Archive for the ‘Abstract and Just Plain Weird’ Category
Precious
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Precious by Amy Crook
Hidden in the abstract red-orange background is the faint outline of a woman looking at her cupped hands. She’s curled around whatever it is she’s holding, the precious object that gives the painting its title. The painting itself is a rich blend of reds and oranges with a loosely painted ochre ‘frame’.
I painted this many years ago, and it’s currently residing above the antique desk in my bedroom. I decided to list it now because the sentiment fit with the holiday season for me, and I feel ready to let it go to a new home.
Precious, 18″x24″, oil on canvas.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: nfs, red, sold
Handle With Care
Monday, November 16th, 2009
Handle With Care by Amy Crook
I did a lot of experimenting in my bronze casting days, some of which was more successful than others. Most of the failed experiments got reclaimed and melted down into new art, and these were one that I was just never quite sure about. They’ve grown on me over the years as they’ve acquired a softer texture with age and handling, and now I’m quite fond of them.
The original idea behind them was to make something that, while visually interesting, was best viewed with the hands. The experience of handing the heavy bronze objects, feeling their fingertip-size curves and interesting little deviations is entirely different from just viewing them, and one that’s hard to convey over the internet. They start out cold but warm to the touch, their surfaces hover on the border of smooth and rough — the ones with the turquoise patina seem almost enameled, while the plain bronze ones are softer almost like a raw silk. The smaller ones make interesting worry stones, while the larger ones are heavy enough to demand your full attention.
I created two different models in clay and made molds, then created these six pieces from them — you can see the similarities among the three moon-shaped curls, and then the largest one also has two smaller cousins taking different halves of itself. When finishing them, I tried to enhance any imperfections from casting, smoothing and enlarging them so that they added textural interest without any unpleasantly pointy surprises.
I keep them in this little pot from my distant past, with just the biggest one peeking out the top to intrigue people. I especially like the little hollow loop at the tip of #2 below, which is the right piece in the second row above.
Handle With Care, 6 pieces in bronze, various sizes from 2.5″ in diameter to 2.5″x1.5″, weighing 11 oz to 28 oz apiece.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: art for the blind, bronze, for sale
Into
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Into by Amy Crook
This is another monoprint, like Gate, that’s a one-of-a-kind piece. This one always reminded me of looking down into something and seeing light reflected back, or perhaps looking up out of where you are toward the brighter blue.
I like the way the brush texture was preserved by the printing process, but softened as the water-based inks soaked into the wet paper. The random elements of printing this way always appealed to me, putting paper and plate through the printing press to see what came out the other side.
Into, 3″x3″ monoprint on watercolor paper, sold.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: nfs, sold
Reaching Out
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Reaching Out by Amy Crook
I’ve always been a collector of odd bits and bobbles, and at one time I acquired a bunch of handmade postcards from India. They were lovely absorbent slightly off-sized pieces with wonderfully organic deckle edges, thick and irregular and strange. I took half a dozen into the printing studio with me and this one — the first I did — has always been my favorite of the bunch. So much so that I mailed it to my dad, who was kind enough to return it once it had completed its journey, since he had no suitable way to display it.
It’s currently tucked away in a frame and happily occupying a little niche in my apartment, where it reminds me of many good things every time I glimpse at it, including the fact that I talk to my dad a lot more now than I did back then.
Reaching Out, 4″x6″ etching and monoprint on handmade postcard, nfs.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: etching, nfs
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