Archive for the ‘Abstract and Just Plain Weird’ Category
River Hallway
Saturday, September 2nd, 2017
River Hallway, 4″x8″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper
Like soothing waves of water, this blue-violet color contains surprising amounts of detail once you look past the initial impression. There’s a very subtle hint of sparkle here and there, the smallest shapes of water and spray, and of course the more obvious gradations of flow.
The tall, narrow rectangular shape echoes a hallway flowing with water rather than a more natural stream.
River Hallway, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the tiny details, flecks of paint and flecks of white like foam and stones in the water. Below, the painting is trapped in its frame, a piece of time forever frozen under glass.
River Hallway, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: blue, interference, nfs, pathways, purple, sold, watercolor
Formations 2
Thursday, August 3rd, 2017
Formations 2, 6″x4″ Primatek and metallic watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
Unlike the peaceful blue and pale gold of the first Formations, this one has a lovely earthy red made from Minnesota pipestone, and a rich red-gold to match. The paper itself is a warm buff color that adds a third dimension to a very simple palette.
The complex shapes are reminiscent of riverbeds, borders, and other such phenomena both natural and manmade. This one makes me think of a map of some science fictional Mars, where life has found a way to exist even there.
Formations 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the glint of gold shining against the paper and paint, bright in the afternoon sun. Below, the painting is tilted toward shadow in its frame, mysterious and distant as another planet.
Formations 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, formations, map, metallic, primatek, watercolor
Dreaming Tree
Thursday, July 6th, 2017
Dreaming Tree, 6″x6″ pen & ink and watercolor on Arches cover black paper
Lines etched into the paper create the silhouette of a massive tree, its branches weighted down with foliage. The night sky visible in between the curves and shadows of it, cradled within the arms of the tree’s dreams.
Or perhaps the tree is a dream itself, or a keeper of dreams. Each line is a dream, forming the hill, the world, the earth, everything but the shimmering blue-violet of the sky.
You could even consider it dark matter cradling a nebula full of stars, shining out of the far reaches of the universe.
Dreaming Tree, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the lines indented into the paper with purple ink shining darkly out of each groove. Below, the scene rests in a frame, protected from the waking world for you.
Dreaming Tree, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: duochrome, metallic watercolor, nfs, pen and ink, sold, stars, tree, watercolor
Dark Grove
Monday, July 3rd, 2017
Dark Grove, 4″x6″ gel pen and watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
A strange, swirling white mist furls through the tops of the strange trees in this grove. Or perhaps it’s flowers, or low-hanging clouds that’s half-obscured by the reaching, rattling black branches.
The Pathways series takes a strange turn with this one, almost not an abstract at all with is tree-like shapes and hints of deliberation among the randomness.
There’s a beautiful simplicity to the materials in this painting, opaque black paint, opaque white gel ink, and the swirling interactions between the two on top of the warm buff of the soft, textured paper.
Dark Grove, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the ghostly white shining through the deep black and floating atop the warm buff paper. Below, you can see this tiny painting in a frame, ready to add some spook to your space.
Dark Grove, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: gel pen, nfs, pathways, sold, watercolor
Formations
Thursday, June 8th, 2017
Formations, 7″x5″ Primatek and metallic watercolor on Arches Cover buff paper
This newest installation of the Map series is inspired by the amazing images we’ve been seeing in the past few years of Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter.
A wobbly blue planet has its mysterious formations outlined in a warm silver that complements the creamy buff paper that makes the space around it. Everything about this painting is muted and soft, inviting the viewer to appreciate the fine details.
What would you name these mysterious geological formations?
Formations, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the sun glinting off the metallic formations, the silver tone as warm as the paper. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, posing for your perusal before it heads off to its new home.
Formations, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: formations, map, metallic, nfs, primatek, sold, watercolor
Mountain Heart
Monday, June 5th, 2017
Mountain Heart, 6″x4″ Primatek and metallic watercolor on watercolor postcard
Framed by a rich midnight blue sky and sparkling silver stars, regal purple mountains stand fast. You can imagine standing up at the top, bathed in the golden sunrise peeking from behind them, feeling the universe sending you love.
Organic shapes are contained within the heart, a nod to the diversity of nature. Metallic stars shine in complementing spirals all around.
This beautiful painting will add a big measure of ‘whoa’ in a small package wherever you choose to hang it.
Mountain Heart, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the stars catching the light, and a swatch of the lovely rugged purple mountains framed by midnight. Below, this tiny painting is in a frame, small enough to tuck anywhere you need a stalwart heart.
Mountain Heart, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: metallic watercolor, nfs, primatek, sold, stars, watercolor
Uncertain Boundaries 2
Monday, May 8th, 2017
Uncertain Boundaries 2, 10″x8″ pen & ink and watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
Layers of boundaries obscured but not always obliterated by the shapes that form atop them. A world that is always shifting, changing, adapting to the forces that make and move borders. A history hiding in the blend of color, the sparkle of truths that won’t stay buried.
Uncertain Boundaries 2 is another Map piece, mixed media artworks that create imaginary places and invite the viewer to explore them.
What history do you think has happened here?
Uncertain Boundaries 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the half-obliterated history of these strange countries, lines still there in memory but outweighed by the present. Below, this piece is in a frame, waiting to add some mystery to your walls.
Uncertain Boundaries 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: blue, duochrome, green, iridescent, japanese watercolor, map, nfs, pen and ink, purple, sold, watercolor
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