Posts Tagged ‘for sale’

The Stars Are Right 3

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

The Stars Are Right 3 by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3 by Amy Crook

This time the connection to Monday’s art is, I hope, very clear indeed. This piece is larger, with the space around the unfortunately doomed planet littered with stars in mysterious configurations. Some of the groups are brilliantly yellow or green in hue to suggest constellations, what do you see in the stars?

I had fun repeating my mad alphabet in a much more subtle manner on the planet’s surface, running shimmering green runes over and around the shapes beneath.

The Stars Are Right 3, 10″x8″ salt, Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen on Arches cover black paper.

The Stars Are Right 3, work in progress by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, work in progress by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sun shining off the future constellations and the swirls of toxic green in each little bubble of salt water, as well as the pool of color that will dry into the mysterious texture of the planet’s surface. Below, a view of the same constellation after everything, including a close-up of some of the runes. I like to think of this little succession of green dots as “The Tentacle,” personally.

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 1, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Next, I’ve photographed the planet in the sunlight so you can see how the runes flare to life when they’re properly lit. The Tentacle lurks in the shot once again, ominous and ever-present.

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 2, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, detail 2, by Amy Crook

And finally, I’ve taken a photo with my iPhone so you can see how much bigger this piece is, a fitting decoration for any office wall or living room. Perhaps not the bedroom, though, I make no promises about what dreams it might bring.

The Stars Are Right 3, framed art by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 3, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: , , , , , , , ,


D is for Dada

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

D is for Dada, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

D is for Dada, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

I was thinking of cheating and using Art Deco for my D but some googling around reminded me of the Dada art movement and all its wacky semi-political cut-and-paste collage. I got some 5-cent BART tickets from my roommate, who is a great source for all sorts of useful things, and dug through my own art supply hoard for a sheet of Chinese New Year paper. The letter itself echoes my original intent, using an Art Deco-esque font, but in a very Dada manner.

I’m thinking of trimming all of these down to 5″x5″, doing an ampersand, and then displaying them in a 3×9 grid of square black frames. What do you guys think?

Just remember, insert this side up.

D is for Dada, 5″x5″ collage, Sharpie marker and Japanese watercolor on paper.

D is for Dada, detail, by Amy Crook

D is for Dada, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can really see the soft torn edges of the Chinese paper contrasted with the sharp, thick, plastic-like material of the BART ticket, which really stands out against the backdrop of mismatched stamping and gilding. Below, you can see this piece tucked into a frame and hanging out with the F, just waiting for a new home. Derek, Dave, Danielle, who will take it home and keep it for their very own?

D is for Dada & F is for Flourish, framed art by Amy Crook

D is for Dada & F is for Flourish, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
3 Comments »


Tentacle Deeps 40

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

Tentacle Deeps 40 by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 40 by Amy Crook

These oil paint tentacles were dry brushed onto their canvas so they’d look smokey and insubstantial, the curls deliberately imitating smoke near the tips as they fade into nothingness. The one on the right that’s all curled around makes me think of smoke rings!

Tentacle Deeps 40, 12″x12″ oil paint on gallery-wrapped canvas.

Tentacle Deeps 40, detail, by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 40, detail, by Amy Crook

Above you can see the tentacles at a different angle, catching more of the clear blue afternoon sunlight. I don’t have a framed shot because this piece is finished on the edges and ready to hang without one, and it’s not dry enough yet to set up with my iPhone.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Tentacles
Tags: , , , , , ,


The Stars Are Right 2

Monday, July 30th, 2012

The Stars Are Right 2 by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 2 by Amy Crook

I went to a whole bunch of galleries a while ago, and one of them had these great pieces in them that looked like decaying pages of ancient texts, written in incomprehensible languages. My brain, of course, immediately went to the Cthulhu Mythos, and I thought how cool would it be to put the strange text in the stars instead. I put lines around my salt constellation to show how right the stars have become, and wended the alien language through and around both the planet and constellation. I think perhaps this is how the world would look if Cthulhu did rise above the waves, a single mass of green-slimed water dotted with the cities of the dead.

