Posts Tagged ‘horizons’

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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Autumn

Saturday, December 6th, 2014

Autumn by Amy Crook

Autumn by Amy Crook

Purple and orange! Two favorite colors of one of my favorite people, who no doubt is wishing I would spell it favourite colours instead.

The purple is dusky, muted, and stormy, with the hint of clouds or even rain in the grainy, textured wash. The reds, golds, and oranges cluster along the gold-tinged horizon, with branches that actually hold leaves. These are totally happy trees, with a central structure showing through and the splotchy, painterly foliage brightening the sky. Seven crows fly above, one dipping down to admire the trees up close, all of them a dark black silhouetted against the stormy autumn sky.

This painting perfectly encapsulates my favorite season, with a touch of Halloween, a little Thanksgiving, and a whole lot of autumnal cheer.

Autumn, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook

Autumn, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the warm, splotchy trees and cool skies above, and the tiny crows chilling out on an updraft. Below, the piece is in a temporary frame, waiting to go to its new home.

Autumn, framed art by Amy Crook

Autumn, 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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Murder at Sunset

Friday, November 7th, 2014

Murder at Sunset by Amy Crook

Murder at Sunset by Amy Crook

A single tree hosts a murder of crows as the sun sinks below the horizon, painting the clouds in glorious golds, oranges, and reds. This latest installment in my Horizons series has a charming simplicity with the single, crooked tree, but a lovely complexity of layered clouds hiding behind it.

Murder at Sunset, 8″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Murder at Sunset, detail, by Amy Crook

Murder at Sunset, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the seven crows coming to roost for their murder, whether in collusion or merely coincidence. Below, I’ve put the painting in a temporary frame, though I think this one would benefit from a mat cut to size for its final resting place.

Murder at Sunset, framed art by Amy Crook

Murder at Sunset, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Floating Gallery, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, 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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Flying V

Friday, September 5th, 2014

Flying V by Amy Crook

Flying V by Amy Crook

You can tell I really miss fall, because this is the second painting this month with the lovely dead trees. This time it’s a V of geese flying in the distance, taking the last breath of summer south with them so winter can finally come.

Last month, two patrons were interested in Sleep Until the Sun Goes Down, and the one who didn’t buy it told me she’d have preferred geese. Fortunately, I have that power, and now she’s happily bought her own spooky trees.

Flying V, 8″x4″ pen & ink and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.

Flying V, detail, by Amy Crook

Flying V, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the geese making their way across the sky in their even formation. Below, you can see them in a frame, hanging out with my iPhone so you can see how tiny they really are.

Flying V, framed art by Amy Crook

Flying V, framed art by Amy Crook

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