Archive for the ‘Daily Art’ Category

Hatbox 1

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Hatbox 1 decorated by Amy Crook

I’m going to have art in the window at The Book Shop in Hayward, CA starting Saturday, and going all through the month of February. I’ve been working on getting things ready for it, including cannibalizing some hatboxes I had sitting around. They’ve been repainted, and this one got a tedious bit of Sharpie marker shading to add some interest. There’s two more, one white and one black, which will be getting tentacles and skulls, respectively.

If you live in the Bay Area, stop by and see!

Categories: Daily Art
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Commission: Winter Octopus

Friday, January 21st, 2011

Winter Octopus Commission for Gretchen by Amy Crook

Winter Octopus Commission for Gretchen by Amy Crook

Aside from my own, I did get to do one other winter card this year as a commission. Gretchen (proud owner of Nugget) saw my Squittens card design and asked me to draw her up a cheerful cephalopod all her own. We decided on cool wintry colors, and having him making snowflakes as a proper activity for a cute little octopus celebrating the season. The hat was a last-minute addition that gave him a bit of extra interest, and really pulled together the whole theme of the piece.

She’s gotten her cards sent and received by now, so I thought I’d give a last bit of holiday cheer by sharing the art with you.

Winter Octopus, 5″x7″ pen and ink and copic markers on watercolor paper, nfs.

Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange
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Sherlock Sketch 3

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Sherlock sketch 3 by Amy Crook

Sherlock sketch 3 by Amy Crook

This time I only allowed myself about 10 minutes to work on this sketch, so I spent a lot of it trying to bring out the unusual things about Sherlock aka Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance. First, of curse I roughed in the basic shape, face and hair and that ridiculously long, well-postured neck of his, and then I concentrated on the unique shape of his mouth, the Cupid’s-bow upper lip and full, squarish lower lip. The eyes are his other most striking feature (well, after the cheekbones), and one of the hardest to capture. His nose got sort of roughed in and left there, I’m afraid, but it does all right.

I think the drawing would benefit from another five minutes, but the point of the exercise was to get something recognizable as the actor in a short amount of time, and I like to think I’ve succeeded.

Sherlock sketch 3, 2.67″x4″ pencil on notebook paper, nfs.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Weeble Wednesday: Zombie Hearts Brains

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

Zombie + Heart by Amy Crook

Zombie + Heart by Amy Crook

This charming fellow is another of the creepy cuties in my Monster Heart Coloring Book. His “heart” is a brain, which is a zombie’s real favorite thing, showing the real depth of his love that he’s willing to share. Of course, he’s got his heart in his hand as a spare, just in case brains aren’t your style.

Zombie 6 and Zombie’s Heart, both 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper. $129 for the pair in a double frame, with free shipping.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Work in Progress: Swirls

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

Work in Progress - Swirls by Amy Crook

Work in Progress - Swirls by Amy Crook

When I was painting this weekend, I pulled out this 5″x7″ canvas with its lovely wrapped edges and added the first layer of something to it. I’m not sure what it’s going to be, if it’ll stay abstract or perhaps grow some sort of Lovecraftian tentacle monster, but I like the swirly, watery feel of it.

Categories: Daily Art, Works In Progress
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In and In and In

Monday, January 17th, 2011

In and In and In by Amy Crook

In and In and In by Amy Crook

I’m so pleased to finally be back painting again, after a long winter of no sunlight, no energy, and no time. This is a tiny painting, mostly in shades of blue, and it looks to me like some sort of well or tunnel with a light beckoning at the end, luring one to explore what’s beyond the buff frame.

I’m actually very happy with this painting, as well. I love doing abstracts like this, I always have, but I’ve been drowning in weebles lately trying to get my Valentine’s Day projects done for my Etsy shop. I love doing the weebles, but like anything, sometimes variety is better.

I have a sort of a show next month! The Book Shop in Hayward, CA, has artists in their shop window every month, and I’m to be Miss February. This piece is among the ones slated to go in the window, provided it dries in time. Like all the other tiny paintings, this one comes with a wooden easel for display, which can tuck into a bookcase, sit on top of a computer monitor or mantelpiece, and bring a bit of mystery into your space.

In and In and In, 2.75″x2.75″ oil paint on canvas with 5″ wooden easel.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
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Sherlock sketch 2

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Sherlock sketch 2 by Amy Crook

Sherlock sketch 2 by Amy Crook

After my first sketch of Sherlock from his new BBC Series, I decided to challenge myself to get the face right (or at least more right, heh) and do a potrait. I can still see that there’s something slightly off here even after erasing every single facial feature at least twice and redrawing it, but after 3 sessions of work on it I’m actually pretty happy with the result. It’s recognizably him, there’s just a few details that aren’t quite perfect.

I’ve been thinking that I need to spend time learning how to draw character faces with different expressions, not just the expressions but the faces themselves, as a lot of cartoon-style art involves drawing the same person over and over and making them look consistent, so expect to see more Sherlock and probably his incarnation of Dr John Watson as well.

And yes, I’m already working on the weebles. What, like you’re surprised?

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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