The Stars Are Right 2, 7″x5″ salt, Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen on Arches cover black paper.

The Stars Are Right 2, detail 1, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 2, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Above you can see a close-up of the salt crystals on the planet, their quieter glimmer outshone by the silver glitter of the strange ancient language. Below, the fateful constellation nestles among the incomprehensible words, spelling out doom for those who know how to read the stars.

The Stars Are Right 2, detail 2, by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 2, detail 2, by Amy Crook

And finally you can see the piece in its frame. Although it’s very different than the original The Stars Are Right from last year, I felt like the name was just too obvious to ignore.

The Stars Are Right 2, framed art by Amy Crook

The Stars Are Right 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment »


C is for Counter

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

C is for Counter, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

C is for Counter, calligraphic illumination by Amy Crook

Counter space is the space inside of a letter, whether open or closed. No, I didn’t know that before I started this project, either, don’t worry, but once I heard the term I became fascinated with the idea of fitting an old-school moon in the curve of the C for this alphabet.

C is for Counter, 5″x5″ Japanese watercolor, pen & ink and glitter gel pen on paper.

C is for Counter, detail, by Amy Crook

C is for Counter, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shining silver stars in the blue sky, and also a better sense of the shading, which my scanner blew out completely in the yellows. Below, the C is hanging out with the Endless (whose names all start with D, ironically) and the G as well. It’s all ready for a Catherine or Carl to take it home, or perhaps a Mr. Cunningham. I think the framed photo actually has the most accurate color, too.

C is for Counter & G is for Gothic, framed art by Amy Crook

C is for Counter & G is for Gothic, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Illuminated Alphabet, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Tentacle Deeps 39

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Tentacle Deeps 39 by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 39 by Amy Crook

Golden sunlight filters into the murky deeps, while iridescent, ghostly green tentacles slither upward, reaching for the surface. The tentacles nearly vanish from some angles, but they’re bright as gilt when they catch the light, in a cool, shining green.

Tentacle Deeps 39, 6″x6″ Japanese watercolor and iridescent watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper with pen & ink signature.

Tentacle Deeps 39, detail, by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 39, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the light shining off the tentacles against the velvety green-black of the background. Below, you can see it temporarily tucked into an 8″x10″ frame, waiting its final destination.

Tentacle Deeps 39, framed art by Amy Crook

Tentacle Deeps 39, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Tentacles
Tags: , , , , ,


Filigree Planet 3

Friday, July 20th, 2012

Filigree Planet 3 by Amy Crook

Filigree Planet 3 by Amy Crook

I used the same rich fuchsia on the stars here as I did on the central part of Monday’s painting, and they make the glittery filigree on the planet look very orange by comparison. The underlying planet is a mix of reds, pinks and oranges, with texture added by salt. Strangely, the crystals on the planet itself grew very flat and dark this time, with almost no shine to them, so I decided to add in the filigree to keep the planet from being outshone by its surrounding field of stars.

Filigree Planet 3, 7″x5″ salt, Japanese watercolor and glitter gel pen on Arches cover black paper.

Filigree Planet 3, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Filigree Planet 3, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shine of the red glitter, and some of the underlying texture on the planet as well. Below, you can see a close-up of three of the tiny pink salt pools in all their fucshia glory. Pink (the color, not the rock star) and I have a strange relationship, since I usually loathe it, but I’m finding it’s got its uses in moderation.

Filigree Planet 3, detail 2, by Amy Crook

Filigree Planet 3, detail 2, by Amy Crook

Finally, you can see the piece tucked neatly into a frame. There’s no glass here, but it will ship to you fully protected and ready to hang. I just really hate trying to get the glare out of my photos.

Filigree Planet, framed art by Amy Crook

Filigree Planet, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Series and Books
Tags: , , , , , , , ,


« Or Head Back That Way Drip divider More Art This Way »