Archive for the ‘Abstract and Just Plain Weird’ Category

Inktober 2016, Week 4

Monday, October 31st, 2016

Inktober is complete! I caught a mild cold or allergy attack or something, but I managed to power through thanks to some huge mugs of strong tea and a couple of hot toddies. Some of these will be available as cards, some of them will be in a bookmark sale for my email list next month, some of them will show up in the Floating Gallery tomorrow, and some of them are already spoken for.

Inktober day 24: Growth 7

Inktober day 24: Growth 7

Inktober day 25: A Murder of Crows 3 (sold)

Inktober day 25: A Murder of Crows 3 (sold)

Inktober day 26: ridiculous haunted Haunter

Inktober day 26: ridiculous haunted Haunter

Inktober day 27: Harvest Moon 3 (sold)

Inktober day 27: Harvest Moon 3 (sold)

Inktober day 28: Twelfth Doctor holiday card design

Inktober day 28: Twelfth Doctor holiday card design

Inktober day 29: Rimmer and Lister from Red Dwarf arguing about Pokemon, for Jeff

Inktober day 29: Rimmer and Lister from Red Dwarf arguing about Pokemon, for Jeff

Inktober day 30: bookmark of autumnal goodness

Inktober day 30: bookmark of autumnal goodness

Inktober day 31: Twelfth Doctor "Time Ends" for Ian

Inktober day 31: Twelfth Doctor “Time Ends” for Ian

(almost) ALL the things! Missing days 18 & 21, which are elsewhere.

(almost) ALL the things! Missing days 18 & 21, which are elsewhere. Surprisingly few lame sketchy days overall!

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Card Design, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Diverge

Saturday, October 8th, 2016

Diverge, abstract art by Amy Crook

Diverge, 10″x8″ watercolor and interference watercolor on Arches cover black paper

The watery, shimmery blue Pathways are diverging in this layered abstract painting.

A subtle, mottled pattern of dark blues and black voids hides behind the turquoise waterfalls spilling to either side of the central path. The texture of the top layer is softened by the paint beneath it, but the sparkle shines through in the right light.

These pathways diverge, but for once you can have it both ways.

Diverge, detail, by Amy Crook

Diverge, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see one set of divergent pathways running over the soft, textured background in dark blue and darker black. Below, the pathways are contained in a frame, reminding us to look both ways.

Diverge, framed art by Amy Crook

Diverge, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Tentacles
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Growth 6

Wednesday, October 5th, 2016

Growth 6, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 6, 5″x7″ pen & ink on bristol

This delightfully awkward little drawing hearkens back to the heart of my Growth series, leaving out the color entirely and just exploring the idea of sending small bits of yourself both inward and outward.

The line work evokes Shel Silverstein, with a dash of The Little Prince in the volcano-ish eruptions on the surface of the wibbly-wobbly world.

There’s something charming about the exploration of liminal space here, with the clusters expending their energies both inward and outward from the almost-not-there line that defines the boundary.

Do you need a reminder to prioritize Growth in your life?

Growth 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see an extreme close-up on the tiny clusters riding that liminal boundary. Below, you can see the piece in its frame, delicately charming in its hand-drawn-ness.*

Growth 6, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 6, framed art by Amy Crook

*totally a word

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

Tuesday, September 6th, 2016

Outside, abstract art by Amy Crook

Outside, 5″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover buff paper

This newest Pathways painting is quite a small example of its kind. An off-kilter view suggest the viewer is laying down, looking out at some sort of mountain landscape through vine-laden bars on a square window.

There’s a tiny bit of sparkle in this one, but mostly it’s just lovely violets on the warm buff-colored paper.

This piece would display beautifully in a frame with a white mat to set off the delicate warmth of the paper, or even floated on a dark, pearly grey to display the hand-torn edge of the paper.

Outside, detail, by Amy Crook

Outside, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the subtle variations in the violet much better, and just a hint of shimmery sparkle hiding in the deepest purples. Below, you can see this small painting in a small frame, perfect for adding color to a small space.

Outside, framed art by Amy Crook

Outside, framed art by Amy Crook

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

Sunday, September 4th, 2016

Yellow Flower, abstract art by Amy Crook

Yellow Flower, 5″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on bristol

Tiny, intricate pen-and-ink details combined with a cheerful, loose-painted yellow halo of petals make this small art the perfect thing to brighten up your space.

The middle is painted in a rusty ochre over the black ink, with the petals bursting forth like light from the solidity of the center section.

One patron described it as a Golden Snitch, with its combination of warm yellows, complex inner motifs, and airy-light outer wings.

Yellow Flower, detail, by Amy Crook

Yellow Flower, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the middle section, tiny circles nestled together and washed over with rusty ochre. Below, you can see this piece in a frame, a burst of light out of the warm center.

Yellow Flower, framed art by Amy Crook

Yellow Flower, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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Growth 5

Saturday, September 3rd, 2016

Growth 5, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 5, 5″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on watercolor paper

It’s a celebration of purple this month! The inner circle moves from deep violet to black etched over with the sheen of purple ink. The outer edges mix the intricate circles grouped together like fish eggs with the splash of brightly-mixed ink, purple bleeding into pink.

Like all of my Growth paintings, there is a suggestion of sending parts of the central self out into the aether, of reaching into the void despite the obstacles and finding something beautiful in it.

Where in life do you need a little bit of growth?

Growth 5, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 5, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see how the purple ink separated into almost luminous pinks, reds, and violets, but there are some little circles left intact to hint at the structures that once were. Below, the art is in a small frame, waiting to bring unexpected beauty to a neglected corner of your home.

Growth 5, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 5, framed art by Amy Crook

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

Monday, July 4th, 2016

Red Ghosts, abstract art by Amy Crook

Red Ghosts, 6″x6″ Primatek and interference watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Happy 4th of July! Looking at this today, I wonder if I shouldn’t have named it after fireworks instead.

The mysterious red-violet depths of the background in this beautiful abstract make the perfect grounding for the ghostly shapes that float atop them.

The interference red switches from white to shining red depending on the angle of the light, throwing off little ghosts of color and letting the looming shapes behind show through.

This is one of those paintings that will catch your eye at odd moments and show you a new detail every time you look at it. Perfect for adding a touch of beauty to your space.

Red Ghosts, detail, by Amy Crook

Red Ghosts, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the beautiful interference red catching the light, as well as the gentle sparkle of genuine amethyst and garnet paint in the complex background layers. Below, the ghosts have gone white with their faces turned away from the sun in this simple frame.

Red Ghosts, framed art by Amy Crook

Red Ghosts, framed art by Amy Crook

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