Archive for the ‘People, Figures and Faces’ Category
Key to My Heart
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Key to My Heart, detail, by Amy Crook
It’s been a long time since I had a chance to cast in bronze, but I still have a few pieces left. In this one, a small, abstracted figure stands on a strange landscape of texture and shape, with a small keyhole in the center of his chest.
The entire sculpture is actually quite small — the figure is a bare 2″ tall, and his unusual landscape is 5″x7″ at its widest points, and 3″ tall where it curls up behind him.
Key to My Heart by Amy Crook
Key to My Heart by Amy Crook
I left on most of the random textures created by the casting process, and in fact the cavity from which the piece gets its name was created by the shrinking of metal away from the sprue at the point of contact. The hollow made such a perfect keyhole shape that I decided to keep it rather than filling it in.
Key to My Heart by Amy Crook
Key to My Heart by Amy Crook
The colors were created with a combination of chemical patina that was heated with a blow torch until it bonded with the metal, and the passage of time and the oils from being held by human hands. It will continue to evolve as the piece is exposed to handling and the environment, the browns growing richer and the patterns changing subtly.
Key to My Heart, 3″x5″x7″ cast bronze.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, People, Figures and Faces, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: bronze, for sale, key, sculpture
Arch the Sky
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Arch the Sky by Amy Crook
Arch the Sky is one of my favorite pieces. It hangs above my work station in a simple silver frame, which echoes the silver streaks in the painting. This was painted without a reference, inspired by the art on the covers of the original paperback editions of Storm Constantine’s Wraethuthu series. There was something about the graceful art with its obvious brush strokes that really spoke to me.
I tried to really emphasize the contrast between the smooth curve of his back, and the rough texture of the background and foreground, while still allowing them to interact with each other. The rain-like streaks were put in at the very end with oil paint sticks, and really added to the effect by connecting the figure to the background.
There is a sense of worship in the figure’s expression, the peace of belonging to and reverence for nature, for the sky and rain and earth and the environment he’s in.
This piece is fully framed, and ready to hang.
Arch the Sky, 16″x24″, oil on artboard.
Categories: Nudes and Other Sexy Things, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: for sale, oil painting
Sad Simon
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Sad Simon by Amy Crook
I’ve had a few different models over the years, and this was one of the first. I spent several afternoons just taking photos of him, a lot of them in b&w, and used one of them as a reference on this piece. Though my talent was never really in photography, I still have some of those photographs, and his face or figure shows up from time to time in pieces I’m working on.
I remember sitting crosslegged with this page tacked to the wall in front of me, the photo to one side, and only two colors of pastel to use, the very pale blue and dark blue with a tinge of green, to provide shadow and light on the middle blue ground. I used to work like that for hours, and at the end when I finished the piece, there was a fine layer of chalk dust on the carpet right below — oops!
I have given this piece several titles over the years, and this is the one that it seems to come back to. The wistful, pensive expression on Simon’s face matches well with the blue chalks, and doesn’t seem to need extra words to convey its essential meaning.
This piece is fully framed, and ready to hang.
Sad Simon, 19″x25″, pastel on colored paper in metal frame.
Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: blue, for sale, pastel, portrait
Daily Art & Wood Sprite
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Wood Sprite by Amy Crook
I’m trying an experiment for the rest of April and all of May — daily art posts. I have a ton of art lying around, some of it for sale, some of it not, some if it not suitable to be sold like this handsome fellow who’s on the back of some notes from a client meeting.
This wood sprite is inspired by the beautiful illustrations by Brian Froud in his collaboration with Charles de Lint, The Wild Wood.
Enjoy!
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: nfs, sketch
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Cartoon: Skaja Wills
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Skaja Wills, final, by Amy Crook
Ever wondered what it’s like to become a cartoon? Skaja Wills was kind enough to let me share the process with you.
Categories: Completed Commissions, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: all rights reserved, cartoon, commission, copic marker, nfs, pen and ink, Skaja Wills
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Precious
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Precious by Amy Crook
Hidden in the abstract red-orange background is the faint outline of a woman looking at her cupped hands. She’s curled around whatever it is she’s holding, the precious object that gives the painting its title. The painting itself is a rich blend of reds and oranges with a loosely painted ochre ‘frame’.
I painted this many years ago, and it’s currently residing above the antique desk in my bedroom. I decided to list it now because the sentiment fit with the holiday season for me, and I feel ready to let it go to a new home.
Precious, 18″x24″, oil on canvas.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces
Tags: nfs, red, sold
Work in Progress: Fallen Angel
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Fallen Angel by Amy Crook
This piece is mostly done, but then, I thought it was complete many years ago, too. Through some trick of chemistry (I have my suspicions, but there’s no real way to know now) the paint began to flake off, foreground from background in big crackling curls. After a lot of contemplation, I decided I really liked the effect on the wings, but it didn’t go well on the figure — and I like to think my figure painting skills have improved since the first round.
I tried to think of a more original title for the piece, but I always think of an angel cast out of heaven, slowly decaying in the trap he’s fallen into, piece by piece. He’s losing his divinity, but hasn’t quite fully stepped into our reality, either, lacking the warmth and depth of a person.
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Works In Progress
Tags: angel, blue, oil painting, wip
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