Archive for the ‘Series and Books’ Category

Periscope

Monday, September 21st, 2015

quick paint sketch of a hummingbird by Amy Crook, livepainted on Periscope

quick paint sketch of a hummingbird by Amy Crook, livepainted on Periscope

What’s Periscope, you might ask?

  • Periscope is an app (owned by Twitter) that lets you make live videos with your phone.
  • Periscope videos (or scopes) last 24 hours before they vanish forever.
  • I have Periscope set to tweet when I’m on live.
  • You can watch on the app or on the web, including the replay (for as long as it lasts).
  • You don’t have to make videos to have an account and watch them.
  • You can text chat to the person making the video, share the video on Twitter, and give them “hearts” by tapping on the screen during the live feed.
  • Yes, it’s yet another form of social media.
  • Kind of like Youtube and Snapchat had a baby and sold it to Twitter.
  • But I actually really like it.
  • My username is, predictably, amysnotdeadyet.

I’m using it to make art! Or, well, to let you watch me make art. I painted the little hummingbird sketch above live on Periscope the other day, and below there’s two more things that owe their lives to me wanting to draw something on Periscope.

Eames & Arthur bookmarks by Amy Crook

Eames & Arthur bookmarks by Amy Crook

Well, actually Eames and Arthur (above) owe their existence in part to Periscope, and in part to wanting to work on their character design for a commission. But the merdude below was one of my first Periscope experiments!

Merdude watercolor sketch by Amy Crook on Periscope

Merdude watercolor sketch by Amy Crook on Periscope

You can see at the top of the page I wrote, “Hi! I can’t see you chat,” because when I’m drawing or painting the phone is up over my shoulder and, like everything on Periscope, the chats are ephemeral and disappear before I can go looking.

I’m amysnotdeadyet on Periscope — come say hi!

Categories: People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Words Words Words
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New Arrival to Middle Earth

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

New Arrival to Middle Earth by Amy Crook

New Arrival to Middle Earth by Amy Crook

It’s dangerous to make comments about hobbits in the presence of Jo … she might go and commission some art for you.

This adorable comic is for a couple having a baby, who have been self-described as two dwarves who wish they were a hobbit and an elf. Thus, we have a dwarf-decorated crib with a hobbity dwarf on one side, and an elfin dwarf on the other.

New Arrival to Middle Earth, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Murder for Christmas

Monday, September 14th, 2015

Murder for Christmas, a Sherlock parody comic by Amy Crook

Murder for Christmas, a Sherlock parody comic by Amy Crook

I’d worry for the day someone actually tries to give Sherlock a murder for Christmas (as does John), but Lestrade can only be happy that he’s jumping for joy instead of refusing to help.

If you’ve got a friend who’d appreciate a little murder for their holidays, send them a card from my Etsy shop.

Murder for Christmas, 7″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker.

Murder for Christmas card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Murder for Christmas card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Cuppa Gratitude

Tuesday, September 8th, 2015

Cuppa Gratitude by Amy Crook

Cuppa Gratitude by Amy Crook

It’s the last day of September’s Floating Gallery, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s emailed me to comment on a piece, set up a payment plan, or bought art outright. Every one of you is awesome!

The latest Cuppa is charmingly decked out in a warm, cosy piece of knitwear! The bright red cable knit cradles the bright green cup, almost a holiday feel with the gold gilding the edges but also evoking the color of new leaves and green tea.

Hand knits always make me think of gifts created with love, especially one that fits its intended wearer so well. The intricacies of cabling and seed stitch evoke hours of careful attention to detail, and the feeling of warmth seeping through the wool.

What better to be grateful for than a hot cup of tea?

Cuppa Gratitude, 7″x5″ pen & ink, watercolor, and metallic watercolor on paper.

Cuppa Gratitude, detail, by Amy Crook

Cuppa Gratitude, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the slightly mad inking I did on the cable knit design for the cup cosy. Below, the cuppa is tucked into a frame to keep it extra warm.

Cuppa Gratitude, framed art by Amy Crook

Cuppa Gratitude, framed art by Amy Crook

Whether you’re seeing this on the blog or in your email, thank you again for being awesome!

Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Fairytale Sky 11

Monday, September 7th, 2015

Fairytale Sky 11 by Amy Crook

Fairytale Sky 11 by Amy Crook

Against the soft background of salt-created stars and matte teal night, the glowing moon and iridescent clouds look like enamel, more substance than mist and light. The clouds are mainly a beautiful turquoise with odd purple lowlights that appear and disappear as you move past it, lined with pearlescent moonlight along the spiral curves and sinuous shapes.

Every Fairytale Sky painting is a little different. This one’s got some serious shine that give it a beautiful feel of a fairy tale just waiting for you to step through and find your magical adventure.

Fairytale Sky, 7″x5″ watercolor, pearlescent watercolor, duochrome watercolor, and salt on paper.

Fairytale Sky 11, detail, by Amy Crook

Fairytale Sky 11, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the velvety softness of the sky and the bright enameled moon floating atop it. Below, the night is captured in a frame, safe and cool even in the day.

Fairytale Sky, framed art by Amy Crook

Fairytale Sky, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Fixed Point

Sunday, September 6th, 2015

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody comic by Amy Crook

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody comic by Amy Crook

The holidays are still far off for most of us, but it’s the time of year when creators have to think about what’s coming up. The Doctor, of course, is always very busy at Christmastime!

Fixed Point, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Fixed Point, a Doctor Who parody card by Amy Crook on Etsy

Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Ferns

Saturday, September 5th, 2015

Ferns, abstract art by Amy Crook

Ferns, abstract art by Amy Crook

A snail’s-eye view of ferns unfolding above you like a forest, full of strange detail and secret sparkle.

The green is a mix of deep Jadeite, mysterious Duochrome Tropic Sunrise, and two different yellows, bringing a bright, new-leaf quality to the foliage. The paint lies thickly on the paper, runnels carved into it like veins in the long leaves, the green settling out to let the sunny yellow undertones shine through.

The sparkle is only really visible in strong light, a secret bit of magic like pollen dusting the leaves.

I’ve done a lot of greens and blues in my Pathways series, perhaps next time I’ll go boldly into the warm end of the spectrum.

Ferns, 8″x8″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Ferns, detail, by Amy Crook

Ferns, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the delicate veins running through the ferns, and the tiniest sparkle of the paint. Below, the ferns are overrunning their terrarium, er, frame.

Ferns, framed art by Amy Crook

Ferns, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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