightly mad inking I did on the cable knit design for the cup cosy. Below, the cuppa is tucked into a frame to keep it extra warm.

Cuppa Gratitude, framed art by Amy Crook

Cuppa Gratitude, framed art by Amy Crook

Whether you’re seeing this on the blog or in your email, thank you again for being awesome!

Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Fairytale Sky 11

Posted on September 7th, 2015

Fairytale Sky 11 by Amy Crook

Fairytale Sky 11 by Amy Crook

Against the soft background of salt-created stars and matte teal night, the glowing moon and iridescent clouds look like enamel, more substance than mist and light. The clouds are mainly a beautiful turquoise with odd purple lowlights that appear and disappear as you move past it, lined with pearlescent moonlight along the spiral curves and sinuous shapes.

Every Fairytale Sky painting is a little different. This one’s got some serious shine that give it a beautiful feel of a fairy tale just waiting for you to step through and find your magical adventure.

Fairytale Sky, 7″x5″ watercolor, pearlescent watercolor, duochrome watercolor, and salt on paper.

Fairytale Sky 11, detail, by Amy Crook

Fairytale Sky 11, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the velvety softness of the sky and the bright enameled moon floating atop it. Below, the night is captured in a frame, safe and cool even in the day.

Fairytale Sky, framed art by Amy Crook

Fairytale Sky, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Fixed Point

Posted on September 6th, 2015

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody comic by Amy Crook

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody comic by Amy Crook

The holidays are still far off for most of us, but it’s the time of year when creators have to think about what’s coming up. The Doctor, of course, is always very busy at Christmastime!

Fixed Point, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Ferns

Posted on September 5th, 2015

Ferns, abstract art by Amy Crook

Ferns, abstract art by Amy Crook

A snail’s-eye view of ferns unfolding above you like a forest, full of strange detail and secret sparkle.

The green is a mix of deep Jadeite, mysterious Duochrome Tropic Sunrise, and two different yellows, bringing a bright, new-leaf quality to the foliage. The paint lies thickly on the paper, runnels carved into it like veins in the long leaves, the green settling out to let the sunny yellow undertones shine through.

The sparkle is only really visible in strong light, a secret bit of magic like pollen dusting the leaves.

I’ve done a lot of greens and blues in my Pathways series, perhaps next time I’ll go boldly into the warm end of the spectrum.

Ferns, 8″x8″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Ferns, detail, by Amy Crook

Ferns, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the delicate veins running through the ferns, and the tiniest sparkle of the paint. Below, the ferns are overrunning their terrarium, er, frame.

Ferns, framed art by Amy Crook

Ferns, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Sea Turtle 4

Posted on September 4th, 2015

Sea Turtle 4 by Amy Crook

Sea Turtle 4 by Amy Crook

It’s a baaaaby sea turtle!

This little cutie is swimming in clear blue waters, lit by the sun streaking down from above. His fins and shell are limned in golden light, almost melting into the sunbeams. The rich purpurite mineral paint blends beautifully with the artificial quinacridone gold to give the turtle an earthy feel in contrast with its watery environs.

Sea Turtle 4, 6″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Sea Turtle 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Sea Turtle 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see his sweet little baby turtle face. Below, he’s swimming in his own little frame, just waiting to find his way home.

Sea Turtle 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Sea Turtle 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Liminal Autumn

Posted on September 3rd, 2015

Liminal Autumn by Amy Crook

Liminal Autumn by Amy Crook

The leaves have fallen but the cold hasn’t yet set in. Autumn still reigns, with fluffy October clouds rolling across the sky on playful breezes. Winter is just around the corner, but for now there’s still sunshine and a hint of comfort lingering around the edges of the world.

These trees have even more detail than my usual horizons, because the trees are painted in a gorgeous brown ink instead of a stark black. You can really see the texture of bark and the way the light shines through the branches, strong enough at the edge of fall still to make them seem almost translucent against the cloudy blue sky.

Liminal Autumn, 8″x4″ ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Liminal Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook

Liminal Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the intricate branches of the intertwining trees. Below, the painting is temporarily in a frame, waiting to be claimed and loved.

Liminal Autumn, framed art by Amy Crook

Liminal Autumn, framed art by Amy Crook

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