Posts Tagged ‘black paper’

Growth 11

Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

Growth 11 by Amy Crook, abstract art in green and metallic on black paper

Growth 11, 5″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

Another Gallery, another Growth.

The theme continues to develop, the feeling of macroscopic or microscopic increasing with this eleventh addition to the series.

A bright green central circle is surrounded, edged and even intruded upon, by metallic dots that stand out from the page. Everything has texture and weight, a presence that makes it fascinating to move in the light, to run fingers over.

There are three layers of gold under the dots, from a deep gold near the center through nearly silver.

What do you need to support your growth?

Growth 11, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 11, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the little pearls of green and gold up close and personal. Below, the piece is in its tiny frame, already trying to outgrow its confines.

Growth 11, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 11, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Always Punch Nazis

Saturday, August 4th, 2018

Always Punch Nazis by Amy Crook, abstract art with metallic silver, red, and blue on black paper

Always Punch Nazis, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally wormed its way into your artist’s brain, and this is the first abstract of 3 to honor the early movies.

Captain America throws his shield in beautiful arcs, dim lights shining off it as he attacks Nazis and their HYDRA offshoots alike. This painting is meant to represent the swoosh of the shield flying past — or into — someone’s face.

A blur of motion and just a hint of patriotic color.

Happy 100th Birthday, Captain Rogers! #AlwaysPunchNazis

Always Punch Nazis, detail, by Amy Crook

Always Punch Nazis, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see up close the sparkling sense of violent motion in red, white, and blue. Below, you can see the painting in a frame, trying to contain the Captain’s determination.

Always Punch Nazis, framed art by Amy Crook

Always Punch Nazis, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Kelp 2

Sunday, April 8th, 2018

abstract art of turquoise blue cascading upwards on black paper, with occasional horizontal breaks in the flow, by Amy Crook

Kelp 2, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper

Shining fronds in beautiful blue-green rise up through the charcoal depths of this lightfast paper, with the occasional horizontal detour into shelf-like protrusions.

Another installment in the Pathways series, this painting takes a simple monochrome palette and breaks it into glittering particles. Each little piece of color seems to shine with its own shade of blue, green, or silver, shifting oh-so-subtly as it moves through the light.

Where do you need something beautiful to catch the light in your life?

Kelp 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Kelp 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the subtle sparkle of mica-laden paints and the beautiful rivulets of thick paint and dancing void. Below, the painting is sitting in a frame, a waving undersea frond trapped in its own little aquarium.

Kelp 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Kelp 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Series and Books
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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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Hurtling Through the Void

Saturday, November 4th, 2017

Hurtling Through the Void, abstract art by Amy Crook

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

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

Hurtling Through the Void, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
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May Patreon Sketches

Tuesday, May 30th, 2017

May 2017 Patreon patron sketches by Amy Crook

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
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Prague Rock

Friday, May 5th, 2017

Prague Rock by Amy Crook

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

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

Prague Rock, framed art by Amy Crook

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