Archive for the ‘Whimsical and Strange’ Category
Vampire Bat
Saturday, June 6th, 2015
Vampire Bat by Amy Crook
Continuing in the same vein as Tuesday I have another minimalist brush painting, this time of a big-eared bat. With his swooping wings and giant ears, something about his face makes me think inevitably of Gary Oldman as aged Dracula. Clearly the costumer and I were working from similar inspiration.
I actually had to do this one twice, I dropped the brush onto the paper on the first go, which can be a happy accident in some things, but not this one. I’m actually happier with the second version anyway, so it all works out.
I just want to rub his fuzzy little belly!
Vampire Bat, 7″x5″ brush and ink on paper.
Vampire Bat, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see all the details in his adorable little face, including the glinting reflection in his eyes. Below, he’s resting in a frame, just waiting to fly over to you.
Vampire Bat, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: baaaaaaaats, bat, bronze, brush and ink, for sale
Cat Naps
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015
Cat Naps by Amy Crook
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
Songbird
Wednesday, May 20th, 2015
Songbird by Amy Crook
My mother admired Jo’s Raptor, and so I decided to paint her a songbird of her own for Mother’s Day. This brush-and-ink style is always an interesting challenge in balancing detail versus simplicity. This little guy is just waiting for his chance to break out in song to herald the long-awaited return of spring.
The original is already in its new home, but you can buy him on a blank card at Etsy.
Songbird, 7″x5″ brush and ink on paper.
Songbird greeting card by Amy Crook at Etsy
Categories: Card Design, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: bird, brush and ink, brush pen, etsy, nfs
Unlock Me
Tuesday, May 5th, 2015
Unlock Me by Amy Crook
I’ve been working hard on a new novel, Unboxed, which should be out sometime this summer. There’s a theme of keys and locks in it, and this lovely painting is part of the cover art.
Lovely hand-painted filigree in a warm rosy gold frames a mysterious keyhole, just waiting for the right key to come unlock it. There’s 3 painted gemstones held in the spirals and curls of the metal. The background is a dark brown woodgrain, the opening of this mysterious box kept safe and sound by the lock that covers it.
This painting gives a fairytale sense of mystery, inviting speculation and storytelling of your own to explain the reason for the lock, who has the key, and what hides inside.
Unlock Me, 8″x10″ Japanese and metallic watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Unlock Me, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the painting washed with sunlight, catching on the gold and copper paint that make up the filigree design. Below, the painting sits in a frame, a fairytale just waiting to be told.
Unlock Me, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black paper, i made this, japanese watercolor, metallic, nfs, sold, unboxed
Cuppa Curiosity
Saturday, May 2nd, 2015
Cuppa Curiosity by Amy Crook
Continuing the series, I have another cheerful, illustrative cup of tea.
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back. This adorable little black cat cup has a tail for a handle, a pair of sugar mice for sweetness, and a friendly bee resting on his nose. His green eye and the golden bee both have a bit of metallic gold paint on them to add shine to this adorable illustration.
Cuppa Curiosity, 7″x5″ pen & ink, watercolor, and metallic watercolor on paper.
Cuppa Curiosity, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see both the metallic highlights and painted white tooth and eye-shine that give this adorable kitty and bee extra life. Below, you can see the cuppa in a frame, waiting patiently to be put in a carrier and sent to its new home.
Cuppa Curiosity, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: bee, cat, cuppa, metallic watercolor, nfs, pen and ink, sold, tea, watercolor
Cuppa Exuberance
Saturday, April 4th, 2015
Cuppa Exuberance by Amy Crook
I love tea, and I love teacups in all their strange and varied glory. There’s a design for everyone out there, and I decided to take my hand at drawing a few.
The first in a series, this cheerful cup of spring is leaping in its exuberance for life. From sky blue to gentle green, the lovely purple of crocuses and the soft yellow bumblebee, this cup celebrates the changing of the seasons.
I hand-painted metallic gold over certain details, including the word “exuberance” on the teabag tag, just like a real china cup might have.
You can bring a sense of celebration into your life every day with this Cuppa Exuberance.
Cuppa Exuberance, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.
Cuppa Exuberance, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the shine of golden paint on the lovely purple tea tag, and the soft grey ink I used to for the linework on this pastel cuppa. Below, you can see it tucked into a frame, its enthusiasm gently contained.
Cuppa Exuberance, framed at by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: cuppa, metallic watercolor, nfs, pen and ink, sold, tea, watercolor
The Sun Has Fallen for the Moon
Thursday, April 2nd, 2015
The Sun Has Fallen for the Moon by Amy Crook
This painting is inspired by a line in a Teddy Geiger song, “The sun had fallen for the moon.” I brought it into the present tense to go with the sun’s adoring eyes, and the moon’s sweet blush. The sky is quite pale, the very end of sunset on a day without too many clouds, night just starting to lower its curtain and snuff out the glow of day.
The wobbly white brush calligraphy along the dark horizon adds to the sweetness of the scene, making it feel even more like a fairy tale. The sense of magic and romance fits well with the soft colors of the sky, blues and purples, oranges and golds.
Bring this little start of a story into your life, and spend as long as you like figuring out how their tale ends. The sun has fallen for the moon… but what happens next?
The Sun Has Fallen for the Moon, 6″x6″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
The Sun Has Fallen for the Moon, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the moon’s shining face, her soft features and the most delicate of blue blushes on her round cheeks. Below, the piece is in a temporary frame, but I think would look best with a custom mat to set off the colors.
The Sun Has Fallen for the Moon, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: moon, nfs, sold, sunset, watercolor
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