Archive for the ‘Things I’m a Fan Of’ Category

Inktober 2019, week 1 plus

Friday, October 11th, 2019

Normally I do these on Mondays, but I was out of town and then there was some kind of power shutoff madness (mine was supposed to go but did not? whatever, PG&E, you run your public utility like the Muppet Show.) So, anyway, here you go, week one-and-then-some of Inktober!

an ink drawing of mushrooms in a fairy ring by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 1: Ring, 7″x5″ pen and ink on paper

an ink wash drawing of tentacles in a mirror by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 2: Mindless, 5″x7″ pen & ink and ink wash on paper

an ink wash drawing of a monster under ice using a hockey puck as bait by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 3: Bait, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink, glitter gel pen, and ink wash on ACEO bristol, nfs

an ink drawing of Tony Stark with brain freeze by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 4: Freeze, 3″x3″ pen and ink on paper, wip

an ink painting of a building in 4 stages being built by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 5: Build, ink wash on paper bookmark, sold

an ink drawing of Cthulhu by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 6: Husky, 7″x5″ pen and ink on paper, wip

an ink wash of a tree with a distressed face next to a basket by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 7: Enchanted, 5″x7″ ink wash on paper

an ink drawing of a sapling with a single apple and three leaves by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 8: Frail, pen and ink on a bookmark, wip

an ink drawing of a pendant swinging by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 9: Swing, 7″x5″ pen and ink on paper, wip

a series of repeated patterns in ink on an ACEO by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 10: Pattern, 3.5″x2.5″ brush and ink on ACEO card, nfs

an abstract painting in ink on black paper of snow falling by Amy Crook

Inktober 2019 day 11: Snow, 6″x4″ white ink on black paper

Abbreviation decoder ring!

  • wip = work in progress, ie, I’m probably going to color some or all of the drawing before it’s really done
  • nfs = not for sale, ie, it’s a Patreon sketch and already belongs to someone else
  • ACEO = Artist Card, Edition Original, also known as ATC or Artist Trading Card when traded rather than sold, which is a standard size I use for all my Patreon sketches these days

Want to get your own sketches, dibs on art, or just feel the warm glow of being part of my community of supporters? Head over to Patreon and pick a tier to get started! There’s also bonus cat photos sometimes, if that helps.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2

Thursday, September 12th, 2019

I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2, by Amy Crook, abstract art featuring the Winter Soldier's metal plates and red star

I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2, 5″x7″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

The first version of this painting was lost in a tragic house fire. All the humans made it out safe, but the house was a total loss.

And thus we have a second take! Like a dance remix, but with more murder. Some things can never be replaced, and this piece isn’t exactly like its predecessor, but then again, Bucky goes through a lot of changes, too.

I’ve got the Original Six Avengers all done now, plus Bucky. We’ll see who inspires me next!

I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2, detail, by Amy Crook

I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the star up close, the darker bullet hole in the middle surrounded by thickly painted red. Below, it’s in a frame, waiting for the recipient to find a new home for it to live in.

I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2, framed art by Amy Crook

I Won’t Be Your Winter, take 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Completed Commissions, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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The Most Venomous Feminist

Tuesday, September 10th, 2019

The Most Venomous Feminist by Amy Crook, abstract watercolor of a red hourglass on black paper in spattered blood-red paint

The Most Venomous Feminist, 5″x7″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

The title for Black Widow’s abstract comes from an Ice T song, “Big Gun,” which in turn is from Tank Girl. Badass superheroes all around!

The background on this one has some very subtle texture and sparkle to it, much like the weave of Natasha’s uniform. The iconic logo has been splattered in with a rather bloody red, a little messy but still the unmistakeable warning of the red hourglass.

This piece would make an excellent statement that your favorite Avenger takes no crap from anyone, and neither do you.

The Most Venomous Feminist, detail, by Amy Crook

The Most Venomous Feminist, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the slightly glossy blood red in all is layered, drippy glory. Below, the painting is in a frame, ready to creep into its new home.

