Posts Tagged ‘bloodstone’

Drowned and Dreamt

Thursday, September 4th, 2014

Drowned and Dreamt, abstract art by Amy Crook

Drowned and Dreamt by Amy Crook

This gorgeously morbid piece of abstract art was inspired by the opening credits to Skyfall, and the colors and textures of the blood in the water. I used several washes to give the background its grainy fade of blue-green, and then two colors of opaque Japanese watercolors for the reds, and I’m quite pleased with the final effect.

Drowned and Dreamt, 4″x8″ watercolor and Japanese watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Drowned and Dreamt, detail, by Amy Crook

Drowned and Dreamt, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the brightest reds and the way they interact with the green background where they’re thinner and more translucent. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, an eerie tribute to a visually stunning film.

Drowned and Dreamt, framed art by Amy Crook

Drowned and Dreamt, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Blood from a Stone 2

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Blood from a Stone 2, abstract art by Amy Crook

Blood from a Stone 2 by Amy Crook, $323

The vivid, rich fuchsia in this piece, against the backdrop of soft black-brown bloodstone watercolor, couldn’t help but remind me of my cartoon of Kristine and her awesome pink-streaked hair. Despite that, I decided to stick with the horror theme from Tuesday’s art and name it after the bloodstone paint.

Blood from a Stone 2, 7″x5″ mixed media on paper, $323, framed, with free shipping.

The vivid pink — which is as close to red as I’ve gotten so far, using dense swirls of blood-red ink — makes this piece extra special hell to photograph. I do love how the salt crystals look like candy here, though I wouldn’t advise trying to lick them.

Blood from a Stone 2, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Blood from a Stone 2, detail 1, by Amy Crook

I totally dig the little ziggurat formations that I sometimes get, though I have no idea how to create them on purpose.

Blood from a Stone 2, detail 2, by Amy Crook

Blood from a Stone 2, detail 2, by Amy Crook

It looks great in its black frame, the pink is gorgeously vivid and the soft, matte paint provides a lovely contrast.

Blood from a Stone 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Blood from a Stone 2, framed, by Amy Crook, $323

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
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The Stars Are Right

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

The Stars Are Right, abstract art by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right by Amy Crook

The dark skies framing the glowing salt stars are painted in my newest art supply acquisition, paint made from actual Bloodstone. The color looks a bit more brownish to my eye, but the scanner definitely gave it a green tinge more like the actual stone looks before it’s ground up and made into paint. I have a number of the oil paints from this line (I love the Amazonite green), but this is my first foray into the watercolors, and I love the granular texture the paint gets as it dries.

The arrangement of green salt formations really reminded me of a constellation, and the color of course made me think of Cthulhu, especially with the Bloodstone watercolor to ground it, so that’s where the piece gets its name. After all, Cthulhu is merely snoozing until the stars align and new reign begins. In a strictly fictional manner, of course.

The Stars Are Right, 7″x5″ salt, pen & ink and watercolor on Arches cover white paper.

The Stars Are Right, detail, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right, detail, by Amy Crook

Above you can see a bit more of what the paint looks like in the sunlight, the warm brown-black setting off the cool green quite nicely. Below, I’ve got the piece in a simple black frame that protects the salt crystals and brings out the color in the bloodstone.

The Stars Are Right, framed art by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art
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