Vampire Bat
Posted on June 6th, 2015
Vampire Bat by Amy Crook
Continuing in the same vein as Tuesday I have another minimalist brush painting, this time of a big-eared bat. With his swooping wings and giant ears, something about his face makes me think inevitably of Gary Oldman as aged Dracula. Clearly the costumer and I were working from similar inspiration.
I actually had to do this one twice, I dropped the brush onto the paper on the first go, which can be a happy accident in some things, but not this one. I’m actually happier with the second version anyway, so it all works out.
I just want to rub his fuzzy little belly!
Vampire Bat, 7″x5″ brush and ink on paper.
Vampire Bat, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see all the details in his adorable little face, including the glinting reflection in his eyes. Below, he’s resting in a frame, just waiting to fly over to you.
Vampire Bat, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: baaaaaaaats, bat, bronze, brush and ink, for sale
Two for Joy
Posted on June 5th, 2015
Two for Joy by Amy Crook
If this painting feels familiar, that’s because it’s a relative of last month’s One for Sorrow 2. The figure this time is more androgynous, and their clothing seems to be blowing against the prevailing winds that bend the trees to their will.
Just like its predecessor, this piece has a lot of soft, pale fog that gets lost when it’s reproduced, but adds a lot of rich texture to the original. You can see it in the trees in the detail photo, a delicate sweep of wind moving across the paper grain.
Two crows sit low on a branch in the lee of the wind, harbingers of some unnamed joy. Whose joy and about what is left up to the imagination of the viewer, or perhaps it belongs to the apparition staring blankly back out of the page.
Two for Joy, 6″x6″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Two for Joy, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the staticky figure staring back at you, his clothing seemingly blown by an opposing wind. Below, I’ve displayed the painting in a temporary frame, where it awaits its new home.
Two for Joy, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: bloodstone, counting crows, crow, nfs, sold, tree, watercolor
Mistwood
Posted on June 4th, 2015
Mistwood by Amy Crook
This beautiful sheet of Twinrocker Handmade Simon’s Green paper is about 22 years old — I acquired it many years ago when I had a model named Simon, and never found the right use for it. I pulled it out specifically thinking it make an intriguing addition to my Pathways series, and I’m quite pleased with the result.
Strong green spikes rise upward, spreading out into leaves and branches, spreading further into mist and obscurity. Hints of earthy ochre lurk in the depths where surprising blues emerge through the fog. The tops of the trees disappear off the natural deckle edge of the paper, and the whole forest is bowed ever so slightly in some unseen wind.
Mistwood, 24″x18″ watercolor on Twinrocker handmade paper.
Mistwood, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see one of the areas of “mist” where the greens break up and fade out in soft layers of color. Below, you can see the dark “trees” with their rich, strong forest colors still intact.
Mistwood, detail, by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, green, handmade paper, pathways, twinrocker, watercolor
Every Step
Posted on June 3rd, 2015
Every Step by Amy Crook
This painting has a secret! I got some wonderful Noodler’s Blue Ghost UV-reactive ink recently, and unlike the other Aglow paintings, this one hides its message, which reads, “every step that I ran to you.”
The painting itself ranges from the clear blue of a deep lagoon around to the rich greens of jungle plants, with the curl of white sand beach in the middle. Waves of pale paint lap inward until there’s nothing but the paper at the very center. You can’t see a hint of the invisible ink in normal light.
Don’t worry, though, I’ll ship it with a UV keylight so you can always revisit the sweet sentiment.
Every Step, 8″x8″ brush & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Every Step, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a bit of the classified, curving calligraphy lit by the UV glow. Below, the painting is in a frame, the ink truly invisible to the naked eye.
Every Step, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: aglow, brush and ink, for sale, invisible ink, watercolor
Cat Naps
Posted on June 2nd, 2015
Cat Naps by Amy Crook
Cats! Lazy, languid, liquid cats. I first explored this idea in a sketchy little bookmark, but of course with only room for three poses it wasn’t nearly enough.
I took inspiration from my own ridiculous pets, Belladonna and Pod, and of course the many cats on the internet.
I have trouble choosing a favorite — what’s yours?
Cat Naps, 5″x7″ brush and ink on paper.
Cat Naps, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close up of the fine brush work on this sleeping kitty, rich with texture despite the minimalist design. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, just waiting to add some extra kitty zen to your life.
Cat Naps, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: brush and ink, brush pen, cat, cats, nfs, sold, zen
Ink Tests
Posted on May 27th, 2015
bookmark in J. Herbin Cacao du Brésil ink by Amy Crook
I recently took a few bottles of ink off a friend who was thinning out her art supplies (which makes me sound far more generous and less grabbyhandsy than I really was), and I thought I’d share a few of the tests I did.
First up, above, is a bookmark painted with the lovely brown, which gave me rich layered colour in the trees.
sketch in J. Herbin Gris Nuage ink by Amy Crook
Second we have one of the two delicious greys she sent me, this one a lighter, almost lavendery grey that also layered interestingly, though never got very dark. Below is the real treat, a sample size of the gold-flecked Stormy Grey, which I used to doodle this little city in my sketchbook.
sketch in J. Herbin Stormy Grey ink by Amy Crook
I really like them, though I think they all will do better on higher quality paper than my test swatches here. There’s going to be some Stormy Grey in this month’s Floating Gallery (as well as another experiment using a fourth bottle of ink from her stash). Get on my list if you want to see it first!
Bart & Chris
Posted on May 25th, 2015
Bart & Chris from Daron’s Guitar Chronicles by Amy Crook
This summer, Daron’s Guitar Chronicles is only posting once a week (woe!) while Cecilia writes a bunch of other things she’s likely being paid better for. So, her fans are stepping up to the plate and taking over the other posting day!
After a bit of discussion in the comments, it was decided the rest of Moondog 3 needed to take the spotlight. On the left we have Bart, the bassist, with his red bow tie and angelic curls. On the left is Christian, the drummer, tall and skinny with the kind of hair you’d expect from a drummer in an ’80s band.
Bart & Chris, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper. Get them on a greeting card at Etsy.
Bart & Chris greeting card at Etsy by Amy Crook
Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, daron moondog, dgc, etsy, for sale, pen and ink
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