Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?

Posted on March 2nd, 2015

You're Not Planning to Wear This, Are You? by Amy Crook

You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You? by Amy Crook

This dark-eyed beauty is just making sure that you weren’t going to actually try to wear the garment she’s laying on. Or, if you were, that it has the requisite quantity of cat hair on it.

This loose watercolor captures the regal essence of a cat determined to be queen of the world without regard for what the staff thinks. The soft tortoiseshell coloring contrasts beautifully with the turquoise garment, and there’s a touch of pale blue in the background that’s hard to see in reproductions.

You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, 6″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

You're Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, detail, by Amy Crook

You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the loose brushstrokes and intense, black-lined green eyes of this gorgeous creature. Below, she’s chilling in a frame, pleased to be displayed as she deserves.

You're Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, framed art by Amy Crook

You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: , ,


Core Freedom

Posted on February 23rd, 2015

Core Freedom by Amy Crook for Jo Van Every

Core Freedom by Amy Crook for Jo Van Every

Another commission done, this one a new addition to my Horizons series. This one is entirely watercolour, even the raptor circling above in the clear blue sky. Jo had this to say about her newest acquisition:

Since moving out to a rural area and acquiring dogs, I walk through woods and fields daily. I’ve been paying attention to subtle differences in colour as the seasons change. I can identify several tree species by shape in winter. I am more aware of the subtle differences in bark colour and leaf colour, especially in spring. I also notice the change in the colour of the sky depending on season and humidity. Amy’s paintings of bare trees and crows resonate with this landscape that I observe daily. She painted another painting of autumn trees with a moodier, cloudy sky. While I liked that one, the orange leaves against a blue sky speaks to me much more clearly and Amy was happy to paint one just for me.

Core Freedom, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Categories: Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: , , , , , ,


Navy Squid

Posted on February 18th, 2015

Navy Squid, commissioned art by Amy Crook, all rights reserved

Navy Squid, commissioned art by Amy Crook, all rights reserved

This commission was a Christmas gift, it’s just taken me a while to get it into the schedule with all the other madness going on.

The giftee for this was formerly in the Navy, and is a fan of two of Boston’s sports teams, so we incorporated both those ideas into his cheerful blue tentacularness*. He’s either doffing or straightening his cover, which is at a bit of a jaunty angle for a proper naval serviceman. Or servicesquid.

Navy Squid, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

*tentacularness is totally a word

Categories: Completed Commissions, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles
Tags: , , , , , , ,


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

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: , , , , ,


Sea Turtle 2

Posted on February 8th, 2015

Sea Turtle 2 by Amy Crook

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

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

Sea Turtle 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: , , , ,
2 Comments »


Sea Turtle 3

Posted on February 7th, 2015

Sea Turtle 3 by Amy Crook

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

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

Sea Turtle 3, framed art by Amy Crook

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


Stardust

Posted on February 6th, 2015

Stardust, abstract art by Amy Crook

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

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

Stardust, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,


« Or Head Back That Way Drip divider More Art This Way »