Archive for the ‘Daily Art’ Category
F is for Flourish
Thursday, August 23rd, 2012
F is for Flourish, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook
While my embossed E was all warm green and gold, and this week’s F is cool greens and lemon yellow instead. I knew F was going to be flourish from the start, and boy, did I get flourishy! This illuminated letter would look great on the wall of a Fiona, the desk of a Frank or the bookshelf of a Ferdinand.
F is for Flourish, 5″x5″ pen & ink, watercolor, and glitter gel pen on paper.
F is for Flourish, detail, by Amy Crook
Above you can see the sun really shining off the green glitter flourishes. Below, F is hanging out with D is for Dada in one of my bookshelves.
F is for Flourish and D is for Dada, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: alphabet, calligraphy, for sale, glitter gel pen, green, illumination, pen and ink, watercolor, yellow
Random Recipe: Earl Grey Tea Shortbread Cookies
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
These are so fragrant and rich and delicious with a cup of tea, I wish I could waft the scent at you through the internet. The measurements below are technically for a half recipe, which makes about 2 dozen, or one big cookie sheet full, which is perfect for little old me. If you’re baking for a crowd, you’ll want to double it and make two logs of dough to chill, and then when you turn the cookie sheets you’ll also want to swap racks.
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves (from about 2 bags)*
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- Whisk flour, tea, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
- Put butter, sugar, and orange zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture until just combined.
- Transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper; shape into a log. Roll in parchment to 1 1/4 inches in diameter. The original recipe suggests pressing a ruler along edge of parchment at each turn to narrow the log and force out air, but I am lazy. Freeze 1 hour until firm, or chill overnight in fridge.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut log into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment.
- Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 5 days.
These are omnomtastic with any compatible sort of tea flavor, not just Earl Grey. If you want to make them with matcha, leave out the orange zest, but all other measurements remain the same. Go on, you know you want some. Tell me how they came out!
If you want to see what excitement my darling vegan friend Tara Swiger came up with using this recipe, she’s got her version over here. With pictures!
Categories: Daily Art, Words Words Words
Tags: omnomnom, recipe, sharpie marker
3 Comments »
Cthulhu Snooze
Tuesday, August 21st, 2012
Cthulhu Snooze comic by Amy Crook
Before we talk about the tentacles, I bring you news of a highly amusing Kickstarter! They’re doing a giveaway to promote their new indy horror flick, and the minute I saw the title I knew I’d donate a Cthulhu print to the cause. It’s called Call Girl of Cthulhu, and it’s about a hooker-cum-Cthulhu-priestess and the virgin nerd who loves her. I kinda can’t wait to see it in all its awful, cheesetastic glory.
Now, back to today’s art!
The wonderful folks at Chaosium asked me if I had a Cthulhu comic to go in their Gencon newsletter, and while I didn’t, I did have time to draw something up for them. Gencon has come and gone, sadly without my attendance, but a little bit of me was there! My favorite part is the squid looking very scared of Cthulhu’s wiggling foot.
Cthulhu Snooze, 8.5″x5.5″ pen and ink on paper.
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: cartoon, comic, cthulhu, lovecraft, pen and ink
Fairytale Sky
Monday, August 20th, 2012
Fairytale Sky watercolor by Amy Crook
This piece exists in the intersection of realism and whimsy. It started with a white crescent moon that fades mysteriously to its dark side with a pitted, rocky texture. Then the cheerful periwinkle clouds spiral through the field of silver stars that shine out in the dark black of the paper. It’s an image that brings to mind the magic of bedtime stories and fairy tales, even the ones with happy endings.
Fairytale Sky, 10″x8″ Japanese watercolor on Arches cover black paper, nfs (sold).
Fairytale Sky, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the silver stars catching the light against the paper – Arches makes this soft black paper for printmaking, but I like it because the black is chemical rather than dyed, so it never fades from its original velvety charcoal color. Below, you can see how this painting might look on your desk, well, if you’ve got the kind of desk I do, anyway. It’s bigger than a lot of my skies, so it would also work well on a bedroom wall or above someone’s bed to help assure sweet dreams.
Fairytale Sky, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black paper, fairytale sky, iridescent, japanese watercolor, moon, nfs, periwinkle, silver
1 Comment »
Glitter Sketch Bookmark
Sunday, August 19th, 2012
Glitter Sketch
Bookmark
by Amy Crook
The final bookmark for this week is a silly little doodle made while I was testing out my various colors of glitter gel pen. On the blue-to-white faded background, we’ve got gold filigree, red flame spirals, a purple half of a spiraled crescent moon, more sketchy blue filigree, and swooping green arabesques, plus of course my silver signature. The paper has one natural edge where it came out of the paper mold, called a deckle, and three cut edges to set it off.
Glitter Sketch Bookmark, 1″x6″ glitter gel pen and watercolor on paper, nfs (sold).
Glitter Sketch Bookmark, detail, by Amy Crook
Above you can see the light shining off the various colors of glitter – the green got a bit too much sunlight there. Below, the bright white of the paper takes the stage when it’s on the dark blue of this week’s book.
Glitter Sketch Bookmark, with book, by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: arabesque, bookmark, glitter gel pen, nfs, sold, spirals, watercolor
Doctor Who Bookmark 2
Saturday, August 18th, 2012
Doctor Who
Bookmark 2
by Amy Crook
The Tenth Doctor peeks out of the TARDIS, looking quite impish if you ask me. Perhaps he can be your companion on your reading adventures. Or maybe you’ll want him to watch himself with you when the next season starts, though of course he’ll be a whole different Doctor at that point!
Doctor Who Bookmark 2, 1″x6″ pen and ink on paper, nfs (sold).
Doctor Who Bookmark 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can get a better look at the Doctor’s mischievous expression. Below, he’s hanging out with a book that’s a bit darker than TARDIS blue, but perhaps there’s a better-matching one in your home.
Doctor Who Bookmark 2, with book, by Amy Crook
(book and iPhone not included)
Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: bookmark, doctor who, nfs, pen and ink, sold
Spiral Bookmark 3
Friday, August 17th, 2012
Spiral Bookmark 3
by Amy Crook
This little bookmark uses dark, warm earth tones to in its climbing pattern of lightening spirals. The golden glow at the center of each one has a secret little scattering of subtle salt crystals that give the bookmark an interesting touch of texture. The paper itself is quite soft and thick, almost felt-like, and slightly cream-colored, and invites the fingers to touch.
Spiral Bookmark 3, 1″x5″ watercolor and salt on paper.
Spiral Bookmark 3, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the textures of paper, paint and salt interacting on this dark, subtle bookmark. Below, it’s hanging out with a book, just waiting to go to its new home.
Spiral Bookmark 3, with book, by Amy Crook, $13.13
(book and iPhone not included)
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: for sale, salt, spirals, watercolor
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