Archive for the ‘Whimsical and Strange’ Category

Stirring Up the Sky

Friday, September 6th, 2019

Stirring Up the Sky by Amy Crook, watercolor painting of a black crow against a shiny blue moon in a shiny dark blue sky

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

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

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
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Patreon Sketches, July 2019

Thursday, August 22nd, 2019

six small sketches in a grid

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
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May & June 2019 Patreon Sketches, part 2

Thursday, August 1st, 2019

drawings of chocolate, castiel, bubble baby, and hope word art by Amy Crook

ACEO sketches by Amy Crook for Patreon, May-June 2019, part 2

It’s August, how did that happen? Here are the rest of my Patreon sketches from May & June! In part 2, we have:

  • Chocolates for Kim
  • Castiel for Luna
  • Bubble Baby for Amber
  • Hope for Grace

Want one of your own? It’s the perfect time to join my patrons — ask and you shall receive!

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Nudes and Other Sexy Things, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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Spirit Cat

Saturday, July 6th, 2019

Spirit Cat by Amy Crook, a translucent blue watercolor cat with spiral markings

Spirit Cat, 6″x6″ watercolor on paper

Curled up here we have a translucent blue kitty whose nap we’ve clearly interrupted.

Whether spirit, faerie, ghost, or illusion, this kitty definitely has an otherworldly aura about it that outstrips even the usual feline mystery. It’s got a halo of violet in its blue, and the markings start out a bit like your usual tabby before swirling off fancifully into spirals and nothingness.

What sort of cat do you suppose we have here, and will you be the one to adopt it into your family?

Spirit Cat, detail, by Amy Crook

Spirit Cat, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see one little eye peering out like the only solid part of this cat’s form. Below, the cat is napping in its frame, waiting for a carrier to take it home.

Spirit Cat, framed art by Amy Crook

Spirit Cat, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
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Hillside

Friday, March 8th, 2019

Hillside by Amy Crook, a mist-shrouded tree against a glowing sky with a stooping bird of prey overhead

Hillside, 4″x6″ Primatek watercolor on paper

A bird of prey stoops above, but our mere human eyes can’t see what it’s diving for down in the scrub grass clinging to the hillside despite the season. The tree is stripped of its foliage, half vanishing against the twilight, everything softened by mist and distance.

The limited palette blends beautifully, mineral paints that cling together on the soft paper. The sunshine is rust, the sky turquoise and amethyst and barely-there vivianite, creating a glow against which the bloodstone paint seems almost transcendent.

There’s a missing corner on the lower right, but as you can see in the photo, a frame will easily hide the slight imperfection so only you and your artist will know it’s there.

Hillside, detail, by Amy Crook

Hillside, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the twining branches of the tree vanishing into the mists. Below, this small painting rests in its frame, the perfect size to tuck a bit of mystery into your life.

Hillside, framed art by Amy Crook

Hillside, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
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Jellyfish Bloom 2

Saturday, March 2nd, 2019

Jellyfish Bloom 2 by Amy Crook, a strange watercolor painting of transparent jellyfish against a turquoise ocean

Jellyfish Bloom 2, 6″x4″ white ink and watercolor on paper

The jellyfish are blooming again!

Near-transparent against the turquoise sea, they float below and only catch the light when it suits them. Their bodies are made of a shimmering interference blue that nearly vanishes, while the opaque white ink of the ribs and details keeps them visible even when the sunshine is fleeting.

This painting is beautiful in person, a tiny box of jewels to adorn your life in pale blues and enameled whites.

Jellyfish Bloom 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Jellyfish Bloom 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sun glinting off the near-invisible shine of the jellyfish, turning the matte white ink into shadow. Below, you can see these tiny jellies in their own frame, like a tank of lovely pets that never need to be fed.

Jellyfish Bloom 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Jellyfish Bloom 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Baby Cthulhu

Thursday, February 21st, 2019

Cthulhu in a pink bonnet and diaper, with yellow teddy bear slippers, holding a teddy bear's head and sucking on a pacifier, by Amy Crook

Baby Cthulhu, 8″x10″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper

My friend Amber had a baby and I’ve been given the duty of being the lad’s fairy gothmother. So far that’s mostly consisted of helping keep mom sane, but she also commissioned me to draw something for the baby’s room.

Cthulhu here is a bit crabby about his getup, from the pink bonnet and binky to the happy yellow slippers. He’s expressing his displeasure with some rather graphic threats enacted on the poor teddy bear. Watch out, this Elder God’s not too into his naptime after all.

Want a Cthulhu shirt of your own? I put this baby on Redbubble so you, too, can sport a cranky Cthulhu.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Card Design, Completed Commissions, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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