Archive for the ‘Sea Creatures and Other Animals’ Category
Another Man’s Octopus
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Another Man’s Octopus, a Sherlock Holmes comic by Amy Crook
When I was contemplating ideas for today’s Tentacle Tuesday, this idea came to me (undoubtedly influenced by the steampunk novel I’m reading) to draw the original Holmes and Watson. I borrowed the fashions from one of the old Paget illustrations, so blame him for Holmes’ weird little jabot, and then added in our random steampunky science nerd and of course Biffy, the friendly octopus. He just really likes Watson’s moustache, I feel. It’s quite dashing.
I decided to shade it all in warm greys to give it the feel of an old Victorian daguerreotype or something, which always runs into the question of whether I should color the skin of the people or leave them white as the paper. I compromised by making Holmes very pale indeed, and giving Watson and the scientist a bit more robust warmth. This kind of coloring takes a bit less time than proper color, as the limited palette simplifies things.
Another Man’s Octopus, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Another Man’s Octopus, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the line that made me decide I absolutely had to draw the comic, along with an unimpressed Holmes uttering it. Below, they’ve made it into a frame with my bored 5-armed plushie and one of the original books.
Another Man’s Octopus, framed comic by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: ACD holmes, comic, copic marker, for sale, grey, john watson, octopus, pen and ink, sherlock holmes
Tentacle Deeps 48
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
Tentacle Deeps 48 by Amy Crook
It’s Tentacle Tuesday and this one’s an octopus! Appropriate for 48, I suppose, that I’d break the “odd numbers look better” rule and go for 8 sucker-laden arms waving in the murky water. The background is an odd duochrome paint that goes from rusty orange to a very bright green, the tentacles are a translucent dark purple, and the suckers are a gunmetal silver color called “iridescent moonstone.”
Tentacle Deeps 48, 4″x6″ duochrome, iridescent and normal watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Tentacle Deeps 48, detail, by Amy Crook
Above you can see the green shining up through the purple where it catches the light. Below, I’ve tucked it into a frame and let it hang out with my rather bored plushie — I think the orange one’s just jealous because it only has 5 arms.
Tentacle Deeps 48, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles
Tags: for sale, iridescent, octopus, tentacle deeps, tentacles, watercolor
Curious Otter
Friday, April 26th, 2013
Curious Otter, 7″x7″ watercolor and pen & ink on Arches cover white paper
This curious little otter is peering at you through a sunlit window into his little pool. He’s done with a limited palette of watercolors and a little bit of water-blurred pen & ink to add that feeling of a reinforced window. He’s a bit of an odd size, but mounting him on a piece of mat board lets you appreciate the hand-torn irregularity of the paper’s edges. The soft paper lends some really nice texture to the loose, expressionist brush strokes.
Curious Otter, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the otter up close, peering at you with his sharp black eyes while the rest of him grows ever fainter in the water’s slightly murky depths. Below, you can see him in a temporary frame, displayed in all his nosy glory with his little hedgehog buddy.
Curious Otter, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: expressionism, nfs, otter, pen and ink, sold, watercolor, who knew
Crows at Dusk
Friday, April 19th, 2013
Crows at Dusk, watercolor skyscape by Amy Crook
I’ve been indulging myself in the vice of instructional art videos on YouTube lately, and while I’ve learned a lot of ways to make some really awful art, I have gleaned a few interesting techniques. I found I guy making really ugly skies who was using a specific technique to make moons, and so I stole his idea and came up with this. It’s simple, but it has a nice dreamy, hazy feel to it as the crows rise up and vanish in the distance.
Crows at Dusk, 6″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Crows at dusk, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of the moon, though something about the angle and the paper’s texture smoothed away the shadows on the surface. Below, you can see it in a frame, hanging out with my iPhone and feather quill pen.
Crows at Dusk, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
Tags: crow, for sale, moon, watercolor
Shipwreck
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
Shipwreck by Amy Crook
Tentacles for your Tuesday! About a week and a half ago, I posted a picture of some washes on Instagram, the sort of thing I paint when I don’t know what I want to paint but I’m sure they’ll come in handy someday. The first of them acquired a squid last week, drawn in scribbly pen and then shaded with water to smear out the ink. I used basic black for most of it, but added a bit of apricot for the eye and warm brown on the ship’s planks.
Shipwreck, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Shipwreck, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can get a good view of his wicked beak, suckered arms and baleful yellow glare. Below, you can see him in a frame, hanging out with his friend from Ikea.
Shipwreck, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles
Tags: look out rawr, nfs, pen and ink, sold, squid, tentacles, watercolor
Lucky Squid
Monday, April 8th, 2013
Lucky Squid cartoon by Amy Crook, $99
This little squid is pure self-indulgence! I was in my favorite place for bubble tea, and I noticed they had a bunch of various lucky cat sculptures around. The owner has always enjoyed my squid cards at the holidays, so I decided I needed to combine these two ideas with a proper Lucky Squid. I even googled the traditions so I could decide which details to keep (the red ears and white coat became red fins and white skin, and of course he’s got his gold coin), and which to ignore (a squid in a collar and bib didn’t seem like it would work). I even put him on a greeting card!
Lucky Squid, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, $99 with free shipping.
Lucky Squid, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the coin up close and my terrible rendition of the traditional kanji for 10 million ryo, washed red on the paper and blue in the ink by the sunlight. Below, the cheerful little squid beckons to you from a frame, accompanied by my stalwart iPhone and a few plushie friends.
Lucky Squid, framed art by Amy Crook
- Title: Lucky Squid
- 5 in. x 7 in. pen & ink and Copic marker on paper
- $99 for the original (tax will be added if you live in CA)
- Frame is not included, but can be added for $50 (shipping included)
- Shipping is free anywhere in the world
- Payment plans are available, just email me
- The button below will take you to Paypal – if you’d like to pay another way, just let me know and we’ll work it out
Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles
Tags: copic marker, for sale, lucky cat, pen and ink, squid, tentacles
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Tying the Knot
Saturday, March 30th, 2013
Tying the Knot, squid cartoon by Amy Crook
These two squid have found love in each other, the blue-eyed green squid and green-eyed blue squid making the perfect pair. They’ve just tied the knot, so congratulate them on their union! Just don’t ask which one’s the boy.
Tying the Knot, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
You can also congratulate your cephalopod-loving friends on their marriage with a card from my Etsy shop.
Tying the Knot, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of their knotted tentacles. Below, they’ve slipped into a frame and are hanging out with the poor five-armed octopus, and my iPhone of course.
Tying the Knot, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, etsy, for sale, pen and ink, squid
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