Posts Tagged ‘duochrome’
Ferns
Saturday, September 5th, 2015
Ferns, abstract art by Amy Crook
A snail’s-eye view of ferns unfolding above you like a forest, full of strange detail and secret sparkle.
The green is a mix of deep Jadeite, mysterious Duochrome Tropic Sunrise, and two different yellows, bringing a bright, new-leaf quality to the foliage. The paint lies thickly on the paper, runnels carved into it like veins in the long leaves, the green settling out to let the sunny yellow undertones shine through.
The sparkle is only really visible in strong light, a secret bit of magic like pollen dusting the leaves.
I’ve done a lot of greens and blues in my Pathways series, perhaps next time I’ll go boldly into the warm end of the spectrum.
Ferns, 8″x8″ watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Ferns, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the delicate veins running through the ferns, and the tiniest sparkle of the paint. Below, the ferns are overrunning their terrarium, er, frame.
Ferns, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: duochrome, green, nfs, pathways, sold, watercolor
Christmas Unwrapped
Monday, December 8th, 2014
Christmas Unwrapped by Amy Crook
This piece feels like a Christmas tree, with green branches and splashes of red for garland, metallic splotches in gold, silver, and green for balls or lights. Nothing concrete, just a slice of an abstraction of a tree, but it gets that holiday cheer right out in the open nonetheless.
The paper is a thickly textured cream, almost a pale yellow, and the paint for the branches is actually called “Christmas Tree Green” and scented with pine, though the scent fades when the paint dries. There’s a border of sorts, but the image refuses to let boundaries contain its holiday joy.
Christmas Unwrapped, 10″x8″ duochrome, interference, and pine-scented watercolor on watercolor paper.
Christmas Unwrapped, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the brightness of the green and gold ‘ornaments’ glowing against the warm cream of the paper. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, bringing some Christmas Cheer to my apartment.
Christmas Unwrapped, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Card Design, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
Tags: christmas, duochrome, iridescent watercolor, nfs, sold, watercolor
Atmosphere
Tuesday, November 4th, 2014
Atmosphere by Amy Crook
This makes me think of a strange, swirling planet flinging its atmosphere off into the void, or perhaps stealing the blue-violet outer ring of gases from somewhere else. The thin middle ring of blue is hard to spot in the scan, but you can see it in the detail photo quite well, and it’s very obvious in person. The color reminded me very distinctly of photos of the earth’s atmosphere, that thin layer that keeps us all alive, which is where the piece gets its title. The spiralling planet itself is a color-changing paint that goes from reddish copper to a warm golden bronze, while the outside runs through blues and purples depending on the angle of the light.
Atmosphere, 5″x5″ duochrome watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Atmosphere, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the thin blue shining out from between lavender and copper. Below, it’s in a frame, hanging out with my old glasses for scale.
Atmosphere, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: black paper, duochrome, for sale, iridescent watercolor, watercolor
Splash 3
Thursday, October 9th, 2014
Splash 3, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook
At first you see mostly shades of green, like a splash of sea water backlit by bright sunshine. Then you move, and the green turns to gold and blue and deeper, stranger greens. The layers and overlappings take on new significance, building complex color on top of one another in the seemingly monochrome expanse.
This is a perfect painting for someone who loves water, the ocean, and the light, and who wants to keep a little of each as a part of all of their days.
Splash 3, 7″x5″ duochrome watercolor on paper.
Splash 3, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the blues and golds and greens blending and layering in this beautiful painting. Below, it’s tucked into a frame, the greens practically glowing in the afternoon sun.
Splash 3, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: duochrome, for sale, iridescent, splash, watercolor
Fairytale Sky 9
Tuesday, October 7th, 2014
Fairytale Sky 9 by Amy Crook
A lovely, shadowed full moon hangs in a sky full of stars, but the real shine is from the mysterious spiraling clouds. They gleam subtly in blues and purples, stately shapes with just a hint of soft brushwork about the edges. This addition to the Fairytale Sky series is very reminiscent of the first, but refined by the iterations in between.
Sometimes I think it’s good to treat life like you’re in your very own fairytale. Do good deeds when you can, and you’ll find them returned when you least expect it. Don’t cause harm through inattention or ignorance. And always wear good walking shoes.
Fairytale Sky 9, 7″x5″ Japanese watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Arches cover black paper.
Fairytale Sky 9, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the subtle shimmer of the paint together with the soft shine of the stars and the bright gleam of the moon. Below, I’ve put this sky in a frame, like a window to another world, one full of magic and fairytale logic.
Fairytale Sky 9, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: black paper, duochrome, fairytale sky, for sale, moon, periwinkle, spirals, watercolor
Two Fish
Saturday, June 7th, 2014
Two Fish, watercolor by Amy Crook
Two fish, different, but still swimming together in the vibrant purple depths. The bottom fish flashes between purple and blue, and the top fish has gold-to-green duochrome paint on one half, and gold-to-orange on the other.
To me, this painting is about support. The bottom fish is always there, just on the edge of awareness, ready to rise up when he’s needed.
Two Fish, 4″x8″ Japanese watercolor and duochrome watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Two Fish, detail, by Amy Crook
You can really see the blue, gold, and orange catching the sunlight above, turning the purple water to a muted, matte background for the fishes’ brilliance. Below, the fish are swimming in a temporary frame, bright in the middle of darkness.
Two Fish, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: duochrome, fish, for sale, japanese watercolor
Blue Violet
Monday, May 5th, 2014
Blue Violet, abstract art by Amy Crook
Beautiful, richly layered color and shine make this painting live up to its name. There’s really only 2 colors each of normal watercolor, shiny watercolor, and glitter gel pen, but their interactions create an amazing level of fractal detail and variety of shades from blue to violet.
This painting would bring a gorgeous pop of color to an otherwise drab office or wall.
Blue Violet, 8″x8″ watercolor, iridescent watercolor, and glitter gel pen on Fluid watercolor paper.
Blue Violet, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see a hint of the glitter pen hiding in the paint, blue lines and purple spirals floating atop the color. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, bright and beautiful against the black.
Blue Violet, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery
Tags: blue, duochrome, glitter gel pen, iridescent, nfs, purple, sold, violet, watercolor
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