The Most Venomous Feminist, framed art by Amy Crook

The Most Venomous Feminist, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Hammer of the Gods

Sunday, September 8th, 2019

Hammer of the Gods by Amy Crook, an abstract watercolor of shiny lightning against blue stormclouds

Hammer of the Gods, 5″x7″ watercolor on paper

Thor’s third movie really changed things for him as a character, and this art calls up the cinematic moment when he and his lightning come crashing down on his enemies to the tune of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” — which is also the source of the title.

The spreading tendrils of lightning at the bottom all but vanish until you tilt the page to the sun, and then it all lights up just like crashing down from the heavens.

Thunder not included.

Hammer of the Gods, detail, by Amy Crook

Hammer of the Gods, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the bright shine of abstract lightning against the low-hanging clouds, forking out before it strikes the ground. Below, the power is contained in a frame, but for how long?

Hammer of the Gods, framed art by Amy Crook

Hammer of the Gods, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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It’s Not Easy Being Green

Saturday, September 7th, 2019

It’s Not Easy Being Green by Amy Crook, abstract watercolor of green bleeding into purple

It’s Not Easy Being Green, 5″x7″ watercolor on paper

And now the strongest of the original Avengers — the Hulk!

I still remember watching the Lou Ferrigno show, and seeing him in Saturday morning cartoons as well. The colors here are, again, the comics palette, because there’s a part of me that will always think of those ridiculous purple pants against painted-green skin.

This painting is, of course, titled after a Muppet’s signature song, but I think it embodies the Bruce Banner experience pretty well — it’s not easy having this issue, green bleeding into and taking over the calmer colors of everyday life.

It’s Not Easy Being Green, detail, by Amy Crook

It’s Not Easy Being Green, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the Hulk green bleeding out and subsuming the purple of Bruce Banner’s favorite pants. Below, the painting is in a frame, calm as it can be and definitely not going to break out.

It’s Not Easy Being Green, framed art by Amy Crook

It’s Not Easy Being Green, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Armor in His Bones

Thursday, September 5th, 2019

Armor in His Bones by Amy Crook, a painting of a silver skeleton in a gold mask flying through space, a shining blue circle in its sternum

Armor in His Bones, 6″x8″ watercolor on black paper

I admit, I just have Marvel on my mind lately. Although he already got his piece in the other series, I had to do a second homage to my problematic fave.

In the comics, when Tony Stark makes himself nanite armor, it lives in the hollows of his bones rather than separate from himself. When this morbid image came to mind, the name slipped in right along with it.

The blue arc-reactor glow at the center of the skeleton’s chest matches its nebula-like halo, while the face and repulsor-swoosh bring the full Iron Man armor to mind.

Armor in His Bones, detail, by Amy Crook

Armor in His Bones, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the arc-reactor’s blue glow and the gold-titanium mask above it. Below, the painting is in a temporary frame, waiting to fly to its new home.

Armor in His Bones, framed art by Amy Crook

Armor in His Bones, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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A Shot Away From You

Monday, September 2nd, 2019

A Shot Away From You, abstract art by Amy Crook, an abstract purple bullseye on black paper

A Shot Away From You, 5″x7″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

The Avengers are a huge cultural phenomenon right now, and that first movie is one of my favorites. I decided to round out my original set of MCU abstracts by adding in the missing members of the OG crew. The title is from a Franz Ferdinand song, fittingly.

Hawkeye doesn’t get a lot of love in the movies, but his current comics run is pretty much amazing. Clint Barton is a genius with the bow, and a human disaster the rest of the time but somehow you can’t help but love him anyway.

The color scheme is based a little more on his comics run, but the bullseye is right on target for any version of Hawkeye.

After all, he never misses.

A Shot Away From You, detail, by Amy Crook

A Shot Away From You, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the swirling rings of violet highlighted by purple. Below, it’s sitting in a frame, waiting to go to its new home to live happily ever after.

A Shot Away From You, framed art by Amy Crook

A Shot Away From You, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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