Self-Portrait of the Artist as a Villain, with Cats
Posted on February 16th, 2015
Self-Portrait of the Artist as a Villain, with Cats, by Amy Crook
It’s been so long since I dyed my hair or drew a weeble, I decided it was time for a new self-portrait. I drew myself in the style of my Sherlock and Doctor Who fan art comics, so now I, too, can be a fancy stick figure. I’ve also updated the site to match my awesome purple villain chair, I hope you enjoy the cool violets that have replaced my beloved bloody reds.
Pod is sitting in my lap, with Belladonna up top, and the three of us have identical unimpressed expressions, which amuses me greatly. The ‘NO’ t-shirt isn’t actually in my collection, but it’s one of my favorite words. It’s useful in so many situations!
Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: cats, copic marker, nfs, pen and ink, purple, self portrait
Sea Turtle 2
Posted on February 8th, 2015
Sea Turtle 2 by Amy Crook
A bonus post! This little turtle was the predecessor to yesterday’s art, and when I was looking on the blog to link to him, I realized I hadn’t ever given him his own post.
I really like the splooshy-bright turquoise sea he’s swimming through, which makes me think of the Caribbean, especially the way his simple 3-color palette stands out against it. He’s done in the same gold and green as the third turtle, but with white for highlights rather than the purple shadows.
Sea Turtle 2, 6″x4″ watercolor and Primatek watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Sea Turtle 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the details of his shell and determined little face. Below, the piece is in a tiny frame, all ready to add a splash of marine life to someone’s desk.
Sea Turtle 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: nfs, primatek, sea turtle, sold, watercolor
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Sea Turtle 3
Posted on February 7th, 2015
Sea Turtle 3 by Amy Crook
This sea turtle is full of attitude. Whatchoo lookin’ at? I’m just swimmin’ here.
I love how his face came out, glaring defiantly straight out of the painting, full of confidence.
He’s entirely painted in three colors and with one brush, with a fourth color (and a different brush) for the background. His colors are mostly the earthy mineral tones of Primatek paints, offset by the vivid Quinacridone gold that’s in both the sunlight and the turtle.
He’s small, but he’s fierce.
Sea Turtle 3, 6″x4″ watercolor and Primatek watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Sea Turtle 3, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see his face and the expression of giving no fucks at all. Below, you can see him in his temporary frame, before he swam off to his new home.
Sea Turtle 3, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: nfs, primatek, sea turtle, sold, watercolor
Stardust
Posted on February 6th, 2015
Stardust, abstract art by Amy Crook
Another painting in my Aglow series, this one hearkening back to Carl Sagan again.
The space is black and blue and violet, lit with the big glow of some celestial body and scattered with the smaller glow of stars, or possibly stardust. The firefly-dots are in interference blue, so they catch the light to twinkle and shimmer.
There are hidden stars in the white, too, which shine only at the right angle.
We are all amazing.
We are all worthwhile.
We are all stardust.
Stardust, 8″x8″ pen & ink, watercolor, and interference watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Stardust, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the quote and just a hint of the sneaky extra stars hanging out in the white paper. Below, the painting is in a frame, stars glowing in the sunlight.
Stardust, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: aglow, blue, calligraphy, interference, nfs, purple, sold, stars, violet, watercolor
Windswept 2
Posted on February 5th, 2015
Windswept 2 by Amy Crook
Stormy skies give the color scheme of Autumn to this second Windswept watercolor. There’s a lone figure at the bottom trudging past the trees, leaning into the wind, just trying to get where they’re going.
If only they’d look up, they might see the color all around them, but sometimes we get so focused on our journey we forget to see the world we’re traveling through.
On the other hand, windblown leaf bits in your eyes suck, so I don’t really blame them.
Sometimes, life is like that.
Windswept 2, 8″x4″ watercolor and Japanese watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Windswept 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the tiny grey figure struggling against the wind with the storm-tossed trees all around. Below, you can see the painting in a temporary frame, just waiting to bring its vibrant colors into your home.
Windswept 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: horizons, nfs, sold, tree, watercolor
Dreamlands 2
Posted on February 4th, 2015
Dreamlands 2 by Amy Crook
I’ve gone in a different, much more Seussian direction in my second Dreamlands painting. Bright colors and strange, off-kilter shapes give this painting a whimsy that feels like it’s straight out of a child’s dream of the big city.
There’s a tree full of apartments, a house made of houses, and a shining beacon atop a cross between a cactus and the Gherkin building. I can’t decide what I like best, the cheerful yellow windows, the shimmering stars above, or the overall feeling of warmth and welcome.
When I look at this painting, I think of Gonzo singing, “I’ve never been there, but I know the way. I’m going to go back there someday.”
Dreamlands 2, 7″X5″ Japanese and metallic watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Dreamlands 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see some of the buildings up close, including the tower of houses and the looming dome behind it. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, just waiting to bring its strange, whimsical dreams into your life.
Dreamlands 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: city, Dr. Seuss, dreamlands, for sale, japanese watercolor, metallic, moon
Sunset Silhouette 2
Posted on February 3rd, 2015
Sunset Silhouette 2 by Amy Crook
I was walking home the other day and I spotted one of these trees, and I had to go google and find out what species they were. It turns out it’s actually a pruning technique so I still don’t know (I am abysmal at tree identification, seriously), but I had fun looking at photos and drawing this one.
There’s a pair of birds here, but are they friends or foes? I have a story in my head, but I like the ambiguity of it. Is the second bird coming to join the first one and hang out, or to eat him?
Either way, I’m quite fond of the way the landing bird’s wings came out, silhouetted against the pink-orange-gold of the sunset clouds, with the deep orange sun just peeking up above the horizon, reluctant to leave the earth entirely.
Sunset Silhouette 2, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Sunset Silhouette, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the two birds up close, along with the twisty tree all dark against the light-filled sky. Below, the piece is in a frame, small and perfect to fit somewhere you need a bit of beauty.
Sunset Silhouette 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: horizons, nfs, pen and ink, sold, sunset, tree, watercolor
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