Archive for the ‘Floating Gallery’ Category

Fairytale Cottage

Tuesday, March 7th, 2017

Fairytale Cottage by Amy Crook

Fairytale Cottage, 6″x6″ watercolor and gel pen on Fluid watercolor paper

Calling to mind the darker side of fairytales, this shadowy cottage lurks against a rainy sky. The brightness of white clouds and gingerbread detailing is almost unsettling in it sweetness, with everything around it muted and grey.

In a strange reversal, only the frothy white curlicues look solid, while the house and sky seem like mere shadows behind the spirals.

What’s your favorite fairytale, and which ending do you prefer?

Fairytale Cottage, detail, by Amy Crook

Fairytale Cottage, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see up close the slightly raised spirals on the buildings and the softly receding spirals of the clouds, decorating the shadowy secrets held by this confectionary cottage. Below, the frame becomes a window into a dark fairy tale world.

Fairytale Cottage, framed art by Amy Crook

Fairytale Cottage, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Whimsical and Strange
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I Am Not Here to Please You

Monday, March 6th, 2017

I Am Not Here to Please You by Amy Crook for The Doubleclicks video

I Am Not Here to Please You, 12″x9″ pen & ink, Copic marker, and watercolor on Strathmore bristol for The Doubleclicks video “Women Know Math”

The Doubleclicks got 50 women and non-binary artists to illustrate their amazing video for Women Know Math, and I got to be part of it! I am absolutely in love with this song, the video, and everything it has to say.

Although they licensed the art for this specific use, the original is up for grabs in all its cat-filled glory. A rare self-portrait by the artist, with special guest appearances by Podsworth and Belladonna, this drawing bursts out of its boundaries with glorious movement and joy.

I Am Not Here to Please You, detail, by Amy Crook

I Am Not Here to Please You, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, there is possibly the most accurate drawing I’ve ever made of Belladonna, and some pj pants I only wish I owned. Below, you can see this drawing framed, including the very faint pencil reminder up in the top portion with the text I was meant to using.

I Am Not Here to Please You, framed art by Amy Crook

I Am Not Here to Please You, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Completed Commissions, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Gilded Sunset

Friday, March 3rd, 2017

Gilded Sunset, city skyline watercolor by Amy Crook

Gilded Sunset, 8″x8″ watercolor on Arches watercolor paper

This stunning painting would add a bright pop of warmth to any space. Rosy metallic gold sparkles off the shadowy buildings, backed by a brilliant sunset in reds, oranges, and pinks. You have to see this one in person to really appreciate its beauty.

Limned in light, this city skyline frames the red sun perfectly, hazy clouds making the sky above seem endless as it fades from gold to red. The sun itself is a glowing red sinking toward the horizon, just about the vanish for the night. A flock of birds floats above it all, circling in the sultry sunset.

Gilded Sunset, detail, by Amy Crook

Gilded Sunset, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the beautiful metallic watercolor shining up close, the warm rose gold a perfect complement to the brilliant sunset. Below, the painting is framed and waiting for just the right wall – is it yours?

Gilded Sunset, framed art by Amy Crook

Gilded Sunset, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Growth 8

Thursday, March 2nd, 2017

Growth 8, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 8, 5″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover buff paper

Photos don’t really do this understated painting justice. Its meditative qualities combine with a decorative feel from the bright gold border, and the depth and texture of the bronzite in the central circle.

Liminality and exploration work together in the Growth series, the core of the piece always showing some fundamental change as it sends itself outward into the surrounding space.

Growth and change are a part of every life, and art can be a beautiful, subtle reminder to welcome it.

Growth 8, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 8, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the glimmer of real bronzite mineral next to the bright shine of golden watercolor. Below, a black frame brings out the warmth of this beautiful abstract painting.

Growth 8, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 8, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Blood Moon 8

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017

Blood Moon 8, original art by Amy Crook

Blood Moon 8, 8″x8″ ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Continuing my tradition of painting things that don’t scan well, this new addition to the Blood Moon series has a midnight blue sky and a bright blood red moon, with a deep black tree intersecting both shapes.

The dusky night sky swirls around the blood moon, holding hints of the same red in its depths. The horizon is close enough that a tree seems to grow from the edge of the page, rising up in skeletal silhouette to make intricate black lace against the distant sky.

This painting is gorgeous in person, fascinating in its mix of rich texture and limited color palette.

Blood Moon 8, detail, by Amy Crook

Blood Moon 8, detail, by Amy Crook

Above you can see a much better view of the dusky blue, brilliant red, and delicately textured black of the sky, moon, and tree contrasting beautifully together. Below, you can see how elegantly this painting occupies its frame, just waiting to add its eerie light to your life.

Blood Moon 8, framed art by Amy Crook

Blood Moon 8, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Enthusiasm

Tuesday, February 7th, 2017

Enthusiasm, abstract art by Amy Crook

Enthusiasm, 10″x8″ watercolor on Arches cover buff paper

One of my dear friends loves hot pink, so I borrowed some of her enthusiasm for this Pathways painting.

The result is actually quite gorgeous, buff paper offsetting the pearlescent white intermingled with the rich, glowing pinks. The whole thing has a bubbly, warm feeling to it would brighten up any space, and be especially beautiful in the sunlight.

Where in your life do you need a little Enthusiasm?

Enthusiasm, detail, by Amy Crook

Enthusiasm, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sparkling white catching the light next to the gorgeously detailed pinks, spreading out like water on a window creating pattern out of the interaction between two spaces. Below, the piece is in a frame, its shine muted by the angle of the light.

Enthusiasm, framed art by Amy Crook

Enthusiasm, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Four for a Boy

Monday, February 6th, 2017

Four for a Boy, atmospheric art by Amy Crook

Four for a Boy, 6″x6″ Primatek watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

Mist obscures everything in this painting but the outline of a gnarled, drooping tree, branches bare in winter with just the tiniest hint of buds at their ends. Four black birds approach through the fog, and a figure all but dissolves into mist himself.

Is it foggier than it looks, or is the figure merely a trick of the eye?

This fourth installment of Counting Crows would make a lovely, creepy addition to your home, something to contemplate when the sun has burned away the mists of the day.

Four for a Boy, detail, by Amy Crook

Four for a Boy, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the eerie figure staring out from the mists, surrounded by the tree’s bare branches. Below, the piece is safely in a frame, just waiting to find the right house to haunt.

Four for a Boy, detail, by Amy Crook

Four for a Boy, detail, by Amy Crook

Categories: 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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