Archive for the ‘Floating Gallery’ Category

Be Curious

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019

Be Curious by Amy Crook, an abstract watercolor of blue and white with the words be curious in iridescent purple

Be Curious, 8″x8″ watercolor on paper

I’m always on the lookout for short, interesting quotes to add to an Aglow painting. Sometimes the quote comes first, and sometimes the painting happens and the words wander in later, after some thought and possibly googling.

In this case, the shifting blue glows of pixies or stars or will-o-the-wisps floating up through the painting brought me to a very simple thought: be curious.

The perfect sentiment for a painting that invites exploration, with its odd details, here-and-gone glow, and a shining message in pink-purple-blue at the edge of a whirlwind of blue.

Be Curious, detail, by Amy Crook

Be Curious, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shine of iridescent paint on top of the soft, complex matte of natural mineral paint. Below, the painting sits in its frame, inviting one closer, inviting curiosity.

Be Curious, framed art by Amy Crook

Be Curious, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Adventure Awaits

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019

Adventure Awaits by Amy Crook, an abstract painting with maplike markings

Adventure Awaits, 6″x6″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper

It’s another map to imaginary lands!

This one’s both more complex and less abstract than its predecessors. There are rivers and lakes and a lovely big bay, mountains and forests and some mysterious hills, and a whole winding mess of roads and cities as well.

I’m not sure where this is, but it’s ripe for an adventure.

Where would you start your journey?

Adventure Awaits, detail, by Amy Crook

Adventure Awaits, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of a little town near a lake, and the roads going from river to lake to bay. Below, the map has been framed, a souvenir for a journey no one’s yet taken.

Adventure Awaits, framed art by Amy Crook

Adventure Awaits, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Eight for a Wish

Thursday, May 16th, 2019

Eight for a Wish by Amy Crook, a gloomy watercolor of a bare tree, eight crows, and a grumpy ghost

Eight for a Wish, 6″x6″ Primatek watercolor on paper

The Counting Crows series continues!

Although the original rhyme is about magpies, there’s only murders hanging about outside my windows, so crows are what you get.

Seven charming fellows are flying in, with an eighth ahead of them already swooping along, banked to skim close to the thick trunk of this twisting tree. The ghost this time is looking more annoyed than anything; perhaps it’s not a fan of birds.

Although one of my patrons has already claimed this for their collection, you can still admire its creepy fog, spooky tree, and the gentle motion of eight pairs of wings.

Eight for a Wish, detail, by Amy Crook

Eight for a Wish, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the ghost’s very grumpy expression and the soft flutter of many wings. Below, it’s haunting this frame before it flies off to its new home.

Eight for a Wish, framed art by Amy Crook

Eight for a Wish, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Concentric 4

Tuesday, May 14th, 2019

Concentric 4 by Amy Crook, an abstract design of metallic blue, teal, and purple starbursts on a purple cloudy background

Concentric 4, 6″x6″ watercolor on paper

Shining pearls of liquid color float atop a violet fog in concentric rings of blues, greens, and purples. This small abstract catches the light beautifully, fireworks blossoming in front of a cloudy twilight sky.

This addition to the Concentric series emphasizes the jewel-like quality of the metallic paints, each dot forming a shining cabochon that floats atop the dusty purple, blue, and teal of the background, which ironically is actually made of real ground minerals.

This beauty was claimed by one of my Patreon patrons the moment they saw it, so exciting!

Concentric 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Concentric 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the rich range of shining metallics like fireworks against the soft, foggy natural blues and greens. Below, the painting has taken temporary residence in a frame before it heads off to New York.

Concentric 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Concentric 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Murder at Sunset 2

Wednesday, May 8th, 2019

Murder at Sunset 2 by Amy Crook, a watercolor of brown winter trees in front of an orange sunset with five flying crows

Murder at Sunset 2, 6″x4″ watercolor on paper

It’s only a little murder — five crows swoop in almost like snapshots of a single bird, arcing down to make their home in the biggest of this grove of trees. The rich orange sunset behind them glows through a stack of fluffy clouds, lighting everything up in rich autumn colors.

Where would you nestle this tiny painting, to bring a bit of brightness into your daily life? It’s about the size of a postcard, perfect to tuck into a bookshelf, sit on busy desk, or decorate a stray bit of wall.

Murder at Sunset 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Murder at Sunset 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see three of the tiny crows making their way across the bright sky. Below, this tiny frame is holding a lot of detail for such a small artwork.

Murder at Sunset 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Murder at Sunset 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Concentric 5

Tuesday, May 7th, 2019

Concentric 5 by Amy Crook, abstract watercolor of blue fog with bursts of metallic concentric circles

Concentric 5, 6″x6″ watercolor on paper

Blues are bursting on the scene! From a shimmering emerald to a rich sapphire to a soft barely-there hint of lapis, this painting is filled with bejeweled beauty.

These are very meditative, and there’s a tiny spiral at the heart of each burst this time around to help draw in the eye and start the journey through the mandala-like shapes.

Where do you need a bit of of a calming influence in your space?

Concentric 5, detail, by Amy Crook

Concentric 5, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the way the bursts of color shift and shine in the light. Below, this painting looks lovely in a small black frame, just waiting to bring joy to someone’s home. Maybe yours!

Concentric 5, framed art by Amy Crook

Concentric 5, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Morning After

Monday, May 6th, 2019

Morning After by Amy Crook, a watercolor pastel sunrise against a panoramic foreground of smoking ruins

Morning After, 8″x4″ watercolor on paper

The sky holds the softness of spring, the delicacy of an Easter egg, the gentlest of sunrises. In front of these lovely colors, there are smoking ruins, the aftermath of some mystery calamity. Carrion birds wheel and turn on the thermals, looking for a choice meal among the destruction. The pall of smoke hanging over the burnt-out husks is no deterrent to the scavengers.

There’s a curious juxtaposition with the grey-green ruins backed by the seashell pink, baby-chick yellow, and robin’s egg blue of the sky.

Morning After, detail, by Amy Crook

Morning After, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the delicate, tiny brushstrokes that make up each hollow, destroyed building. Below, the carrion birds circle and swoop inside their temporary frame.

Morning After, framed art by Amy Crook

Morning After, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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