Posts Tagged ‘crow’

Threes

Monday, January 5th, 2015

Threes by Amy Crook

Threes by Amy Crook

Three trees. Three flying birds. Three elements – trees, birds, sky. Three threes give this painting its title, a little bit of simple magic. I think perhaps I heard that Schoolhouse Rock song a few too many times as a kid.

I really love this sunset with its pinks, golds, oranges, and reds all glowing with the light of a sun just below the horizon.

Threes, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Threes, detail, by Amy Crook

Threes, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a close-up of the third tree and my sneaky little two that made it into a painting mostly of threes. Below, you can see it in its small frame, just the size for a desk or tiny bit of wall that needs some color and beauty.

Threes, framed art by Amy Crook

Threes, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Sunset Silhouette

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

Sunset Silhouette by Amy Crook

Sunset Silhouette by Amy Crook

The branches on this tree are fine as lace, a complicated fractal of interlocking shapes with three birds silhouetted inside. A red-gold sunset paints the sky behind, giving drama to this small work of art.

The sky is very loose and painterly, while the tree and birds are stark black in contrast.

This painting is shot of brightness as we approach the darkest time of the year, wintry with the bare branches and yet full of the colors of spring.

Sunset Silhouette, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Sunset Silhouette, detail, by Amy Crook

Sunset Silhouette, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can really see the lace-fine details in the branches, and the three birds chilling out in the few open spots. Below, the piece is tucked into a frame so you can admire its compactness.

Sunset Silhouette, framed art by Amy Crook

Sunset Silhouette, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
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Halloween Trees

Friday, October 10th, 2014

Halloween Trees by Amy Crook

Halloween Trees by Amy Crook

I suppose I should think of something to call this series of paintings so I can make a tag for it, with the spooky winter trees against the various skies. These trees are so finely detailed it’s almost like lace against the brilliant orange sunset sky. I have to deliberately work against my desire to make things very regular and symmetrical, to put in broken branches and bare spots just like real trees.

Five black crows fly off into the sunset, riding the cool autumn winds. Everything about this piece feels like October, from the orange and black color scheme to the bare trees and exiting birds.

Next time, I’ll have to sneak in some extra bats, though.

Halloween Trees, 8″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Halloween Trees, detail, by Amy Crook

Halloween Trees, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, I’ve zoomed in on the fine lacework of branches, and a few crows flying into the intensely orange sunset. Below, you can see the piece in a temporary frame, waiting to go to its new home.

Halloween Trees, framed art by Amy Crook

Halloween Trees, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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Seven More

Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Seven More by Amy Crook

Seven More by Amy Crook

The wonderful patron who owns Seven for a Secret wanted a similar painting to send as a gift for someone who needed cheering. I painted a lighter, bluer sky with greener, more summery trees for him. The whole painting has a much more cheery sort of sky than the original, with my new favorite flock of crows flying in the distance. I’m really starting to get the hang of the tiny crows, I think, which is why I’ve been painting bats and geese instead. Perhaps October’s trees will get some crows to go with them.

I have reports that it’s been well-received and the recipient was much cheered by it, so hooray.

Seven More, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Categories: Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
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Stormriders

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014

Stormriders by Amy Crook

Stormriders by Amy Crook

Three small crows brave the stormy skies, suspended between the upward-reaching branches of the tree and the downward-reaching fork of lightning. The clouds are limned in violet light all around the silver bolt, adding an extra touch of mystery.

Stormriders, 6″x4″ pen & ink, watercolor, and metallic and interference watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Stormriders, detail, by Amy Crook

Stormriders, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the way the light shines off the silver and interference violet paints in the lightning and clouds. Below, you can see the piece in a frame. It’s small, but it’s fierce!

Stormriders, framed art by Amy Crook

Stormriders, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Crows in the Gloaming

Friday, June 27th, 2014

Crows in the Gloaming, watercolor by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming, watercolor by Amy Crook

I’m deeply dissatisfied with Photoshop’s inability to show the soft, mysterious violets in this, instead turning it magenta and blue and every color but the ones you get in the real thing. The crows themselves are a dusky, matte black that really pops, the three phases of flight gliding past the clouds in the purple twilight.

I’m really happy with how these crows look, almost completely in silhouette with just a little bit of soft detail on the far wings of the outer two, with the one in the center a dark blot on the sky.

It probably says something about me that I like dark blots on the sky.

Crows in the Gloaming, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Crows in the Gloaming, detail, by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the upper left crow, with just a little granulated light shining off the feathers here and there. Below, you can see the piece in a temporary frame, with the closest color to the real thing. But still not right, dammit.

Crows in the Gloaming, framed art by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming, framed art by Amy Crook

Crows in the Gloaming will be available for purchase in July’s Floating Gallery. You can get a chance to snag it early if you’re on my list.

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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Distance

Friday, June 6th, 2014

Distance, art by Amy Crook

Distance, art by Amy Crook

Two paintings of crows this month, what is this world coming to? Obviously, I’ve had my blinds open to watch the birds outside my window. Pod appreciates this very much, though he doesn’t seem to understand that he’d be very sad if he actually could try to leap and catch one.

This time the crow and branches are sketched in with pen and ink, while the sunlit mist and distant castle are watercolor. It reminds me of the opening scene of some fairytale, an establishing shot waiting for us to swoop over the dead, misty forests and up to one of the towers to see who’s hiding in the castle.

Distance, 6″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Distance, detail, by Amy Crook

Distance, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the crow and the mist-shrouded, distant castle, bracketed by dark, dead branches. Below, you can see the painting, sun-washed and petite next to my phone.

Distance, framed art by Amy Crook

Distance, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
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