Archive for the ‘Series and Books’ Category
Every Step
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015
This painting has a secret! I got some wonderful Noodler’s Blue Ghost UV-reactive ink recently, and unlike the other Aglow paintings, this one hides its message, which reads, “every step that I ran to you.”
The painting itself ranges from the clear blue of a deep lagoon around to the rich greens of jungle plants, with the curl of white sand beach in the middle. Waves of pale paint lap inward until there’s nothing but the paper at the very center. You can’t see a hint of the invisible ink in normal light.
Don’t worry, though, I’ll ship it with a UV keylight so you can always revisit the sweet sentiment.
Every Step, 8″x8″ brush & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Every Step, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a bit of the classified, curving calligraphy lit by the UV glow. Below, the painting is in a frame, the ink truly invisible to the naked eye.

Every Step, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: aglow, brush and ink, for sale, invisible ink, watercolor
Cat Naps
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015
Cats! Lazy, languid, liquid cats. I first explored this idea in a sketchy little bookmark, but of course with only room for three poses it wasn’t nearly enough.
I took inspiration from my own ridiculous pets, Belladonna and Pod, and of course the many cats on the internet.
I have trouble choosing a favorite — what’s yours?
Cat Naps, 5″x7″ brush and ink on paper.

Cat Naps, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close up of the fine brush work on this sleeping kitty, rich with texture despite the minimalist design. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, just waiting to add some extra kitty zen to your life.

Cat Naps, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: brush and ink, brush pen, cat, cats, nfs, sold, zen
Bart & Chris
Monday, May 25th, 2015
This summer, Daron’s Guitar Chronicles is only posting once a week (woe!) while Cecilia writes a bunch of other things she’s likely being paid better for. So, her fans are stepping up to the plate and taking over the other posting day!
After a bit of discussion in the comments, it was decided the rest of Moondog 3 needed to take the spotlight. On the left we have Bart, the bassist, with his red bow tie and angelic curls. On the left is Christian, the drummer, tall and skinny with the kind of hair you’d expect from a drummer in an ’80s band.
Bart & Chris, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper. Get them on a greeting card at Etsy.

Bart & Chris greeting card at Etsy by Amy Crook
Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, daron moondog, dgc, etsy, for sale, pen and ink
Cyberman
Monday, May 18th, 2015
It’s time for an upgrade! This guy will be happy to help you be the best version of yourself, where by best we mean Cyberman. I even made him into a birthday card, which you can buy at my Etsy shop.
If you want to be the proud owner of the original art, you’ll see it for sale in this month’s Floating Gallery.
Cyberman, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Cyberman birthday card by Amy Crook on Etsy
Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, cybermen, doctor who, etsy, for sale, pen and ink
4 Lord of the Rings bookmarks
Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
As you can see from the date in the signature, I actually drew these last year for one of my darling patrons, and then apparently never shared them with you! Legolas, Gimli, Boromir and Aragorn are all ready to strike out with their hobbits (and wizard) and get the ring to Mordor. Even if Boromir is convinced one does not simply walk there.
The originals are long gone, but you can get your very own printed set on Etsy.
4 Lord of the Rings bookmarks, various sizes, pen & ink and Copic marker on watercolor paper.

4 Lord of the Rings bookmarks by Amy Crook on Etsy
Categories: Card Design, Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: aragorn, boromir, copic marker, etsy, gimli, legolas, lotr, nfs, pen and ink, sold
One for Sorrow 2
Friday, May 8th, 2015
I’m not entirely happy with the title One for Sorrow 2, but this painting definitely needed that name, prior use notwithstanding. The single baleful crow sits high in the branches of the windswept tree, its image smeared out into the fog like an apparition, as though the bird is more of a ghost than the figure below.
There is a lot of very pale detail in the trees and sky which is hard to photograph, but shows up beautifully in person and adds another layer to the sense of windswept, foggy unreality. The detail photo shows a little of the sky, but it’s hard to spot on the sun-drenched page.
The lovely, textured greys are also not entirely black, but have a mix of reddish brown bloodstone in them to give the whole piece a more organic, grounded atmosphere.
One for Sorrow 2, 6″x6″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

One for Sorrow 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can just barely see the texture in the fog, a hint of wind and motion and shapes looming large and distant. Below, you can see the piece in a temporary frame, just waiting to haunt your house.

One for Sorrow 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: bloodstone, counting crows, crow, nfs, sold, tree, watercolor
Spring Blossoms
Thursday, May 7th, 2015
Despite the lack of rain, spring is most definitely here in California, and the pollen right along with it. The one consolation is the proliferation of beautiful flowering trees, including the famous cherry blossoms.
With this series, I often paint the skies and decide on what goes on the horizon later. This time the clouds came out so fluffy and friendly that I wanted to honour the beautiful spring sky, and so I mixed up a pale, petal pink to bring a sense of warmth and hope to the bare branches.
The colors are very hard to capture when it’s all pale blue and soft pink, and no matter what I do the sky ends up much greener than in real life, so do take the images with a grain of salt. As with anything online, what you see is probably neither what I see nor what reality looks like.
Spring Blossoms, 8″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Spring Blossoms, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the beautiful raised droplets of paint that create the feeling of a cherry tree in full bloom, and a few of the little songbirds flitting in and out of the branches. Below, you can see the painting in a temporary frame — the odd size means it will need a mat of some kind before it goes up on the wall. This is also the photo of the three that best represents the ‘true’ colors, at least on my monitor.

Spring Blossoms, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: horizons, nfs, pen and ink, sold, spring, tree, watercolor
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