Posts Tagged ‘black paper’
Hoarfrost
Saturday, February 3rd, 2018
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
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
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: black and white, black paper, for sale, interference, watercolor
Hurtling Through the Void
Saturday, November 4th, 2017
Hurtling Through the Void, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on Arches cover black paper
A pockmarked planetoid hurtles through the nothingness of space in this subtle, fascinating mixed media work. Reds and golds ride on the velvety charcoal background, and a subtle debossing effect makes the corona and tail of this coment seem to disappear.
This painting is perfect for someone who likes to be surprised, to find the hidden details in a seemingly simple image, to imagine their own narrative in abstract art.
Who do you know like that in your life?
Hurtling Through the Void, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the divots left by the ink pen and the way the red ink catches the light in chameleon colors. Below, the frame makes a portal to some outer space where you can watch asteroids go by at your leisure.
Hurtling Through the Void, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: black paper, for sale, metallic, pen and ink, salt, watercolor
May Patreon Sketches
Tuesday, May 30th, 2017
May 2017 Patreon patron sketches by Amy Crook
June is just around the corner and now’s a great time to become my patron on Patreon! Here’s last month’s sketches, all of which turned out to be bookmarks for various reasons.
Roxanne asked for “Winter Soldier” and I gave her a chibi cutie. Kim wanted “mist” so I experimented with my watercolors for this beautiful, mysterious tower. Eric asked for my cat Pod as Morgana from Persona, with a special nod to his bagel-thieving ways. And finally, Jeff asked for “giving in to temptation” and has been enjoying the new Twin Peaks, so he got the inevitable donut cartoon.
What would you like to see me draw?
Categories: Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: black paper, captain america, commission, copic marker, japanese watercolor, mcu, nfs, pen and ink, persona, pod, twin peaks, watercolor, winter soldier
Prague Rock
Friday, May 5th, 2017
Prague Rock, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper
Another city gilded in metallic shine, only this one has silver starlight instead of golden sunlight glinting off the roofs and towers. The night has washed the city in shades of blue-violet, stealing away whatever color it has in the daytime.
The architecture here riffs on Prague without really being accurate in any way to any part of it. Much like the Painted Ladies, it’s more the idea of a city than a portrait of it, the feeling of somewhere magical you could live, if only you could turn just the right corner.
Prague Rock, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the light glinting off the silver highlights on the stars and spires. Below, this smaller city is nestled in a frame, like a window to somewhere you wish you could go.
Prague Rock, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black paper, city, for sale, horizons, japanese watercolor, metallic, stars, watercolor
Halloween Pathways
Thursday, May 4th, 2017
Halloween Pathways, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches Cover black paper
Deep charcoal supports and subdues the bright Halloween orange in this latest Pathways painting.
The image suggests bold autumn trees, lit by the last orange rays of sunlight slanting towards them. Or is it a bright potion bubbling over the sides of an iron cauldron? Perhaps you see the stripes on some deadly orange monster instead.
The simple-seeming monochrome hides a depth of color and detail that will give you hours of peaceful contemplation while you sit and sip cider and think of Halloweens to come.
Halloween Pathways, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the the way the charcoal blackness of the paper draws the orange into itself, lending a base of deep gloom to the holiday brightness of it. Below, the painting is tucked into a frame, just waiting to haunt your home.
Halloween Pathways, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: black paper, for sale, halloween, interference, orange, pathways, watercolor
Diverge
Saturday, October 8th, 2016
Diverge, 10″x8″ watercolor and interference watercolor on Arches cover black paper
The watery, shimmery blue Pathways are diverging in this layered abstract painting.
A subtle, mottled pattern of dark blues and black voids hides behind the turquoise waterfalls spilling to either side of the central path. The texture of the top layer is softened by the paint beneath it, but the sparkle shines through in the right light.
These pathways diverge, but for once you can have it both ways.
Diverge, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see one set of divergent pathways running over the soft, textured background in dark blue and darker black. Below, the pathways are contained in a frame, reminding us to look both ways.
Diverge, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Tentacles
Tags: black paper, blue, for sale, interference, more cowbell, pathways, water, watercolor
Painted Ladies 2
Monday, October 3rd, 2016
Painted Ladies 2, 10″x8″ gansai watercolor on Arches cover black paper
It’s inevitable, living near San Francisco as I do, that I would revisit the Painted Ladies theme.
This time a soft, seafoam green permeates the beautiful Victorian row houses, each with a unique facade that nonetheless echoes its neighbors. The clouds above look like cotton puffs, fluffily floating along among the shining stars in the velvety black sky.
This paper is unique because it gets its color from a chemical process, so the black is lightfast. Though of course it’s never a good idea to put artwork in a sunny spot, it’s good to know it won’t become grey over the years.
Painted Ladies 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a close-up of a few of the charming faces on the painted ladies. Below, they’re tucked into a simple frame, just waiting to add charm and elegance to your home.
Painted Ladies, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: black paper, city, for sale, green, horizons, japanese watercolor, painted ladies, row houses, stars, watercolor
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