Archive for the ‘Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things’ Category

Los Muertos 1

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Los Muertos 1 by Amy Crook

Los Muertos 1 by Amy Crook

This piece was born out of pure play. I first brushed in a spiral in watery black ink, and then I watered the ink down even further to make lighter and lighter greys to play with. I also added in a tiny bit of color here and there, which is almost completely obscured by the later crosshatching. Then I used a green fountain pen to crosshatch around the main shape, starting while the paper was wet and letting it dry as I worked, so some of the lines are more blurred than others.

Then I wet down the central area all over again and used a black pen to ink there, and when I was done, the whole thing reminded me of one of those elaborately decorated Day of the Dead skulls. I got my dark red fountain pen (which the scanner decided was rather more magenta than the real thing) and drew spiral eyes, and then signed the piece using that red as well.

The end effect is rather creepy, but as I’m fond of creepy, that works out well.

Los Muertos 1, 5″x7″ pen and ink and watercolor on watercolor paper.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Weeble Wednesday: Bat!

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

Weeble Bat by Amy Crook

Weeble Bat by Amy Crook

When I asked my friends what other cards I should do for Halloween, they were unanimous in requesting a bat, so here he is! I elected to save myself some future carpal tunnel and colored the background with Photoshop, but the rest of it’s done by hand with my trusty Copic markers.

I love the patterns bats make when they fly, so different from birds somehow, so I drew in a few of his friends who are flying off into the sunset without him. Don’t worry, though, he’ll catch up, he was just mugging for the “photo.”

Weeble Bat, 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic marker on watercolor paper.

Categories: Daily Art, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Weeble Wednesday: Dancing Skeleton

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Dancing Skeleton by Amy Crook

Dancing Skeleton by Amy Crook

This little guy is a sketch I did during a slow moment when I was having a “Meet the Artist” day last month. My window at the Book Shop is down now, but this funky little guy lives on.

Categories: Daily Art, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Victorian Wallpaper

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Victorian Wallpaper 1 by Amy Crook

Victorian Wallpaper 1 by Amy Crook

After doing my hatboxes for the window display, and reading way too much Edward Gorey and Arthur Conan Doyle, I’ve been itching to try my hand at a Victorian-style wallpaper pattern. This is my first attempt, a little wonky but I like the way my scribbled inks work with the ornate scrollwork. Below I’ve done a few mock-ups of what it might look like in different color patterns. (more…)

Categories: Daily Art, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Weeble Wednesday: Ghost Hearts You

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Ghost + Heart by Amy Crook

Ghost + Heart by Amy Crook

My spooky ghost is another of the new illustrations for my Monster Heart Coloring Book. I decided to reverse color him, giving him a subtle blue glow around his edges and then fading to darkness out to the margins of the paper. I haven’t made him into a Valentine, though, so if you want to take him home, you’ll have to just get the original.

Ghost and Ghost’s Heart, both 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper. $129 for the pair in a double frame, with free shipping.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Weeble Wednesday: Zombie Hearts Brains

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

Zombie + Heart by Amy Crook

Zombie + Heart by Amy Crook

This charming fellow is another of the creepy cuties in my Monster Heart Coloring Book. His “heart” is a brain, which is a zombie’s real favorite thing, showing the real depth of his love that he’s willing to share. Of course, he’s got his heart in his hand as a spare, just in case brains aren’t your style.

Zombie 6 and Zombie’s Heart, both 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper. $129 for the pair in a double frame, with free shipping.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Weeble Wednesday: Dracula

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Dracula + Heart by Amy Crook

Dracula + Heart by Amy Crook

Today I’ve got a weeble close to my own heart, the classic Bela Lugosi’s Dracula — and his heart, of course. I even tried to copy Bela’s classic hand gestures with the stubby weeble fingers, to what I think are pretty amusing results. He’s got a swishy cape and a charming grin to show you how much he adores you.

You can color him yourself my new Monster Heart Coloring Book, get him on a handmade greeting card at Etsy, or buy the originals, below. Take home an adorably classic movie monster today!

Dracula and Dracula’s Heart, both 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper. $129 for the pair in a double frame, with free shipping.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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