Archive for the ‘Series and Books’ Category
Home Sweet Yurt
Thursday, January 15th, 2015
Home Sweet Yurt, commission for Jess by Amy Crook
I think Jess can explain this commission way better than I ever could, so allow me to put it in her words:
Have you ever had a friend who just totally gets you, right down to your very core, and she still doesn’t run away screaming? That’s my friend, A. Her friendship came into my life during a time of major changes and chaos, and having that friendship has really helped me stay grounded; she’s able to help me grow as a person while still totally accepting me, no questions asked, for the person I am right now.
I knew Amy had a lot of experience with fanatical fangirl expressions in art form, because I’ve long been a fan of her Etsy shop. I wanted to get a custom illustration for my best friend that would represent our friendship in a way that was both awesome and full of nerdy fun. I asked Amy to draw Spock to represent me (knowing she was already quite experienced in that area), and I hoped she wouldn’t turn me down when I asked her to put Spock next to Ironhide, who’s a Transformer (A is a big fan). And, on top of that, I wanted them to be making a quilt together (because, of course they’d be making quilts together! Right?!?).
Of course, I should have known, Amy was totally up to the challenge! This illustration is perfect; it’s everything I wanted, and THEN some. It’s so whimsical and fun while being a true representation of two fandoms that my best friend and I are really into, and it’s the perfect tribute to our friendship.
I gave it to her for Christmas, and she totally loved it! Her inner spark just glowed at the way Amy was able to translate our friendship onto paper, proving once again that a picture is definitely worth a thousand words (and then some)! It was the perfect thing to symbolize the past year of growing our friendship in ways neither of us imagined, and it’s a gift she will treasure forever.
In case you’re wondering, if you’ve got even just a faint idea of a cool piece of art you’d like to see come to life, Amy’s your girl. She was able to firm up the details and really polish the rough idea I had in my head to turn it into something that is going to be a treasured piece of art in my best friend’s collection. It was so easy to work with her on this project, and her talents did NOT disappoint.
Every fangirl dreams of having an an artist who gets it, to bring our fantasies to life with markers & paints. Amy is that artist; she’s one of us.
-Jess C.
https://instagram.com/p/xSeERTKu7A/
If you’re reading this as an email and can’t see the Instagram above (it seems to get broken going through Mailchimp, click here to see the full post!
Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: all rights reserved, commission, copic marker, get your own, nfs, pen and ink, sold, spock, star trek, transformers
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Windswept
Wednesday, January 7th, 2015
Windswept by Amy Crook
We’ve been having strong winds all this past week, so I find this painting very appropriate indeed! The sky is darkening for a storm, swirls of storm-heavy blue-green clouds in the sky hovering above the windblown trees below.
My street is lined with mostly normal-sized trees, but there’s this one huge one that I can always see blowing just like this on windy days that stands up above the rest, and helped to inspire me. I think my favorite part are the little leaves caught up in the wind, being swept away on an adventure.
I’m not sure I ever quite captured the color of this sky in any of the photos this time, or the subtle, delicious spirals hiding up in the cloud bank.
Windswept, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Windswept, detail, by Amy Crook
In this detail you can see a bit of the painterly trees with their escaping leaves, and a little of the curling, swirling sky above. Below, the painting is tucked in a temporary frame, waiting to find its forever home.
Windswept, detail, by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: horizons, nfs, sold, tree, watercolor
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Threes
Monday, January 5th, 2015
Threes by Amy Crook
Three trees. Three flying birds. Three elements – trees, birds, sky. Three threes give this painting its title, a little bit of simple magic. I think perhaps I heard that Schoolhouse Rock song a few too many times as a kid.
I really love this sunset with its pinks, golds, oranges, and reds all glowing with the light of a sun just below the horizon.
Threes, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Threes, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of the third tree and my sneaky little two that made it into a painting mostly of threes. Below, you can see it in its small frame, just the size for a desk or tiny bit of wall that needs some color and beauty.
Threes, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: crow, horizons, nfs, pen and ink, sold, sunset, tree, watercolor
Plant This Acorn
Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
Plant This Acorn by Amy Crook
Speaking of adventures and inspiration, this piece was inspired by The Hobbit movies, especially the newest one, though the quote is my own.
I would plant this acorn in your name, but I’d rather grow old with you.
I went for simplicity in this painting, layering glazes in shades of brown, gold, and a little red in the leaf, a little green in the body of the acorn. The writing is a version of my own handwriting. It is meant to evoke both nature and sentiment, a connection to the earth and trees but most of all a connection to a loved one.
Plant This Acorn, 4″x6″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Plant This Acorn, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the acorn with its little touches of green in the brown, against the red-brown of the oak leaf. Below, I’ve slipped the piece into a warm wooden frame, all ready for its new home.
Plant This Acorn, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Card Design, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Words Words Words
Tags: acorn, calligraphy, etsy, hobbit, leaf, nfs, oak, pen and ink, sold, watercolor
Ignite
Friday, January 2nd, 2015
Ignite by Amy Crook
Some fireworks to start off 2015!
This is the third in my Aglow series, taking the hues completely away from purple and black and setting them alight.
I want this painting to inspire you to coax the spark of hope and creativity in yourself to a proper bright bonfire. Ignite your passions, ignite your career, ignite yourself.
Ignite, 8″x8″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Ignite, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the rich red with the gorgeous metallic word both catching the sunlight and looking like they’re on fire. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, with perhaps the most accurate colors of the three images.
Ignite, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: aglow, calligraphy, fire, for sale, gold, metallic, orange, red, watercolor, yellow
Autumn
Saturday, December 6th, 2014
Autumn by Amy Crook
Purple and orange! Two favorite colors of one of my favorite people, who no doubt is wishing I would spell it favourite colours instead.
The purple is dusky, muted, and stormy, with the hint of clouds or even rain in the grainy, textured wash. The reds, golds, and oranges cluster along the gold-tinged horizon, with branches that actually hold leaves. These are totally happy trees, with a central structure showing through and the splotchy, painterly foliage brightening the sky. Seven crows fly above, one dipping down to admire the trees up close, all of them a dark black silhouetted against the stormy autumn sky.
This painting perfectly encapsulates my favorite season, with a touch of Halloween, a little Thanksgiving, and a whole lot of autumnal cheer.
Autumn, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the warm, splotchy trees and cool skies above, and the tiny crows chilling out on an updraft. Below, the piece is in a temporary frame, waiting to go to its new home.
Autumn, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: horizons, nfs, orange, purple, sold, tree, watercolor
Sunset Silhouette
Thursday, December 4th, 2014
Sunset Silhouette by Amy Crook
The branches on this tree are fine as lace, a complicated fractal of interlocking shapes with three birds silhouetted inside. A red-gold sunset paints the sky behind, giving drama to this small work of art.
The sky is very loose and painterly, while the tree and birds are stark black in contrast.
This painting is shot of brightness as we approach the darkest time of the year, wintry with the bare branches and yet full of the colors of spring.
Sunset Silhouette, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Sunset Silhouette, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can really see the lace-fine details in the branches, and the three birds chilling out in the few open spots. Below, the piece is tucked into a frame so you can admire its compactness.
Sunset Silhouette, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: crow, horizons, nfs, orange, pen and ink, sold, tree, watercolor
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