Archive for the ‘Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things’ Category
Diddy Wah Diddy Illustrations
Monday, September 30th, 2013
Diddy Wah Diddy by Corey Mesler, with interior illustrations by Amy Crook
This spring & summer I had the privilege to illustrate a literary novel! It’s been a really wonderful experience working with the editor, Jason, to add interior illustrations* to Corey’s richly-textured novel of Beale Street, Memphis, and the mythology of the blues.
Corey’s prose is full of rich character, and it was really easy to find images to go with it. Jason chose a scribbled black-and-white style of mine for the illustrations, and I did 9 images total, sprinkled throughout the book. He’d pick a story and have me read through it, then either ask for something specific, or something that went well with the story. I tried to keep everything as loose as a good blues jam, and capture the feel of each story.
The whole novel fits together to tell how a community went from its height of mythic glory, dipped down, and started building itself back up again. Everything is steeped in the language of the era and the feel of the blues, and I hope you’ll head on over to Ampersand Books and give it a shot!
illustration from Diddy Wah Diddy
Above, you can see a woman chilling at the bar, enjoying a legendary cocktail, helping to set the scene for the book. Below, I chose the author’s favorite of the group. I’ll let you read the book to find out how the werewolf ended up in the jar.
another illustration from Diddy Wah Diddy
If you’ve got a project that you think needs my illustrator’s touch, I’ve got info here about how you can hire me.
*Their designer did the cover, which is rich and red and beautifully sets the mood for the prose within.
Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: all rights reserved, book illustration, commission, illustration, pen and ink
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Beetlejuice
Friday, September 27th, 2013
Beetlejuice, parody comic by Amy Crook
Say it once, say it twice, third time’s the charm… Iiiiiit’s showtime!
It’s the season for cheerful Halloween movies (okay, every season is the season, but hush), and I decided to render the Ghost with the Most in my signature “fancy stick figure” style.
I haven’t decided yet if he’d be fun on a card, but he’ll be showing up on Tuesday in October’s awesome Halloween Floating Gallery.
Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice! BEETLEJUICE!!!
Dammit, that trick never works.
Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Things I'm a Fan Of, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: beetlejuice, copic marker, for sale, parody, pen and ink
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Behind You
Wednesday, September 4th, 2013
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Behind You
pen and ink art by Amy Crook
Tentacles have crept their way into A Series of Uncanny Fears! It only took me 3 pieces to do it, predictably. This is the first one with an explicit person in it; there’s a lump in the bedclothes and a handprint on the mirror, but we finally see someone’s actual hair here. I was torn at first about putting someone in it, but I think the little bit of humanity peeking up over the edge of the spiral-patterned chair adds to the neck-ruffling feeling of creepiness.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Behind You, 5″x7″ pen & ink on paper.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Behind You, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see an update of the creeping tentacles and the backlit head of unruly hair that is their goal. Below, you can see the piece in a frame with its brethren. I hope to add two more pieces to this series next month, too.
A Series of Uncanny Fears, 3 pieces of framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: a series of uncanny fears, crosshatching, edward gorey, for sale, gorey, pen and ink, uncanny fears
Dingbats 1
Friday, August 2nd, 2013
Free color dingbats by Amy Crook
When I got the idea to make you guys some free little clip art type dingbats to use as you will, I really didn’t plan out what I wanted to make. So, this is why you have a dozen weird little drawings, from gothy to silly, which you may feel free to use however you like. I’d love a link back, but just this once it’s not required.
I think they’d make fun “drop caps” at the start of a post, or little bits of art to emphasize quotes or other little bits of blogging you want people to notice.
I haven’t cut these up into individual pieces, but you should be able to do that easily enough with any simple online image editing software. I’ve even included the black and white versions below, I particularly like the gothy ones in b&w. Though the skull is better in color, clearly.
If you want a high-res one to do something fun with, email me and I’ll send it over. Just tell me what you want it for, and it’s yours!
Free black and white dingbats by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: creative commons, dingbats, free clip art, pen and ink, watercolor
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A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed
Thursday, August 1st, 2013
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed
by Amy Crook
My Series of Uncanny Fears is actually a series now, yay! I found it extra challenging to draw the pattern on the duvet with the monster glaring at me from under the bed all the while. Not that there is a monster, mind you, I’m sure it’s just shadows, and reflections. Nothing to fear. Nothing at all.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed, 5″x7″ pen & ink on paper.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can get a closer look at that space under the bed and the inexplicable shadows that are totally not reaching toward you now. Not at all. Below, it’s safely behind glass in a frame, just waiting to find the perfect owner.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Under the Bed, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: a series of uncanny fears, crosshatching, edward gorey, for sale, gorey, pen and ink, uncanny fears
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, by Amy Crook
I’ve had a note to start this series on my whiteboard for ages, but I finally sat down and worked on this first installment. A Series of Uncanny Fears will visually explore those things that we, as adults, know we shouldn’t be afraid of. It’s an echo of being a kid, feeling a shiver despite our grown-up logic.
Mirrors have been thoroughly demystified by science and yet hold a certain creepy fascination, especially in the dark. Fiction explores mirror worlds, mirror traps, things lurking behind mirrors or traveling through them, impressions left on them or even messages written.
In my bathroom I have a blue canary in the outlet by the light switch to watch over me (no, really!), but I still sometimes turn the lights on properly at 3am when it’s dark and creepy, because of reasons. Mirror reasons.
How about you, what’s your uncanny fear?
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, 5″x7″ pen & ink on paper.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see that I did go out of my way to make the mirror extra creepy with a skull motif as well as the built-in candleholders. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, with my quill pen and ink bottle for ambiance.
A Series of Uncanny Fears: Mirrors, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: a series of uncanny fears, crosshatching, edward gorey, gorey, nfs, pen and ink, sold, uncanny fears
4 Comments »
Crowned Skull
Monday, June 10th, 2013
Crowned Skull by Amy Crook
After drawing yesterday’s bookmark, I decided to draw a big version of the same image. I actually have a Halloween model skull on my bookshelf, wearing the paper crown out of a Christmas cracker, so he’s been the inspiration and model. His name is Sherrinford, because of reasons.
Personally, I think he would appeal to fans of Game of Thrones, given how everyone dies while George RR Martin drinks your tears.
Crowned Skull, 5″x7″ pencil, pen & ink and water brush on paper.
Crowned Skull, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the way the black ink separates into greys, blues and browns when I use the water brush to create shading. Below, you can see him in a frame, looking regal and tragic with my iPhone for moral support. Well, and size reference.
Crowned Skull, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: for sale, pen and ink, pencil, skull, water brush
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