Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

007 & Q bookmarks

Posted on June 28th, 2014

007 & Q bookmarks by Amy Crook

007 & Q bookmarks by Amy Crook

These are already spoken for, but you can get them printed on bookmarks at my Etsy shop, along with the figures from Monday’s James Bond comic.

007 is in a classic pose with his little snub-nosed Walther and a knowing smirk, while Q’s got a tablet computer and his own little half-grin. According to IMDB, Bond is a mere inch taller than Q, but looking at them together in Skyfall I think Q’s hair makes it up through sheer messy floof.

007 & Q bookmarks, pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

4 Bond bookmarks by Amy Crook at Etsy

4 Bond bookmarks by Amy Crook at Etsy

Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Crows in the Gloaming

Posted on June 27th, 2014

Crows in the Gloaming, watercolor by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming, watercolor by Amy Crook

I’m deeply dissatisfied with Photoshop’s inability to show the soft, mysterious violets in this, instead turning it magenta and blue and every color but the ones you get in the real thing. The crows themselves are a dusky, matte black that really pops, the three phases of flight gliding past the clouds in the purple twilight.

I’m really happy with how these crows look, almost completely in silhouette with just a little bit of soft detail on the far wings of the outer two, with the one in the center a dark blot on the sky.

It probably says something about me that I like dark blots on the sky.

Crows in the Gloaming, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Crows in the Gloaming, detail, by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the upper left crow, with just a little granulated light shining off the feathers here and there. Below, you can see the piece in a temporary frame, with the closest color to the real thing. But still not right, dammit.

Crows in the Gloaming, framed art by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming, framed art by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming will be available for purchase in July’s Floating Gallery. You can get a chance to snag it early if you’re on my list.

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia

Posted on June 26th, 2014

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia, pen and ink art by Amy Crook

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia
pen and ink art by Amy Crook

It’s been a while since I drew one of my Series of Uncanny Fears, and clowns seemed like a natural choice to bring them back. This happy guy just wants to bring joy and laughter to the world. Joy, laughter, and murder.

Definitely murder.

If you’re not too scared, you’ll have a chance to take him home in July’s Floating Gallery, which opens next Tuesday!

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia, 5″x7″ pen & ink on paper.

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia, detail, by Amy Crook

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a detail of his cheerful face with its lopsided, toothy grin and big, happy red nose. I’m sure he’s not thinking about eating you, honest. Below, you can see him safely tucked away in a frame, just waiting to come sit quietly in a corner of your home.

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia, framed art by Amy Crook

A Series of Uncanny Fears: Coulrophobia, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Invent the Universe

Posted on June 25th, 2014

Invent the Universe by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe by Amy Crook

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

– Carl Sagan

Whether you see a big bang for just the light at the end of the tunnel, this painting feels full of possibility. If you wish to succeed at any endeavor, you have to invent inside yourself the universe in which it can happen. What’s amazing to me is that you can do it, that people can bring whole worlds to life inside themselves and then make them a part of our world, as well.

What do you want in your Universe?

Invent the Universe, 8″x8″ Japanese and metallic watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Invent the Universe, detail, by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the silver paint picking up the light as it curves around the central vortex. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, glowing with sunlight and possibility.

Invent the Universe, framed art by Amy Crook

Invent the Universe, framed art by Amy Crook

This painting will be available in July’s Floating Gallery; join my list to get an early chance at it.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Things I'm a Fan Of, Words Words Words
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Murder Plaid

Posted on June 24th, 2014

Murder Plaid, abstract art by Amy Crook

Murder Plaid, abstract art by Amy Crook

Even though Hannibal and I are on a break that will, I suspect, last beyond the actual hiatus of the show, I couldn’t resist making a reference in the title of this painting. There’s layers of semi-opaque Japanese watercolor in four shades of red, mixing and blurring until you get a very creepy not-quite-face staring out at you from something resembling a murder scene. The broken gold lines run through the whole thing like gold thread through one of Dr. Lecter’s murder ties, not to mention the understated plaids that make up most of his wardrobe.

Murder Plaid, 5″x7″ Japanese and metallic watercolor on Arches cover black paper.

Murder Plaid, detail, by Amy Crook

Murder Plaid, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the textured pinks and reds and oranges layered together, with light glinting off the ‘threads’ of gold. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, staring at you, daring you to take it home.

Murder Plaid, framed art by Amy Crook

Murder Plaid, framed art by Amy Crook

It really is that creepy in person. Also, now in a drawer.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Exploding Cufflinks

Posted on June 23rd, 2014

Exploding Cufflinks, a James Bond comic by Amy Crook

Exploding Cufflinks,
a James Bond comic by Amy Crook

The same darling patron who now owns all of my Baker Street Tinies has asked me to indulge her in a pair of MI6 Tinies. A new fandom means new character designs, so I drew up this ridiculous little comic of Daniel Craig’s James Bond, and the new Q as played by Ben Whishaw. The coloring was totally unnecessary for design purposes, but I couldn’t resist giving Bond a properly lovely tuxedo, not to mention the ridiculous check on Q’s hipster trousers.

Bond: “Not even some exploding cufflinks?” *adjusts his cuffs elegantly*
Q: “No.”
Bond: “hmph. Next time?”
Q: “…maybe”

Exploding Cufflinks, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper. The original will be available in July’s Floating Gallery, or you can get them on a card in my Etsy shop.

Exploding Cufflinks, blank card by Amy Crook at Etsy

Exploding Cufflinks, blank card by Amy Crook at Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Performance

Posted on June 19th, 2014

Performance, Daron's Guitar Chronicles art by Amy Crook

Performance,
Daron’s Guitar Chronicles art by Amy Crook

Now that Ziggy’s finally back in Daron’s Guitar Chronicles, I couldn’t resist drawing him, too! Everything’s a performance for Ziggy, so I drew him onstage much like Daron, half out of his frilly shirt and looking emo about whatever power ballad they’re about to sing. No telling if this is a glimpse of the real him, or just another performance, but it’s Ziggy all over, either way.

When asked for comment, Daron just said Ziggy’s nipples were cute, so go figure.

I decided to put Daron & Ziggy together in my Etsy shop, so if you want adorable male nipples on a greeting card, now’s your chance! If you want to get your grabby hands on the originals, they’ll be in July’s Floating Gallery. Just try not to make Daron too jealous.

Performance, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Daron and Ziggy greeting cards by Amy Crook on Etsy

Daron and Ziggy 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
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