Archive for the ‘Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things’ Category
Ghosts of Years Gone By
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
Ghosts of Years Gone By, 5″x7″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
These ghosts are here to remind you of years gone by, of triumphs and tragedies lurking in your past. That one on the left seems particularly intent in communicating its message, so maybe check you’re not about to repeat some horrible mistake from your past? Or perhaps it’s trying to encourage you in its creepy, staring way.
Their eyes have an eerie blue-green glow to them, which pops out of the soft creamy paper and deep matte colors of paint. There’s beautiful granulation in that adds amazing texture and detail to their ghostly, half-real forms.
What ghosts are waiting in your past to show you the path forward?
Ghosts of Years Gone By, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, this blue ghost seems particularly intent on getting its message across. Below, they’re lurking in their frame, a spooky-cute reminder of past triumphs and lessons.
Ghosts of Years Gone By, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: duochrome, for sale, ghost, lunar black, watercolor
Ghost
Tuesday, December 8th, 2015
Ghost by Amy Crook
What haunts you?
The inspiration from this image came from dozens of images of ghosts over many years. The faces pushing through the wall in Frighteners. Photographs of sheets with a vague sense of a human underneath that clearly show there is no one. The classic Halloween costume of a sheet with eye holes.
This ink is a beautiful pale grey with ghostly lavender undertones that worked perfectly to created the subtle shadows in this piece. Is it just a bunch of shapes, or is there really a face? Is that shadows against a wall, or is it really reaching out for you?
Ghost, 5″x7″ ink wash on paper.
Ghost, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the detail of his serious, ghostly face. Below, he’s trapped in a frame, just waiting to spook up the right house.
Ghost, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: boo, for sale, ghost, ink wash, j herbin
Tree Trimming
Monday, October 19th, 2015
Tree Trimming, a Cthulhu comic by Amy Crook
Cthulhu is getting into the holiday spirit a little early this year! He’s trimming his tree with his favorite decoration, cultists. Even the tree is enjoying its little holiday snack, er, decor.
The greeting card will bring just the right holiday cheer to the right person — a fan of horror, especially the Lovecraftian sort, with a good sense of humor.
Tree Trimming, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Tree Trimming, a Cthulhu holiday card by Amy Crook on Etsy
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: christmas, copic marker, cthulhu, cultists, etsy, for sale, pen and ink
Zombie Heart
Saturday, October 3rd, 2015
Zombie Heart, abstract art by Amy Crook
Although Zombie Heart is in keeping with the Halloween theme, there’s a gorgeous complexity to it that could live in the right home year round. The greens range from the darkest shadow around the main shape to the iridescence that floats above, shining like radioactivity.
The way the metallic greens bloom on the dark green core shape is like mold blossoming against decaying zombie flesh. The organic layers of shape and shade show an eerily beautiful side to this particular undead myth.
Are your favorite zombies created by magic, radioactivity, a virus, or some mad scientist?
Zombie Heart, 8″x10″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Zombie Heart, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the mysterious swirls and shimmers giving depth and texture to the painting. Below, it’s lurking in a frame, waiting to find a permanent home, lab, or specimen shelf.
Zombie Heart, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: anatomical heart, black paper, duochrome, for sale, green, iridescent, watercolor, zombie
Sky Scraped
Wednesday, July 8th, 2015
Sky Scraped by Amy Crook
The subtle blue-green-grey of the sky in this painting was remarkably hard to capture in any of the photos. I love the stormy roil of it, almost pre-tornado as even the clouds look like they’re pouring down to become part of the skyscraper.
There’s a sense of decay in the central image, whether it’s a building half-built and abandoned, or a burnt-out husk just waiting to fall down.
I love the mysterious figure hanging out on a lone girder, rain pounding down all around it.
Who are they, and why are they up there? What do you think?
Sky Scraped, 4″x8″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Sky Scraped, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the figure up close, mysterious cloak trailing below like the raggedy tail of some giant crow. Below, the painting rests in a temporary frame, waiting to find its place in the world.
Sky Scraped, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: city, nfs, pen and ink, ruins, sold, watercolor
I Hear the Rain
Thursday, July 2nd, 2015
I Hear the Rain by Amy Crook
I wembled about this painting a long time — this amazing, dramatic sky sat on my art table for weeks before I drew in the tree, and then weeks more while I waffled about what else it needed.
Finally, I gave in to my gothy heart and drew this gorgeous graveyard, the mysterious silhouettes blending beautifully with the descending torrent of rain.
The painting gets its title from the Violent Femmes song “I Hear the Rain,” which is about being buried in a shallow grave and hearing the rain pound on the earth above you. It seemed apropos.
I Hear the Rain, 8″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
I Hear the Rain, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the way the gorgeously layered rain crashes down through the silhouetted graveyard. Below, the piece is in a temporary frame, just waiting to find a new home.
I Hear the Rain, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: blue, graveyard, horizons, nfs, pen and ink, rain, sold, tree, watercolor
Vampire Bat
Saturday, June 6th, 2015
Vampire Bat by Amy Crook
Continuing in the same vein as Tuesday I have another minimalist brush painting, this time of a big-eared bat. With his swooping wings and giant ears, something about his face makes me think inevitably of Gary Oldman as aged Dracula. Clearly the costumer and I were working from similar inspiration.
I actually had to do this one twice, I dropped the brush onto the paper on the first go, which can be a happy accident in some things, but not this one. I’m actually happier with the second version anyway, so it all works out.
I just want to rub his fuzzy little belly!
Vampire Bat, 7″x5″ brush and ink on paper.
Vampire Bat, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see all the details in his adorable little face, including the glinting reflection in his eyes. Below, he’s resting in a frame, just waiting to fly over to you.
Vampire Bat, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: baaaaaaaats, bat, bronze, brush and ink, for sale
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