Archive for the ‘Flowers, Trees and Landscapes’ Category

Rainy City

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

Rainy City, watercolor skyline by Amy Crook

Rainy City, 10″x8″ Japanese watercolor and iridescent watercolor on Arches cover black paper

This painting has been months in the making, from the first fall of rain to the test city bookmark to the painstaking buildings themselves. A dark, nighttime echo of the Jade City, more than one person has described the cloud-shapes above as looming figures.

Intricately detailed buildings of jade seem almost translucent beneath the color-shifting sky. The rainy grey becomes blue and violet at certain angles, adding to the mysterious, otherworldly feel.

Rainy City, detail, by Amy Crook

Rainy City, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the wash of violet in the shining rain, above the gorgeous jade green city. Below, it’s been trapped in a frame like a view out an alien window, just waiting to grace your walls.

Rainy City, framed art by Amy Crook

Rainy City, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Jack Frost

Friday, January 8th, 2016

Jack Frost by Amy Crook

Jack Frost, 10″x8″ watercolor and interference watercolor on Arches cover black paper

Most of the paint on this lovely black paper is white, but mixed in there’s just a little bit of interference blue. When it’s in normal light, the blue just looks white like the rest, but in sunlight or strong indoor light it adds a sparkle to this piece that makes it really magical.

Just like winter, it’s something lovely and stark that holds hidden depths of color and light.

And with the weather we’ve got out here in SF, Jack Frost might even pay me a visit this year — brr!

Jack Frost, detail, by Amy Crook

Jack Frost, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a little bit of the sparkle peeking out of the chilly frost. Below, you can see the painting in a temporary frame, like a window on a cold winter’s night.

Jack frost, framed art by Amy Crook

Jack frost, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Ghost Trees

Thursday, January 7th, 2016

Ghost Tree by Amy Crook

Ghost Tree, 6″x4″ ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

Everything about this ink wash is understated, soft, and ghostly. The pale sky just as the sunset fades into the gloaming. The shadowy tree like a ghost against the ink-streaked clouds. The birds flitting past like memories, barely there in the distance.

The first hints of night haunt the top of the page, washing away the color as the evening threatens to fall, dropping its curtain over those last washes of pink and violet and gold still lurking in the soft clouds.

Ghost Tree, detail, by Amy Crook

Ghost Tree, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the ghostly little ink wash birds swooping through the pale, fading daylight. Below, the tree sits in a frame, ready to haunt its new home.

Ghost Tree, framed art by Amy Crook

Ghost Tree, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Domed City

Wednesday, January 6th, 2016

Domed City by Amy Crook

Domed City, 4″x6″ iridescent watercolor and ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper

Another painting with some hidden sparkle, this one’s mostly done in ink washes. The background is an amazing rich teal that none of my electronics want to pick up, and the domes sparkle with golden highlights beneath the iridescent blue dragon.

This tiny piece would add a lovely bit of scifi-fantasy allure to a desk, bookshelf, or reading nook.

Here there be dragon!

Domed City, detail, by Amy Crook

Domed City, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shining underbelly on the dragon that floats above the domed city. Below, a tiny window into this strange world as the painting is trapped behind glass in its frame.

Domed City, framed art by Amy Crook

Domed City, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
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Distance 2

Friday, December 4th, 2015

Distance 2 by Amy Crook

Distance 2 by Amy Crook

Misty hills ascend into the distance, where a single gold light shines out of a structure atop the farthest reaches.

The night descends in beautiful teal, just a few stars starting to peek out through the twilight.

What draws your imagination out wandering?

Distance 2, 4″x6″ ink wash on watercolor paper.

Distance 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Distance 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the detailed texture of ink and paper, and the tiny pinpoint of golden light beckoning you to the summit. Below, the piece is in a frame like the view out of a tall window, waiting to bring some peace to your hectic desk.

Distance, framed art by Amy Crook

Distance, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Blood Moon 6

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

Blood Moon 6 by Amy Crook

Blood Moon 6 by Amy Crook

This ink wash is a vivid addition to my City series, which is also the 6th of my Blood Moon paintings.

The blood moon glows with a rich red-gold radiance. The sky is home to a thousand glittering golden stars in halo around it. A dark city awaits below, reflecting the glow of them both.

Built in layers, this piece was first a wash of red and gold inks, and then a globe of light in the middle of gold-dusted night, and finally became a city. Each layer is a different kind of ink, even the gold dust.

Blood Moon 6, 8″x8″ brush & ink and ink wash on Fluid watercolor paper.

Blood Moon 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Blood Moon 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shimmering gold dust in the Stormy Grey ink, and the solid Deleter Manga ink that blacks it out where the buildings rise up, with the beautiful red shining through both where appropriate. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, waiting to grace your walls with its eerie beauty.

Blood Moon 6, framed art by Amy Crook

Blood Moon 6, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Midnight Raven

Wednesday, November 4th, 2015

Midnight Raven by Amy Crook

Midnight Raven by Amy Crook

A mysterious raven sits atop a black branch, its feathers containing colors within their inky darkness. A moon silhouettes the scene, full and round and bright behind the bird. The sky is a deep midnight, dotted with silver stars.

Inktober started as a fun way to get myself playing with some new media, but it turned into a month of beautiful new art.

A group of ravens is an unkindness, but what do you call just one?

Midnight Raven, 6″x6″ pen & ink, ink wash, and metallic watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Midnight Raven, detail, by Amy Crook

Midnight Raven, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shine of gold in the ink of the raven’s feathers, and the gleam of silver in the stars. Below, the raven has taken a temporary perch in a frame.

Midnight Raven, framed art by Amy Crook

Midnight Raven, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
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