Posts Tagged ‘pen and ink’

Event Horizons: Black, Blacker, Blackest

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Event Horizons: Black, Blacker, Blackest watercolor triptych by Amy Crook

Event Horizons: Black, Blacker, Blackest watercolor triptych by Amy Crook

I entered this triptych in the juried art auction for IMSA25, the 25th anniversary for my old high school. They wanted art with a theme of energy and innovation, and the connection of these mini black holes was enough to get in, thankfully.

I actually only had the first piece done, the white one, when I decided to enter them into the show. The idea to make them into a triptych came later, and I really think the framing on their grey backing paper was the final piece that the work needed to come together. The salt pools in all three pieces are infused with fountain pen ink, and then I used the pen to draw a circle around each pool, a little event horizon between the pool and the black halo around it.

Interestingly, the black paper absorbed the Lunar Black paint too well for it to really granulate like it does on the other two pieces, and the paint is just slightly blacker than the paper itself, which provides an interesting contrast to the other two parts of the series. The whole thing makes me think of atoms or micro black holes, something tiny and mysterious that can’t normally be seen with the naked eye.

Event Horizons: Black, Blacker, Blackest, 3-5″x7″ mixed media on paper, nfs (available at the auction only).

I’ve got one detail shot from each piece for you, anyway, just because I think they’re beautiful.

Event Horizons 1: Black, detail, by Amy Crook

Event Horizons 1: Black, detail, by Amy Crook

Event Horizons 2: Blacker, detail, by Amy Crook

Event Horizons 2: Blacker, detail, by Amy Crook

Event Horizons 3: Blackest, detail, by Amy Crook

Event Horizons 3: Blackest, detail, by Amy Crook

This is my first juried show in nearly 20 years, so I was extremely nervous about entering, and very excited to get in! I just thought you should know that. Heh.

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
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Mother Hydra

Saturday, March 17th, 2012

Mother Hydra cartoon by Amy Crook

Mother Hydra cartoon by Amy Crook

I’ve taken some liberties here and used a more classic interpretation of a hydra, rather than the Lovecraftian description of Father Dagon’s bride. There’s just no way to make a vast pool of screaming faces cute, really.

As it is, I can totally imagine at least one of her heads yelling, “No more wire hangers!” She’s even got pearls and lovely pink-painted claws nails.

Just don’t mention the screaming faces and monstrous claws pressing against her heavy, pregnant belly. Or think about what sort of monsters she’s the mother of, if you want to sleep tonight.

Mother Hydra, 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on paper.

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Sherlock in Grey

Saturday, March 10th, 2012

Sherlock in Grey by Amy Crook

Sherlock in Grey
by Amy Crook

I wanted a tall, thin piece of Sherlock art to put on my giveaway bookmarks for my Etsy shop (sometimes I slip them into the larger orders as a freebie), and nothing I already had quite fit the bill. So, I drew this guy! He’s done with one of my nifty Japanese brush pens that’s black on one side and grey on the other — I’m always using up the black and leaving a ton of grey, so sometimes pieces like this can help me use up some of the extra. I self-indulgently drew in his red buttonhole, though I’m not sure anyone but me will notice it when it’s printed out half the size.

I also used him on my Sherlock gift tags, complete with characteristic sarcasm.

Sherlock in Grey, 5.5″x8.5″ pen and ink on paper.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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Grinning Whatever

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Grinning Whatever sketch by Amy Crook

Grinning Whatever sketch by Amy Crook

I have no idea what he is, but he’s one of my favorite coloring book doodles in a while. He’s just so happy! And fuzzy! And evil!

Categories: Daily Art, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Baby Squid

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012

Baby Squid, cartoon art by Amy Crook

Baby Squid, cartoon art by Amy Crook

Sometimes, I have to make art just so I can put it on a card in my Etsy shop, and this is one of those times. I’m trying to expand my offerings over there to something that isn’t quite so holiday-dependent. Thus we have a gender-free, geek-positive baby cards. I actually made two versions of this one: one is blank with just the image, and the other says, “Congratulations, it’s a…” on the front, and on the inside finishes with “Well, Congratulations, anyway.” Yes, I can even be sarcastic in the face of those giant soulful eyes.

I did have fun trying to make the cutest widdle squiddy you ever did see, though. The original would be awesome in a baby’s room somewhere, trying to out-cute the offspring.

Baby Squid, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic markers on paper.

Baby Squid, framed art by Amy Crook

Baby Squid, framed art by Amy Crook

Above I have him put into a frame so you can imagine how it would look. Below, you can see what he looks like on the snarky version of the card.

Baby Squid greeting card by Amy Crook

Baby Squid greeting card by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange
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There Wolf

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

There Wolf, sketch by Amy Crook

There Wolf, sketch by Amy Crook

Werewolf? There wolf!

What? You knew I was a nerd.

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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Potterly Love

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Potterly Love, cartoon by Amy Crook

Potterly Love, cartoon by Amy Crook

Is it James Potter and little Harry, or grown-up Harry and little James Sirius? In my mind it’s a little of both, James and Harry sharing a moment of fatherly love from one generation to the next. I even gave them Gryffindor-themed colors, with warm baby yellow and bright fatherly red.

I have to admit, my favorite part about drawing Harry Potter is the hair, which is always a fun, scribbly mess. Baby hair is just a little different, wispier and more staticky while being just as much of a mess as dad’s infamous mop.

Potterly Love, 5″x7″ pen and ink and Copic markers on paper.

Potterly Love, framed art by Amy Crook

Potterly Love, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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