Archive for the ‘Whimsical and Strange’ Category
The Things in the Mirror
Tuesday, November 5th, 2019
The Things in the Mirror, 5″x7″ ink and watercolor on paper
Every year, we reread A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny, and I’m always inspired by the story and its amazing illustrations.
This year we have the Things in the Mirror, the slitherers whose main property is, apparently, to be sticky. The grey-on-grey ink wash background suggests an otherworldly space, while the mirror itself is bright with color and shining with gold.
It begs the question, what exactly is the most real space, in or outside of the mirror, and who is actually occupying it?
The Things in the Mirror, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the metallic sheen of gold watercolor and the loose curl of a couple of tentacles up close and personal. Below, the slitherers have been further contained by a picture frame.
The Things in the Mirror, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: for sale, ink wash, pen and ink, tentacles, watercolor, zelazny
Night Snow
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
Night Snow, 6″x4″ ink on Arches cover black paper
The last time I saw snow was a freak storm when I was visiting family last year, but the flakes were just like this, fat and fluffy and white against the darkening sky. There’s a very specific kind of snow that looks this way when it’s falling, and is perfect for snowball fights, snowmen, and going inside afterward to drink cocoa.
The white here is ink rather than paint, and its random-seeming spatter has just enough of a direction to it that you can imagine the wind softly blowing the flakes off their course.
Perfect for a winter soul all year round, or as an elegant decoration that’s more seasonal than holiday-related.
Night Snow, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the soft-edged layers of snowflakes, a few so close and big you could almost catch them on a mitten. Below, I’ve trapped this moment in a frame, just waiting to bring a bit of winter wonderland to you!
Night Snow, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black and white, black paper, ink wash, nfs, snow, sold
Inktober 2019, part 2
Sunday, October 27th, 2019
It’s been quite the October for me, so I’m afraid part 2 is late and long, and part 3 will round out the month for you next week. Thanks for all your patience and support!
Inktober 2019 day 12: Dragon, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on ACEO, wip, nfs
Inktober 2019 day 13: Ash, 5″x7″ brush and ink on paper
Inktober 2019 day 14: Overgrown, 5″x7″ ink wash on paper
Inktober 2019 day 15: Legend, 5″x7″ ink wash on paper
Inktober 2019 day 17: Ornament, 3.5″x2.5″ brush and ink on ACEO card, sold
Inktober 2019 day 18: Misfit, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on ACEO bristol
Inktober 2019 day 19: Sling, 3″x3″ pen and ink on paper, wip
Inktober 2019 day 20: Tread, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on ACEO bristol
Inktober 2019 day 21: Treasure, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on ACEO watercolor card, wip, nfs
Inktober 2019 day 22: Ghost, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on ACEO bristol, sold
Abbreviation decoder ring!
- wip = work in progress, ie, I’m probably going to color some or all of the drawing before it’s really done
- nfs = not for sale, ie, it’s a Patreon sketch and already belongs to someone else
- ACEO = Artist Card, Edition Original, also known as ATC or Artist Trading Card when traded rather than sold, which is a standard size I use for all my Patreon sketches these days
Want to get your own sketches, dibs on art, or just feel the warm glow of being part of my community of supporters? Head over to Patreon and pick a tier to get started! There’s also bonus cat photos sometimes, if that helps.
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Nudes and Other Sexy Things, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: brush and ink, cat, ghost, ink wash, kim, mcu, patreon, pen and ink, pod, winter soldier
Inktober 2019, week 1 plus
Friday, October 11th, 2019
Normally I do these on Mondays, but I was out of town and then there was some kind of power shutoff madness (mine was supposed to go but did not? whatever, PG&E, you run your public utility like the Muppet Show.) So, anyway, here you go, week one-and-then-some of Inktober!
