Posts Tagged ‘growth’

Growth 7

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Growth 7, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 7, 7″x5″ brush & ink and pen & ink on paper

This is the first of my Growth series to actually have a Zen circle as its central motif. It explores the idea of directionality, suggesting a different kind of movement than the previous ones with their more symmetrical designs.

The softer grey ink circles seem to propel the larger one rather than being thrust from it, ghostly next to the solidity of the black.

The liminal space is tangible here, messy, a dark presence that dominates visually while still giving a grounding point for the vaporous grey bubbles, like matter changing to another state.

Growth 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 7, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the tiny cluster of growths on the inner surface of the Zen circle. Below, this ink art is in a frame, a petite exploration of liminality and motion.

Growth 7, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 7, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Inktober 2016, Week 4

Monday, October 31st, 2016

Inktober is complete! I caught a mild cold or allergy attack or something, but I managed to power through thanks to some huge mugs of strong tea and a couple of hot toddies. Some of these will be available as cards, some of them will be in a bookmark sale for my email list next month, some of them will show up in the Floating Gallery tomorrow, and some of them are already spoken for.

Inktober day 24: Growth 7

Inktober day 24: Growth 7

Inktober day 25: A Murder of Crows 3 (sold)

Inktober day 25: A Murder of Crows 3 (sold)

Inktober day 26: ridiculous haunted Haunter

Inktober day 26: ridiculous haunted Haunter

Inktober day 27: Harvest Moon 3 (sold)

Inktober day 27: Harvest Moon 3 (sold)

Inktober day 28: Twelfth Doctor holiday card design

Inktober day 28: Twelfth Doctor holiday card design

Inktober day 29: Rimmer and Lister from Red Dwarf arguing about Pokemon, for Jeff

Inktober day 29: Rimmer and Lister from Red Dwarf arguing about Pokemon, for Jeff

Inktober day 30: bookmark of autumnal goodness

Inktober day 30: bookmark of autumnal goodness

Inktober day 31: Twelfth Doctor "Time Ends" for Ian

Inktober day 31: Twelfth Doctor “Time Ends” for Ian

(almost) ALL the things! Missing days 18 & 21, which are elsewhere.

(almost) ALL the things! Missing days 18 & 21, which are elsewhere. Surprisingly few lame sketchy days overall!

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Card Design, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Growth 6

Wednesday, October 5th, 2016

Growth 6, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 6, 5″x7″ pen & ink on bristol

This delightfully awkward little drawing hearkens back to the heart of my Growth series, leaving out the color entirely and just exploring the idea of sending small bits of yourself both inward and outward.

The line work evokes Shel Silverstein, with a dash of The Little Prince in the volcano-ish eruptions on the surface of the wibbly-wobbly world.

There’s something charming about the exploration of liminal space here, with the clusters expending their energies both inward and outward from the almost-not-there line that defines the boundary.

Do you need a reminder to prioritize Growth in your life?

Growth 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 6, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see an extreme close-up on the tiny clusters riding that liminal boundary. Below, you can see the piece in its frame, delicately charming in its hand-drawn-ness.*

Growth 6, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 6, framed art by Amy Crook

*totally a word

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Growth 5

Saturday, September 3rd, 2016

Growth 5, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 5, 5″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on watercolor paper

It’s a celebration of purple this month! The inner circle moves from deep violet to black etched over with the sheen of purple ink. The outer edges mix the intricate circles grouped together like fish eggs with the splash of brightly-mixed ink, purple bleeding into pink.

Like all of my Growth paintings, there is a suggestion of sending parts of the central self out into the aether, of reaching into the void despite the obstacles and finding something beautiful in it.

Where in life do you need a little bit of growth?

Growth 5, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 5, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see how the purple ink separated into almost luminous pinks, reds, and violets, but there are some little circles left intact to hint at the structures that once were. Below, the art is in a small frame, waiting to bring unexpected beauty to a neglected corner of your home.

Growth 5, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 5, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Growth 4

Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

Growth 4 by Amy Crook

Growth 4 by Amy Crook

Subtle dark colours bloom into blues and greys and deep, soft violets, and the intricate detail of pen and ink is nearly lost as the paint splash bursts outward from the central circle.

This is the 4th installment in my Growth series, with a color palette that hearkens back to the first and a design that evolves visually from the third.

Five by five is quite small, and you can find frames just this size at the big craft stores, so you could tuck it into a bookshelf, put it on a desk, or make it one of a cluster of artworks on a larger wall.

Doesn’t everyone need a little Growth in their life?

Growth 4, 5″x5″ pen & ink and Japanese watercolor on watercolor paper.

Growth 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the hints of pen-and-ink circles, blurred by paint but still visible. Below, the painting is in a frame, all of its beautiful texture on display.

Growth 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 4, detail, by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Growth 3

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

Growth 3, abstract art by Amy Crook

Growth 3, abstract art by Amy Crook

I took the theme of Growth a step further this time, layering the growths themselves in three sets of increasingly light blue, and then blurring them out with water to add a strange spin to the structure of circles within and without.

Growth 3, 5″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on Arches cover white paper.

Growth 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 3, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the corona up close, the three layers of ink mixing and blending, but still some of the white central spaces from inside the circles remain. Below, you can see the painting in a frame. It’s small, but it’s fierce!

Growth 3, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth 3, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
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Growth 2

Monday, July 29th, 2013

Growth 2 by Amy Crook

Growth 2 by Amy Crook

I was playing around with my watercolors, and the deep green circle reminded me of the blue-black center of Growth. Before I knew it, I’d grabbed my dark green fountain pen and started making two rows of circles this time, inside and out, and then filling in the inner set while the watercolor was still slightly damp, before moving to the outside. This paper is very absorbent, which gives a softness to the pen lines even on the white.

I had to resist the urge to try to create randomness, and instead just stick with something that was interestingly varied to me. Humans do randomness terribly, and I always have to remember that. I found it interesting that the growths came out differently shaped than the original, more towers and less floaters, no long strands of growth reaching out or in.

Growth 2, 5″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.

Growth 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Growth 2, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the paired-up circles of growth going in and outward from the double row at the border. Below, you can see both pieces together in their frames, making a diptych with endless visual interest.

Growth and Growth 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Growth and Growth 2, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Series and Books
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