Archive for the ‘Daily Art’ Category

What Do We Say?

Saturday, August 10th, 2013

What Do We Say? Sherlock parody art by Amy Crook

What Do We Say? Sherlock parody art by Amy Crook

And here’s the third of my trio of Sherlock thank you cards! I’ll sell them as a set of three once I have time to take some more photos, but for now just enjoy Sherlock’s pouty little face and John’s expression of wicked delight to get one over on him. It must be especially satisfying to be able to hold something up out of Sherlock’s reach for once, too.

What Do We Say?, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Sherlock Thank You card by Amy Crook, available on Etsy

Sherlock Thank You card by Amy Crook, available on Etsy

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


Giant Rats 2: Murder? Good.

Thursday, August 8th, 2013

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. Sherlock art by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good.
Sherlock art by Amy Crook

Three! Three whole pages inked, ah-ah-ah-aaah. I’m going to try to keep up some sort of useful pace with this project so that someday I might actually get the whole book done and able to be printed in one way or another. After Sherlock’s gratuitous snottiness in the first one, John’s very pleased to see Lestrade’s face and have the prospect of a case to keep Sherlock amused.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. 7″x5″ pen & ink on paper.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. detail by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good.
detail by Amy Crook

In keeping with the tradition, above you can see the painstaking pattern on Sherlock’s chair, as well as John’s welcoming smile for Lestrade. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, though it will have a long wait before it can go visit anyone at home. Also, a gratuitous hedgehog.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. framed art by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good.
framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Works In Progress
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments »


Words Wednesday: Interview with Tara Swiger

Wednesday, August 7th, 2013

Tara Swiger is an author, maker, and Starship Captain. She leads explorations into your mission, your marketing, and your enthusiasm…for teeny tiny art-y businesses (like mine!). Currently she’s putting together a very cool course called Explore You to help you boldly go.

pennants for Tara's Map-Making guide

Tara’s gotten two very different illustration projects from me, and she’s agreed to tell you how it went and what she’s doing with her art.

dragon for Tara Swiger's Map-Making GuideQ: Why did you decide to get commissioned art?

A:  I think my first piece of commissioned art was the Starship*…and I got it because I wanted something to symbolize the space I was creating. A custom illustration made it seem so much more real (and professional!)
The second piece was a map for my Map Making Guide. I knew I wanted something really nice but don’t have the skills to create one myself! I wanted to create a better product, so I needed to bring in someone with better skills!

castle for Tara Swiger's Map-Making GuideQ: How do you incorporate these illustrations into your business?

A: I use the Starship in the header of the actual Starship (a community site/forum), in my emails, and in a few ads!
The map illustration is part of the actual product of the map-making guide…so my customers use them to create maps of their goals!

Q: What did you hope an illustration would add to your projects?

A: My business is metaphor-friendly, but when those metaphors represent actual things (the community, the Guide) I need something other than words — I need the pictures to illustrate what I’m talking about! I felt that custom images would make it more professional and “put together” than anything I could make.

knitting princess for Tara Swiger's Map-Making GuideQ: How did the process work from your end?

A: It was so easy! I gave Amy a few ideas and she got it right away! I was so surprised, because I was super-nervous, but Amy made it easy!

Q: Have you had any unexpected awesome from your art?

A: Amy sent the original sketch of the Starship and it hangs in my hallway with all my favorite pictures! I love what it stands for (this amazing community of support I’ve created) and that I’m reminded of it every day!

pot of gold for Tara Swiger's Map-Making GuideThanks for taking the time to share, Tara!

If you’re interested in commissioning an illustration for your own business, you can check out the details here.

*Starship Craftybiz by Amy Crook for Tara Swiger, all rights reserved Stylin' on her wall at home with her Instagrammed life!

*Starship Craftybiz by Amy Crook for Tara Swiger, all rights reserved
Stylin’ on her wall at home with her Instagrammed life!

Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, Words Words Words
Tags: , , ,


Old Friends Who’ve Just Met

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

Old Friends Who've Just Met, Muppets fan art by Amy Crook

Old Friends Who’ve Just Met, Muppets fan art by Amy Crook

I was watching The Muppet Movie the other day, and if there was every a Muppet to get himself in a friendly situation with a tentacle monster, it’s Gonzo. The title comes from Gonzo’s big song, where he sings, “There’s not a word yet, for old friends who’ve just met.” Given his penchant for putting starfish in his pants in Muppet Treasure Island, I think Gonzo and the tentacle monster are going to get along just fine.

