No Hugs
Posted on November 2nd, 2014
No Hugs, Doctor Who parody art by Amy Crook
Even though this is technically a holiday card design, I decided to leave the word bubbles off this original so it’s more of a lovely, grumpy portrait of Peter Capaldi’s twelfth Doctor. You can see the cute comic complete with words below. I copied his pose from the first publicity still they gave us of his costume, but used the universal gesture for “no touching” instead.
He is really not into hugging.
You can get these adorable cards on Etsy.
No Hugs, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
No Hugs, greeting cards by Amy Crook on Etsy
Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, doctor who, etsy, for sale, parody, pen and ink, twelfth doctor
Busy Artist is Busy
Posted on October 21st, 2014
5 Works in Progress by Amy Crook
I’ve got jury duty today, argh! A part of me wants to do my civic duty and all that, but the rest of me is already behind and has a lot to get done before November. I have to be awake well before my usual batlike hours, so I will be a Very Grumpy Hedgehog.
I hope you are having a much better day, Dear Readers.
PS – if you want a chance to get free swag, join my list!
Categories: Works In Progress
Tags: wip, words
Their Eyes Met
Posted on October 15th, 2014
Their Eyes Met, a Sherlock parody comic by Amy Crook
Kim has been a wonderful customer on Etsy for a while, and she decided to take the leap and get me to draw her Sherlock ship for her, Lestrade and Molly. She wanted something funny with the two of them making eyes at each other over a corpse in the morgue, and we gave them each something to be pretending to look at before their eyes meet.
This is what she had to say about her commission:
I found the whole experience really positive and fun. Amy’s been really helpful and enthusiastic about the commission and kept in touch regularly to let me know how it was going. And seeing pics of it in progress has been great – watching it come to life on the paper!
Once my package arrived, I was so thrilled – I love the picture. I think she’s created and captured Molly and Lestrade just right for me. And the little extras in the envelople were wonderful, especially the unexpected and lovely line drawing of Greg tucked in with my art. I think he’s worth framing as well.
All in all, a brilliant and positive experience. And a lovely haul of goodies!
-Kim
Kim has also been kind enough to let me share the art with you, by putting this adorable card up in my shop. She’s pretty awesome, right?
Their Eyes Met, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Their Eyes Met, greeting card on Etsy by Amy Crook
Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: all rights reserved, commission, copic marker, kim, lestrade, molly hooper, nfs, pen and ink, sherlock, sold
Halloween Trees
Posted on October 10th, 2014
Halloween Trees by Amy Crook
I suppose I should think of something to call this series of paintings so I can make a tag for it, with the spooky winter trees against the various skies. These trees are so finely detailed it’s almost like lace against the brilliant orange sunset sky. I have to deliberately work against my desire to make things very regular and symmetrical, to put in broken branches and bare spots just like real trees.
Five black crows fly off into the sunset, riding the cool autumn winds. Everything about this piece feels like October, from the orange and black color scheme to the bare trees and exiting birds.
Next time, I’ll have to sneak in some extra bats, though.
Halloween Trees, 8″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Halloween Trees, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, I’ve zoomed in on the fine lacework of branches, and a few crows flying into the intensely orange sunset. Below, you can see the piece in a temporary frame, waiting to go to its new home.
Halloween Trees, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: crow, halloween trees, horizons, nfs, orange, pen and ink, sold, tree, watercolor
Splash 3
Posted on October 9th, 2014
Splash 3, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook
At first you see mostly shades of green, like a splash of sea water backlit by bright sunshine. Then you move, and the green turns to gold and blue and deeper, stranger greens. The layers and overlappings take on new significance, building complex color on top of one another in the seemingly monochrome expanse.
This is a perfect painting for someone who loves water, the ocean, and the light, and who wants to keep a little of each as a part of all of their days.
Splash 3, 7″x5″ duochrome watercolor on paper.
Splash 3, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the blues and golds and greens blending and layering in this beautiful painting. Below, it’s tucked into a frame, the greens practically glowing in the afternoon sun.
Splash 3, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: duochrome, for sale, iridescent, splash, watercolor
Cloud Sea
Posted on October 8th, 2014
Cloud Sea, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook
Clouds skitter across a night sky, moonlight washing them with cool silver and grey. Below, waves stir up the dark water, clouds caught in reflection and distorted into strange new shapes. White foam flecks the sea and silvery clouds float, tinted midnight blue and deepest purple, and strange shapes seem to rise up out of the depths.
Two separate people described the layering effect here as the reflection of moonlit clouds on rough water, foam and form mixing to make a beautifully abstract visual delight. For once, there’s no actual metallic or iridescent shine in the paint, just the sense of glowing and glittering given by the way the paint floats on the page.
Cloud Sea, 7″x5″ Japanese watercolor on paper.
Cloud Sea, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a detail of one of my favorite parts of the painting. Below, it’s framed like a glimpse through glass at some intriguing seascape.
Cloud Sea, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: clouds, for sale, japanese watercolor, watercolor
Fairytale Sky 9
Posted on October 7th, 2014
Fairytale Sky 9 by Amy Crook
A lovely, shadowed full moon hangs in a sky full of stars, but the real shine is from the mysterious spiraling clouds. They gleam subtly in blues and purples, stately shapes with just a hint of soft brushwork about the edges. This addition to the Fairytale Sky series is very reminiscent of the first, but refined by the iterations in between.
Sometimes I think it’s good to treat life like you’re in your very own fairytale. Do good deeds when you can, and you’ll find them returned when you least expect it. Don’t cause harm through inattention or ignorance. And always wear good walking shoes.
Fairytale Sky 9, 7″x5″ Japanese watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Fairytale Sky 9, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the subtle shimmer of the paint together with the soft shine of the stars and the bright gleam of the moon. Below, I’ve put this sky in a frame, like a window to another world, one full of magic and fairytale logic.
Fairytale Sky 9, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black paper, duochrome, fairytale sky, for sale, moon, periwinkle, spirals, watercolor
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