Archive for the ‘Tentacles’ Category

Shipwreck

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Shipwreck by Amy Crook

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

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

Shipwreck, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles
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Tentacle Deeps 47

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

Tentacle Deeps 47 by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 47 by Amy Crook

The tentacles are back, and it’s even Tuesday! This piece started with the crosshatched background in black Sharpie marker, and then watercolor in layers on top of it. The tentacles themselves are thickly scribbled on, so the iridescent paint has a bit of texture to it where it floats atop the watery teal wash.

Tentacle Deeps 47, 8″x8″ iridescent watercolor and Sharpie marker on Fluid watercolor paper.

Tentacle Deeps 47, detail, by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 47, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sunlight reflecting purple off the iridescent tentacles, and the metallic golden bubbles floating serenely nearby. Below, you can see the piece in a frame on my wall, though without the helpful iPhone which for some reason doesn’t yet come with an anti-gravity feature.

Tentacle Deeps 47, framed art by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 47, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Tentacles
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Lucky Squid

Monday, April 8th, 2013

Lucky Squid cartoon by Amy Crook

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

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

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
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Tying the Knot

Saturday, March 30th, 2013

Tying the Knot, squid cartoon by Amy Crook

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

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

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
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Thank You Squid

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Thank You Squid cartoon by Amy Crook

Thank You Squid cartoon by Amy Crook, $99

Wouldn’t a gift like this make you want to say “Thank You” to the giver? I mean, really, who wouldn’t want a squid that cute? And the squid of course just wants to be loved and appreciated. It’s even sporting a bright red bow!

Thank You Squid, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, $99 with free shipping.

Thank You Squid, detail, by Amy Crook

Thank You Squid, detail, by Amy Crook

Above is the cheery red bow shining in the sun, on top of the squid’s teal head. The original is a gorgeous bright teal color, which of course no screen will ever reproduce properly. Dammit. Below, he’s hanging out in a frame with an octopus from Ikea. Well, pentapus, really. Ikea’s a bit odd that way.

Thank You Squid, framed art by Amy Crook

Thank You Squid, framed art by Amy Crook

  • Title: Thank You 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, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: , , , , ,


Sad and Sorry Squid

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

Sad and Sorry Squid cartoon by Amy Crook

Sad and Sorry Squid cartoon by Amy Crook

This little blue fellow is very, very sorry for whatever you did to make him angry. Won’t you forgive him? He’s just blue all over from regretting what he said.

I designed him to go with my other squid cards at Etsy, and I think he’d make a very effective apology.

Sad and Sorry Squid, 5″x5″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.

Squid Apology Card at Etsy by Amy Crook

Squid Apology Card at Etsy by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles
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Tentacle Idol

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

Tenatcle Idol by Amy Crook

Tentacle Idol by Amy Crook

When I look at the final piece, I imagine some sort of dizzying bas relief in a hidden temple under the depths of the ocean or out of some horrific dreamland in one of HP Lovecraft’s tales. The sepia shadows and gold highlights give this art a steampunk air, but the way the art fades to a vortex of swirling madness is pure horror.

Tentacle Idol, 8″x8″ sumi-e ink, Sharpie marker, and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Tentacle Idol, detail, by Amy Crook

Tentacle Idol, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of some of the swirling tentacles, their gilt textured and worn, the spirals and suckers just uneven enough to be unsettling if you stare too long. Below, you can see a the art in a frame, up on one of my lovely wheat-gold walls.

Tentacle Idol, framed art by Amy Crook

Tentacle Idol, framed art by Amy Crook

And this time we have a bit of a bonus! This art started life as an experiment, layering sumi-e ink with Sharpie marker and gold paint and getting… mush. And so, I took photos from the point of mush to show how I nurtured it past the ass point and into a piece of art worth going on your wall.

Getting Past the Ass Point - with Tentacles!

Getting Past the Ass Point – with Tentacles!
a demonstrative gif by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Tentacles
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