Old Friends Who’ve Just Met, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Old Friends Who've Just Met, detail, by Amy Crook

Old Friends Who’ve Just Met, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see Gonzo up close, along with the spot where my inks smeared, ironically while I was specifically trying not to smear them with my hand and so I put a pencil board over them. I’m just having a bad week with inks, man. Below, you can see it in a frame, just waiting to go back there someday. I feel I should point out that I had my choice of tentacle monsters and Muppet action figures, Pez dispensers and plushies to choose from for this photo. Gonzo in his cannon won because he was closest.

Old Friends Who've Just Met, framed art by Amy Crook

Old Friends Who’ve Just Met, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: , , , , , ,
1 Comment »


Gliding Under the Canopy

Monday, August 5th, 2013

Gliding Under the Canopy by Amy Crook

Gliding Under the Canopy by Amy Crook, $199

I’ve had this background of faint green leaves or feathers for a long time now, just waiting for the right image to go on top of it. I decided it needed a bird of prey to glide along under a sunlit canopy of leaves. The subtle textures of green in the background get somewhat lost in the glare of the scanner; this is definitely another piece that has a lot to offer in person.

I like the way there’s more space in front of the bird than behind, as if to suggest an endless forest of new green leaves just waiting ahead.

Gliding Under the Canopy, 6″x4″ watercolor crayon and watercolor on paper, $199 with free shipping.

Gliding Under the Canopy, detail, by Amy Crook

Gliding Under the Canopy, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see some more of the soft green texture that permeates the background. Below, I’ve got the piece tucked into a frame, where the green glows behind the golden brown bird.

Gliding Under the Canopy, framed art by Amy Crook

Gliding Under the Canopy, framed art by Amy Crook

  • Title: Gliding Under the Canopy
  • 6 in. x 4 in. watercolor and watercolor crayon on Fluid watercolor paper
  • $199 for the original (tax will be added if you live in CA)
  • Frame is not included, but can be added for $50 (shipping included)
  • Shipping is free anywhere in the world
  • Payment plans are available, just email me
  • The button below will take you to Paypal – if you’d like to pay another way, just let me know and we’ll work it out

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: , , , , ,
1 Comment »


Sunday Round-Up & Shudde M’el Sketch

Sunday, August 4th, 2013

art, art everywhere!

art, art everywhere!

Another busy week, whew! Monday I did a long-overdue sequel to Growth, and Tuesday I finished an actual painting on canvas. Wednesday I updated you on the State of the Artist. Thursday another Uncanny Fear came out to haunt us, and Friday I switched gears with some silly clip art dingbats. Saturday John was grateful, if a bit reluctantly.

For today’s sketch, we have someone’s weird coloring book addition, and one of the Lovecraft Mythos critters that kicked our butts one of the last times we played Arkham Horror, Shudde M’el.

He's kind of like a sandworm that just sits on you until you die.

He’s kind of like a sandworm that just sits on you until you die.

Categories: Daily Art, Sunday Round-Up
Tags: , , , ,


Say Thanks, John

Saturday, August 3rd, 2013

Say Thanks, John, parody Sherlock comic by Amy Crook

Say Thanks, John,
parody Sherlock comic by Amy Crook

Another Saturday, another card! I decided I needed a trio of Sherlock thank-you cards, so you’ll see another next week just to round out the set. This time it’s John who’s rather begrudging the social niceties, which means it’s probably all Sherlock’s fault, somehow.

Say Thanks, John, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, nfs (sold).

Say Thanks, John, detail, by Amy Crook

Say Thanks, John, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the rather detailed cables on John’s sweater, and his grumpy pose. Below, you can see it in a frame, hanging out with a skull, a hedgehog, and my iPhone. And you thought you kept weird company.

Say Thanks, John, framed art by Amy Crook

Say Thanks, John, framed art by Amy Crook

PS – If it ever frustrates you that certain sorts of fan art are always sold when they go up, you can always commission your own.

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


« Or Head Back That Way Drip divider More Art This Way »