Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Patterns of Flow

Posted on January 6th, 2015

Patterns of Flow by Amy Crook

Patterns of Flow by Amy Crook

This delicately monochrome abstract watercolor is full of tiny textural details that come together to form a larger flow, like a map of a river’s course.

The colors range from deep purple to pale periwinkle, with a matte softness to the lighter areas that helps distinguish them from the shine of the darker ones. There’s little splashes outside of the uneven, painterly border, which add a touch of whimsy. The color is represented most accurately in the framed photo.

This painting is very meditative, something you can use to calm your mind for a few minutes when it’s racing too much to get into flow with your own work or art.

Patterns of Flow, 8″x8″ Japanese watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Patterns of Flow, detail, by Amy Crook

Patterns of Flow, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the soft, chalky surface of the painting and the mesmerizing details hiding in the color. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, just waiting to bring some beauty to your wall.

Patterns of Flow, framed art by Amy Crook

Patterns of Flow, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
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Threes

Posted on January 5th, 2015

Threes by Amy Crook

Threes by Amy Crook

Three trees. Three flying birds. Three elements – trees, birds, sky. Three threes give this painting its title, a little bit of simple magic. I think perhaps I heard that Schoolhouse Rock song a few too many times as a kid.

I really love this sunset with its pinks, golds, oranges, and reds all glowing with the light of a sun just below the horizon.

Threes, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Threes, detail, by Amy Crook

Threes, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the third tree and my sneaky little two that made it into a painting mostly of threes. Below, you can see it in its small frame, just the size for a desk or tiny bit of wall that needs some color and beauty.

Threes, framed art by Amy Crook

Threes, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Plant This Acorn

Posted on January 3rd, 2015

Plant This Acorn by Amy Crook

Plant This Acorn by Amy Crook

Speaking of adventures and inspiration, this piece was inspired by The Hobbit movies, especially the newest one, though the quote is my own.

I would plant this acorn in your name, but I’d rather grow old with you.

I went for simplicity in this painting, layering glazes in shades of brown, gold, and a little red in the leaf, a little green in the body of the acorn. The writing is a version of my own handwriting. It is meant to evoke both nature and sentiment, a connection to the earth and trees but most of all a connection to a loved one.

Plant This Acorn, 4″x6″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Plant This Acorn, detail, by Amy Crook

Plant This Acorn, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the acorn with its little touches of green in the brown, against the red-brown of the oak leaf. Below, I’ve slipped the piece into a warm wooden frame, all ready for its new home.

Plant This Acorn, framed art by Amy Crook

Plant This Acorn, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Words Words Words
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Ignite

Posted on January 2nd, 2015

Ignite by Amy Crook

Ignite by Amy Crook

Some fireworks to start off 2015!

This is the third in my Aglow series, taking the hues completely away from purple and black and setting them alight.

I want this painting to inspire you to coax the spark of hope and creativity in yourself to a proper bright bonfire. Ignite your passions, ignite your career, ignite yourself.

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

Ignite, detail, by Amy Crook

Ignite, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the rich red with the gorgeous metallic word both catching the sunlight and looking like they’re on fire. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, with perhaps the most accurate colors of the three images.

Ignite, framed art by Amy Crook

Ignite, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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It’s an Advent Calendar, sort of!

Posted on December 11th, 2014

I rather spontaneously decided to do an Advent Calendar this year on my Instagram account – I’ve been doing a little 10-minute sketch every day and posting a photo. I started with Sherlock and have been going through some of my fandoms, current and old, ever since!

On the first day of #Advent my artist gave to me, a #Sherlock making John a mug of tea #sketch

A photo posted by Amy Crook (@amysnotdeadyet) on

Categories: Words Words Words
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Christmas Unwrapped

Posted on December 8th, 2014

Christmas Unwrapped by Amy Crook

Christmas Unwrapped by Amy Crook

This piece feels like a Christmas tree, with green branches and splashes of red for garland, metallic splotches in gold, silver, and green for balls or lights. Nothing concrete, just a slice of an abstraction of a tree, but it gets that holiday cheer right out in the open nonetheless.

The paper is a thickly textured cream, almost a pale yellow, and the paint for the branches is actually called “Christmas Tree Green” and scented with pine, though the scent fades when the paint dries. There’s a border of sorts, but the image refuses to let boundaries contain its holiday joy.

Christmas Unwrapped, 10″x8″ duochrome, interference, and pine-scented watercolor on watercolor paper.

Christmas Unwrapped, detail, by Amy Crook

Christmas Unwrapped, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the brightness of the green and gold ‘ornaments’ glowing against the warm cream of the paper. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, bringing some Christmas Cheer to my apartment.

Christmas Unwrapped, framed art by Amy Crook

Christmas Unwrapped, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Card Design, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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Autumn

Posted on December 6th, 2014

Autumn by Amy Crook

Autumn by Amy Crook

Purple and orange! Two favorite colors of one of my favorite people, who no doubt is wishing I would spell it favourite colours instead.

The purple is dusky, muted, and stormy, with the hint of clouds or even rain in the grainy, textured wash. The reds, golds, and oranges cluster along the gold-tinged horizon, with branches that actually hold leaves. These are totally happy trees, with a central structure showing through and the splotchy, painterly foliage brightening the sky. Seven crows fly above, one dipping down to admire the trees up close, all of them a dark black silhouetted against the stormy autumn sky.

This painting perfectly encapsulates my favorite season, with a touch of Halloween, a little Thanksgiving, and a whole lot of autumnal cheer.

Autumn, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook

Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the warm, splotchy trees and cool skies above, and the tiny crows chilling out on an updraft. Below, the piece is in a temporary frame, waiting to go to its new home.

Autumn, framed art by Amy Crook

Autumn, framed art by Amy Crook

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