Inktober 2019 day 1: Ring, 7″x5″ pen and ink on paper
Inktober 2019 day 2: Mindless, 5″x7″ pen & ink and ink wash on paper
Inktober 2019 day 3: Bait, 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink, glitter gel pen, and ink wash on ACEO bristol, nfs
Inktober 2019 day 4: Freeze, 3″x3″ pen and ink on paper, wip
Inktober 2019 day 5: Build, ink wash on paper bookmark, sold
Inktober 2019 day 6: Husky, 7″x5″ pen and ink on paper, wip
Inktober 2019 day 7: Enchanted, 5″x7″ ink wash on paper
Inktober 2019 day 8: Frail, pen and ink on a bookmark, wip
Inktober 2019 day 9: Swing, 7″x5″ pen and ink on paper, wip
Inktober 2019 day 10: Pattern, 3.5″x2.5″ brush and ink on ACEO card, nfs
Inktober 2019 day 11: Snow, 6″x4″ white ink on black paper
Abbreviation decoder ring!
- wip = work in progress, ie, I’m probably going to color some or all of the drawing before it’s really done
- nfs = not for sale, ie, it’s a Patreon sketch and already belongs to someone else
- ACEO = Artist Card, Edition Original, also known as ATC or Artist Trading Card when traded rather than sold, which is a standard size I use for all my Patreon sketches these days
Want to get your own sketches, dibs on art, or just feel the warm glow of being part of my community of supporters? Head over to Patreon and pick a tier to get started! There’s also bonus cat photos sometimes, if that helps.
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black paper, brush and ink, brush pen, cthulhu, futhark, hockey, inktober, mcu, patreon, pen and ink, rey, tony stark, tree, water brush, zelazny
99 Tech Toys
Thursday, September 19th, 2019
99 Tech Toys by Amy Crook, 5″x7″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper
When my friend Amber asked me to help her think of a birthday card design to tease her husband about the Switch he didn’t have*, we tossed around a few ideas, but this was the winner. “I got 99 tech toys but a Switch ain’t one” was just too funny not to use, plus it let me design Rap Badass Rey, which will have many uses in the future.
Some of the text was edited in post, mainly the Switch logo effect, because sometimes computers really do just do it better.
*obviously, he got one along with the card
Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: be a cartoon, commission, nfs, pen and ink, rey, sold, watercolor
Stirring Up the Sky
Friday, September 6th, 2019
Stirring Up the Sky, 8″x8″ watercolor on paper
More skies, more sparkles, more moon, more bird!
This one’s got a lovely shimmery background, both moon and sky, which the wings of our crow pick up beautifully. There is some matte black in its head and body and along the arches of its bones, but mostly this crow is like a dream of motion, stirring up the sky. The crow blots out the shine of the moon like the only solid piece of reality in a shining, swirling night.
Where would this beauty fit into your reality?
Stirring Up the Sky, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the deep black of the crow going blurred and sparkly against the turquoise glitter of the moon. Below, the painting is shining out of a frame, waiting to go home with you. Yes, you.
Stirring Up the Sky, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: altered skies, blue moon, crow, duochrome, iridescent, moon, nfs, sold, watercolor
Patreon Sketches, July 2019
Thursday, August 22nd, 2019
6 sketches for Patreon patrons by Amy Crook, July 2019 requests
More Patreon sketches! I’m all caught up now, so there’ll be another half dozen or so next month, from August’s request post. These are all the size of a trading card – 2.5″x3.5″ – and either of bristol board or watercolor paper.
From the top left we have:
- a little doodle for Corinne’s story,
- Lab Coat Pikachu for Eric,
- Mehdays kitty for Jeff,
- a Carousel Selkie for Rebecca,
- “hurry up autumn!” for Kim,
- and some sunshiney goodness for Roxanne.
There’s still time to get in on the goodness for September — I’m giving extra rewards out for my birthday, plus patrons get a preview of all the Floating Gallery art, and a bunch* of other perks. If I get just a few more patrons, I’ll even be adding a new reward to the lineup! Become my patron today.
*including extra cat photos, as voted upon by my patrons
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
Tags: autumn, cat, corinne, crow, cryptid, eric, inception, kim, nfs, patreon, pokemon, sold, tree
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