Posts Tagged ‘black and white’

Night Snow

Saturday, November 2nd, 2019

abstract art of white ink on black paper depicting a flurry of fat snowflakes by Amy Crook

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

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

Night Snow, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Whimsical and Strange
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Hoarfrost

Saturday, February 3rd, 2018

Hoarfrost, abstract art by Amy Crook

Hoarfrost, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

Frost forms in the dark and cold, climbing up unseen supports to turn the world into an alien landscape. This icy black-and-white beauty has a slight sheen of copper, the hint of sunrise glinting off its shapes and surfaces.

This latest Pathways painting is a small window into a world of chill beauty — perfect for those winter babies among us who love the idea of frost all year round.

These paintings have a kind of contemplative complexity to them, for all their simple palettes and design. A moment of meditation at your fingertips.

Hoarfrost, detail, by Amy Crook

Hoarfrost, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shine of copper mixed in with the white, like a sunrise just peeking over the horizon and reflecting off the night’s frost. Below, the painting rests in its small frame, waiting to add a little bite of winter to a bookshelf, niche, or hidden corner.

Hoarfrost, framed art by Amy Crook

Hoarfrost, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Catnap

Thursday, December 8th, 2016

Catnap by Amy Crook

Catnap, 12″x9″ ink on Strathmore watercolor paper

If you’ve admired my sketchbook cats, this one is for you — a full-size zen kitty napping away, graceful sweeps of the brush creating a beautifully minimalist rendition of feline repose.

The larger size looks elegant in a frame, the simple black and white adding the perfect touch to any room.

The contrast between the loose stroke of the back and tail and the finer detail in the ears and face evokes the many contrasts inherent in a cat’s nature.

Catnap, detail, by Amy Crook

Catnap, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the delightful contrast between the delicate ears and swooping tail. Below, the art is in a frame, the larger size giving a lovely elegance to the charming image. This is one piece of cat art no one will call kitsch!

Catnap, framed art by Amy Crook

Catnap, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
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Growth 7

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Growth 7, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 7, 7″x5″ brush & ink and pen & ink on paper

This is the first of my Growth series to actually have a Zen circle as its central motif. It explores the idea of directionality, suggesting a different kind of movement than the previous ones with their more symmetrical designs.

The softer grey ink circles seem to propel the larger one rather than being thrust from it, ghostly next to the solidity of the black.

The liminal space is tangible here, messy, a dark presence that dominates visually while still giving a grounding point for the vaporous grey bubbles, like matter changing to another state.

Growth 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the tiny cluster of growths on the inner surface of the Zen circle. Below, this ink art is in a frame, a petite exploration of liminality and motion.

Growth 7, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 7, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Nine Crows

Saturday, May 3rd, 2014

Nine Crows by Amy Crook

Nine Crows by Amy Crook

 

Nine tiny crows fly in from afar, black against a stark white page. The widescreen expanse of paper adds to the feeling of distance.

 

 

Nine Crows, 8″x4″ pen & ink on Fluid watercolor paper.

Nine Crows, detail, by Amy Crook

Nine Crows, detail, by Amy Crook

As above, so below.

Nine Crows, framed art by Amy Crook

Nine Crows, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Giant Rats 2: Murder? Good.

Thursday, August 8th, 2013

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. Sherlock art by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good.
Sherlock art by Amy Crook

Three! Three whole pages inked, ah-ah-ah-aaah. I’m going to try to keep up some sort of useful pace with this project so that someday I might actually get the whole book done and able to be printed in one way or another. After Sherlock’s gratuitous snottiness in the first one, John’s very pleased to see Lestrade’s face and have the prospect of a case to keep Sherlock amused.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. 7″x5″ pen & ink on paper.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. detail by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good.
detail by Amy Crook

In keeping with the tradition, above you can see the painstaking pattern on Sherlock’s chair, as well as John’s welcoming smile for Lestrade. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, though it will have a long wait before it can go visit anyone at home. Also, a gratuitous hedgehog.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good. framed art by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 2: Murder? Good.
framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Works In Progress
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Giant Rats 1: Blogging Again?

Thursday, July 18th, 2013

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1, Blogging Again? Sherlock art by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1: Blogging Again?
Sherlock art by Amy Crook

Ages ago, I started a little project combining the worlds of Sherlock with Edward Gorey and my own twisted mind, and I’ve finally gotten back to it! I scripted a 20-page story based incredibly loosely on the offhand mention in one of the original stories of the giant rats of Sumatra, and I have page 1 here for you. Page 2 is sketched, and hopefully this will start the ball rolling a little faster. I’d like to eventually publish them into a little book, which means that there’ll be front and back art, as well, but I think getting more than 2 pages done is the next step.

These pages aren’t for sale yet, because if I do make a book, I’ll try to use Kickstarter to fund it, in which case they’ll be a premium reward level.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1: Blogging Again?, 7″x5″ pen & ink on paper, nfs (for now).

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1: Blogging Again? detail, by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1: Blogging Again?
detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the fine pen texture on Sherlock’s chair. Below, I’ve got it in a frame along with one of my own volumes of Sherlock Holmes.

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1: Blogging Again? framed art by Amy Crook

Giant Rats of Sumatra, page 1: Blogging Again?
framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Works In Progress
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2 Comments »


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