Archive for the ‘Abstract and Just Plain Weird’ Category
Ferns
Saturday, September 5th, 2015
Ferns, abstract art by Amy Crook
A snail’s-eye view of ferns unfolding above you like a forest, full of strange detail and secret sparkle.
The green is a mix of deep Jadeite, mysterious Duochrome Tropic Sunrise, and two different yellows, bringing a bright, new-leaf quality to the foliage. The paint lies thickly on the paper, runnels carved into it like veins in the long leaves, the green settling out to let the sunny yellow undertones shine through.
The sparkle is only really visible in strong light, a secret bit of magic like pollen dusting the leaves.
I’ve done a lot of greens and blues in my Pathways series, perhaps next time I’ll go boldly into the warm end of the spectrum.
Ferns, 8″x8″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Ferns, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the delicate veins running through the ferns, and the tiniest sparkle of the paint. Below, the ferns are overrunning their terrarium, er, frame.
Ferns, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: duochrome, green, nfs, pathways, sold, watercolor
Rainforest
Tuesday, August 4th, 2015
Rainforest, abstract art by Amy Crook
As an antidote to Monday, I give you another contribution to my Pathways series. This one is a vibrant turquoise softened by cool blue and granular black, with the tiniest hint of shimmer hiding in the highlights.
It makes me think of the Amazon jungle rising up to the sky, taking over wherever it can.
There’s a glow of life at the core of each growth, especially along the bottom where they stretch up out of a mound of colour, reaching upward and spreading outward like plants seeking the sun.
Rainforest, 8″x8″ watercolor and iridescent watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Rainforest, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the intricate, organic shapes of the runnels and fronds. Below, the piece is nestled in a frame, already growing upward out of sight.
Rainforest, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: green, iridescent, nfs, pathways, watercolor
Winter 2
Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
Winter 2 by Amy Crook
The original Winter has some very soft greenish undertones that play beautifully off the cream of the page. This sequel has violet undertones instead from genuine Amethyst pigment, making it seem icier than its counterpart.
There’s a real, physical sparkle to this painting with the inclusion of salt crystals, but it’s very subtle and mostly evident in the way it interacts with the paint.
The winter also has another feature, a burst of color where it deliberately breaks the invisible border and reaches up toward the sky in its exuberance. Even in the coldness of winter you can find nature’s enthusiasm.
Winter 2, 9″x12″ salt and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Winter 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can just see the subtle sparkle of the salt and the beautiful way it interacts with the watercolor mix. Below, you can see the painting with my old glasses for scale.
Winter 2, abstract art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, pathways, salt, watercolor
Orange Lily
Saturday, July 4th, 2015
Orange Lily by Amy Crook
It’s been a very blue month, so let’s celebrate today with some gorgeous orange!
I’ve been wanting to experiment with some more splash-y flowers, and I decided to brighten up this month’s palette with some orange, red, and gold.
The scanner flattened out a lot of the beautiful layering that you can see in the framed and detail photos (which means there won’t be any reprints, so if you want it, get it now!). There’s a cool pinkish red mixed in with the deep and bright oranges and the warm gold, which really gives the impression of peering into an opening flower.
The splash of green brings the image into focus, and the gold in the very middle makes beautiful stamen for this lovely lily.
Orange Lily, 6″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Orange Lily, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the beautifully layered oranges, reds, and golds that make this lovely lily so exquisite. Below, it’s been planted in a frame, ready to brighten your home or office.
Orange Lily, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: flower, for sale, orange, watercolor
Mistwood
Thursday, June 4th, 2015
Mistwood by Amy Crook
This beautiful sheet of Twinrocker Handmade Simon’s Green paper is about 22 years old — I acquired it many years ago when I had a model named Simon, and never found the right use for it. I pulled it out specifically thinking it make an intriguing addition to my Pathways series, and I’m quite pleased with the result.
Strong green spikes rise upward, spreading out into leaves and branches, spreading further into mist and obscurity. Hints of earthy ochre lurk in the depths where surprising blues emerge through the fog. The tops of the trees disappear off the natural deckle edge of the paper, and the whole forest is bowed ever so slightly in some unseen wind.
Mistwood, 24″x18″ watercolor on Twinrocker handmade paper.
Mistwood, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see one of the areas of “mist” where the greens break up and fade out in soft layers of color. Below, you can see the dark “trees” with their rich, strong forest colors still intact.
Mistwood, detail, by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, green, handmade paper, pathways, twinrocker, watercolor
Every Step
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015
Every Step by Amy Crook
This painting has a secret! I got some wonderful Noodler’s Blue Ghost UV-reactive ink recently, and unlike the other Aglow paintings, this one hides its message, which reads, “every step that I ran to you.”
The painting itself ranges from the clear blue of a deep lagoon around to the rich greens of jungle plants, with the curl of white sand beach in the middle. Waves of pale paint lap inward until there’s nothing but the paper at the very center. You can’t see a hint of the invisible ink in normal light.
Don’t worry, though, I’ll ship it with a UV keylight so you can always revisit the sweet sentiment.
Every Step, 8″x8″ brush & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Every Step, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a bit of the classified, curving calligraphy lit by the UV glow. Below, the painting is in a frame, the ink truly invisible to the naked eye.
Every Step, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: aglow, brush and ink, for sale, invisible ink, watercolor
Growth 4
Wednesday, May 6th, 2015
Growth 4 by Amy Crook
Subtle dark colours bloom into blues and greys and deep, soft violets, and the intricate detail of pen and ink is nearly lost as the paint splash bursts outward from the central circle.
This is the 4th installment in my Growth series, with a color palette that hearkens back to the first and a design that evolves visually from the third.
Five by five is quite small, and you can find frames just this size at the big craft stores, so you could tuck it into a bookshelf, put it on a desk, or make it one of a cluster of artworks on a larger wall.
Doesn’t everyone need a little Growth in their life?
Growth 4, 5″x5″ pen & ink and Japanese watercolor on watercolor paper.
Growth 4, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the hints of pen-and-ink circles, blurred by paint but still visible. Below, the painting is in a frame, all of its beautiful texture on display.
Growth 4, detail, by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, growth, pen and ink, watercolor
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