Archive for the ‘Whimsical and Strange’ Category

Whimsical Doldrums 2

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018

Whimsical Doldrums 2 by Amy Crook, loose ink-brushed buildings smudged with color under a grey-blue rain

Whimsical Doldrums 2, 10″x8″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

These particular doldrums have a bit more color and less stormy skies than the last set, but never fear, there’s still a secret cat.

The heavens rain down on this strange city full of everything from crystal towers to wobbling skyscrapers, a motley of unusual architecture just waiting to bring a smile to your space.

Where would you hang this to turn someone’s frown upside down?

Whimsical Doldrums 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Whimsical Doldrums 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a few of the buildings up close, their loose ink and soft washes of color bringing delight to the gloom. Below, the painting waits in a frame, hoping for a forever home to grace with its fanciful ways.

Whimsical Doldrums 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Whimsical Doldrums 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Cloud Cover

Wednesday, August 8th, 2018

Cloud Cover by Amy Crook, an ink-painted winter tree against a cloudy blue-grey sky with two crows

Cloud Cover, 8″x10″ ink and watercolor on artboard

A sky filled with clouds, covered from horizon to infinity with smudging swirls of blue-grey in an endless cover. A skeletal tree rises up against it, the details fine as lace. Branches tangle and twist, while a black bird comes to rest, wings a blur of motion, and another flies close.

A lot of this month’s paintings are dichromatic, ink on paint, a mix of a beautiful, nearly abstract background with a black-painted foreground. This one is made of a dark, opaque ink that holds texture and gives a sense of dimension as well as the simplicity of silhouette.

Cloud Cover, detail, by Amy Crook

Cloud Cover, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the textures of ink, board, and paint weaving together to make a beautiful tree. Below, the painting is in its temporary frame, like a window into a piece of autumn.

Cloud Cover, framed art by Amy Crook

Cloud Cover, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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Whimsical Doldrums

Thursday, August 2nd, 2018

Whimsical Doldrums by Amy Crook, panorama of a bichromatic fantasy city under curlicue rainclouds, ink and watercolor on paper

Whimsical Doldrums, 18″x6″ ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

This particular city skyline has a very specific sort of aesthetic, grim yet filled with delight. From the curlicue clouds to the building that’s a cat, there’s whimsy to go along with the gloom.

The painting is a true panorama, covering a swathe of buildings huddled close against the rain, their outlines loose and details smudged with rainfall.

Where would this whimsical oddity fit into your life?

Whimsical Doldrums, detail, by Amy Crook

Whimsical Doldrums, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of some of the buildings in all their grimly delightful glory. Below, this panoramic piece spans the whole writing desk, even without a frame to contain it.

Whimsical Doldrums by Amy Crook

Whimsical Doldrums by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
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June Patreon Sketches

Wednesday, July 18th, 2018

 

Sketches for Patreon supporters by Amy Crook, including Bitty from OMCP, Matt from Swan Song, and others

Sketches for Patreon supporters by Amy Crook, June 2018

My patient Patreon supporters have sketches! They’re all pretty bad about asking for them, lol, but I love every person anyway since that makes it easier for me to go above and beyond when the mood strikes.

From left to right, we have:

  • “storage units DOOM” for Jeff
  • Bitty from OMGCP for Grace
  • Matt from Swan Song for Corinne
  • and on the bottom, dark and gloomy and fiery for Springbok

Want one of your own? Become a patron!

Categories: Completed Commissions, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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April Patreon Sketches

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018

April 2018 Patreon request sketches by Amy Crook

April 2018 Patreon request sketches by Amy Crook

I finished these a while back but have just gotten around to sharing with you, my lovely readers. You’ve all been so patient with me while I got through my No Good Very Bad Year, thank you.

  1. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, “Happiness” for Jeff
  2. Penguin for Corinne
  3. Books & Tea for Kim
  4. Cat Making a Mistake, “Spring” for Grace
  5. “Squid Friends” for Oscar

Want your own weird little sketch? Support me on Patreon!

Categories: Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Tentacles, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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Deep Ultraviolet

Friday, April 6th, 2018

watercolor painting of tentacles, baby octopuses, and jellyfish on a deep violet backgroudn by Amy Crook

Deep Ultraviolet, 12″x6″ watercolor and white ink on Fluid watercolor paper

In the violet depths of some mysterious sea, light filters down to find shining octopuses, waving tentacle fronds, and frolicking jellyfish.

Ultraviolet is the Pantone color of the year, and somehow the word seemed to fit this mix of vivid purples and shining metallics. There’s a sense of more going on than the eye can see, life just around the corner of vision.

What lies deep in these oceans?

Deep Ultraviolet, detail, by Amy Crook

Deep Ultraviolet, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the iridescent blue and duochrome mauve highlights on the floating jellies. Below, this art is in a temporary frame, waiting to bring its gorgeous mystery into your beautiful home.

Deep Ultraviolet, framed art by Amy Crook

Deep Ultraviolet, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange
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Bees 4

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018

a loose brush painting of a bee on a background of honey-gold splotches, watercolor by Amy Crook

Bees 4, 6″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper

This fat, fuzzy bumblebee is just waiting to bring some sparkly spring into your life!

She’s chilling in this honey-gold world, dusted with glittering pollen and waiting to go out and gather for her queen and hive. She’s covered in fluff that’s perfect for getting the most pollen possible, so make sure to provide plenty of flowers known to help feed the bees.

What season gets you abuzz with joy?

Bees 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Bees 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the background brightened up by sunshine and the sparkling bronzite mineral paint. Below, the bee is in a little frame, waiting to find the perfect flower to make its home.

Bees 4, framed art by Amy Crook

Bees 4, framed art by Amy Crook

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