Archive for the ‘Series and Books’ Category

Parseltongue

Saturday, August 11th, 2012

Parseltongue, Harry Potter fan art by Amy Crook

Parseltongue, Harry Potter fan art by Amy Crook

Wee Harry’s made a friend! Since he’s a Parselmouth and speaks Parseltongue, the language of snakes, he had no problem convincing this one that he’s not lunch.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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E is for Emboss

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

E is for Emboss, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

E is for Emboss, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

I did so much measuring and line-drawing for my E I decided to leave in the pencil lines as a sort of underpainting, a decorative structure underlying the letter. Though it’s hard to see in the scan, the whole square is embossed, with gold coloring the embossed edges as well as providing the decoration on an otherwise plain capital. The two greens remind me of marble or malachite, but the gold filigree design really elevates the whole thing to the realm of beauty.

E is for Emboss, 5″x5″ pencil, pen & ink, Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen on paper.

E is for Emboss, detail, by Amy Crook

E is for Emboss, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the raised edges and shining gold both on the edge itself and in the filigree decoration. Below, I’ve put the piece in a frame with B is for Blackletter. It spells BE! Yes, I’m a dork. You knew that.

B is for Blackletter & E is for Emboss, framed art by Amy Crook

B is for Blackletter & E is for Emboss, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Tentacle Deeps 41

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Tentacle Deeps 41 by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 41 by Amy Crook

These shimmering tentacles are subtle in dim light but glitter brightly in the sun, waving in their periwinkle pond. They’d add the perfect touch of Cthulhu to any girl’s desk or living room.

Tentacle Deeps 41, 5″x7″ Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen on Arches cover black paper.

Tentacle Deeps 41, detail, by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 41, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the tentacles shining in the sunlight, bright in the the depths of their watery habitat. Below, you can see them in their frame, turned away from the direct light.

Tentacle Deeps 41, framed art by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 41, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Tentacles
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Green Cheese Moon

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Green Cheese Moon watercolor by Amy Crook

Green Cheese Moon watercolor by Amy Crook

I imagine the three groups of colored stars are constellations of some sort, clustered near the mysterious moon. The color and texture reminds me of the veining in good cheese, and so obviously this moon is made of green cheese.

I’d intended to add in some extra decorative elements, but it was so lovely the way it is I decided to stop there. Knowing when you’re done can be the hard part, some days.

Green Cheese Moon, 10″x8″ salt and watercolor on Arches cover black paper.

Green Cheese Moon, detail, by Amy Crook

Green Cheese Moon, detail, by Amy Crook

Above you can see one of the constellations curving in a periwinkle line around the edge of the green planet. Below, you can see the whole thing tucked into a glassless frame.

Green Cheese Moon, framed art by Amy Crook

Green Cheese Moon, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Dr. Molly Hooper sketch

Sunday, August 5th, 2012

Dr. Molly Hooper character sketch by Amy Crook

Dr. Molly Hooper character sketch
by Amy Crook

The put-upon coroner from BBC’s Sherlock, Molly is going to join Mrs. Hudson in death in my next set of Baker Street Tinies. I did this little sketch of her character design to prepare, trying to capture her nervous smile, lab coat, and general adorableness.

Enjoy your Sunday, and hope you don’t meet Molly anytime soon.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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The Stars Are Right 3

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

The Stars Are Right 3 by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3 by Amy Crook

This time the connection to Monday’s art is, I hope, very clear indeed. This piece is larger, with the space around the unfortunately doomed planet littered with stars in mysterious configurations. Some of the groups are brilliantly yellow or green in hue to suggest constellations, what do you see in the stars?

I had fun repeating my mad alphabet in a much more subtle manner on the planet’s surface, running shimmering green runes over and around the shapes beneath.

The Stars Are Right 3, 10″x8″ salt, Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen on Arches cover black paper.

The Stars Are Right 3, work in progress by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, work in progress by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sun shining off the future constellations and the swirls of toxic green in each little bubble of salt water, as well as the pool of color that will dry into the mysterious texture of the planet’s surface. Below, a view of the same constellation after everything, including a close-up of some of the runes. I like to think of this little succession of green dots as “The Tentacle,” personally.

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 1, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Next, I’ve photographed the planet in the sunlight so you can see how the runes flare to life when they’re properly lit. The Tentacle lurks in the shot once again, ominous and ever-present.

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 2, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 2, by Amy Crook

And finally, I’ve taken a photo with my iPhone so you can see how much bigger this piece is, a fitting decoration for any office wall or living room. Perhaps not the bedroom, though, I make no promises about what dreams it might bring.

The Stars Are Right 3, framed art by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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D is for Dada

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

D is for Dada, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

D is for Dada, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

I was thinking of cheating and using Art Deco for my D but some googling around reminded me of the Dada art movement and all its wacky semi-political cut-and-paste collage. I got some 5-cent BART tickets from my roommate, who is a great source for all sorts of useful things, and dug through my own art supply hoard for a sheet of Chinese New Year paper. The letter itself echoes my original intent, using an Art Deco-esque font, but in a very Dada manner.

I’m thinking of trimming all of these down to 5″x5″, doing an ampersand, and then displaying them in a 3×9 grid of square black frames. What do you guys think?

Just remember, insert this side up.

D is for Dada, 5″x5″ collage, Sharpie marker and Japanese watercolor on paper.

D is for Dada, detail, by Amy Crook

D is for Dada, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can really see the soft torn edges of the Chinese paper contrasted with the sharp, thick, plastic-like material of the BART ticket, which really stands out against the backdrop of mismatched stamping and gilding. Below, you can see this piece tucked into a frame and hanging out with the F, just waiting for a new home. Derek, Dave, Danielle, who will take it home and keep it for their very own?

D is for Dada & F is for Flourish, framed art by Amy Crook

D is for Dada & F is for Flourish, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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