Posts Tagged ‘salt’

Black Iron Filigree

Friday, July 19th, 2013

Black Iron Filigree, watercolor by Amy Crook

Black Iron Filigree, watercolor by Amy Crook

Another of my mysterious dark backgrounds has been brought to light, though in this case I gave it even more darkness to contend with in the form of matte black filigree. There’s a bit of salt on this piece to add a tiny bit of unexpected sparkle, too, and when framed in black it gives the impression of peering through a carved screen into the mysteries beyond.

Black Iron Filigree, 5″x5″ watercolor and salt on watercolor paper.

Black Iron Filigree, detail, by Amy Crook

Black Iron Filigree, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the tiny sparkle of slat crystals hiding among the matte curls, adding a little magic to the mystery of the swirling blues and purples of the background. Below, you can see the piece framed with my phone for scale.

Black Iron Filigree, framed art by Amy Crook

Black Iron Filigree, framed art by Amy Crook

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

Friday, July 12th, 2013

Silver Filigree by Amy Crook

Silver Filigree by Amy Crook

At this point, I have to conclude that not only do I love to draw it, I just adore the word filigree. This one’s a little different from its predecessors, though, with the filigree fading from silver into mist as it pours down into the dark, strange painting. Not a single speck of glitter was used!

Silver Filigree, 5″x5″ Japanese watercolor and salt on Arches cover black paper.

Silver Filigree, detail, by Amy Crook

Silver Filigree, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see how the spirals grow fainter and more transparent as they travel away from their origin. Below, you can see the painting in a frame on my bookshelf, where it lived all through Sharpie week.

Silver Filigree, framed art by Amy Crook

Silver Filigree, framed art by Amy Crook

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

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

Milky Way by Amy Crook

Milky Way by Amy Crook

I painted a number of these dark backgrounds all together after Dark Matter came out so well, and this was another one that looked like a mysterious sky to me. Instead of space, though, there was a hint of earth down at the bottom, and so I enhanced the black ground and dusted the little figure with silver starlight so you could watch the Milky Way pass by with him.

Milky Way, 4″x6″ salt and Japanese watercolor on paper, nfs (sold).

Milky Way, detail, by Amy Crook

Milky Way, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see a little slice of the painting close up, with the textures of salt and paint and paper mixing to create the illusion of a field of twinkling stars. Below, you can see it in a frame, with what’s probably the most accurate color of all three images.

Milky Way, framed art by Amy Crook

Milky Way, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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Dark Matter

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

Dark Matter by Amy Crook

Dark Matter by Amy Crook, $199

I started working on this piece intending to experiment with it as a background for something else, and then on a whim I added a sprinkling of pink Himalayan salt to the damp page. The end result is a creepy, beautiful scene that made me think of a green world floating in dark space, with dark matter engulfing it. The salt sparkles subtly in the sun, and in fact I have a detail photo of all the subtle texture as my computer wallpaper right now.

Dark Matter, 5″x5″ watercolor and salt on paper, $199 with free shipping.

Dark Matter, detail, by Amy Crook

Dark Matter, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the textures of salt and paper and paint together, the dark colors and tiny glimmers of salt. Below, you can see the piece in a frame, matted on black to help emphasize the wabi-sabi textures of the hand-torn paper edge.

Dark Matter, framed art by Amy Crook

Dark Matter, framed art by Amy Crook

  • Title: Dark Matter
  • 5 in. x 5 in. Japanese watercolor and salt on Arches cover white paper
  • $199 for the original (tax will be added if you live in CA)
  • Frame is not included, but can be added for $50 (shipping included)
  • Shipping is free anywhere in the world
  • Payment plans are available, just email me
  • The button below will take you to Paypal – if you’d like to pay another way, just let me know and we’ll work it out

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: , ,
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Bordello Red Bookmark

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Bordello Red Bookmark by Amy Crook

Bordello Red Bookmark by Amy Crook

Despite being red and gold, this bookmark reminds me more of some aging, velvet-and-cheap-gilt bordello than Gryffindor House. There’s a plethora of subtle texture on this one, from the wash of red-on-red to the fine layer of crystallized salt, the copper metallic paint powder mixed into the salt and the brighter gold border.

Bordello Red Bookmark, 1.875″ x 4.875″ salt and watercolor on paper.

Bordello Red Bookmark, detail, by Amy Crook

Bordello Red Bookmark, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sparkle in the rain, and the odd spot where I made a little fingerprint in the paint that then grew its own salt-crystal relief. Below, the bookmark is resting against my blue-violet book, waiting for a chance at a new life.

Bordello Red Bookmark, with book, by Amy Crook

Bordello Red Bookmark, with book, by Amy Crook
(book for size reference only)

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

Friday, October 19th, 2012

Hibiscus Pools by Amy Crook

Hibiscus Pools by Amy Crook, $199

This piece is very cheerful and feminine, the shimmery pools of turquoise and salt circled by bright hibiscus pink. The thick, textured watercolor gives a wonderful background for the shiny paint and salt. The small size makes this the perfect thing to brighten up a little corner, adding color and sparkle to your daily life.

Hibiscus Pools, 4″x3.5″ salt and watercolor on paper, $199 framed, with free shipping.

Hibiscus Pools, detail, by Amy Crook

Hibiscus Pools, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the shining pink-purple and shimmery turquoise together catching the sunlight, the two metallic duochrome watercolors changing subtly as the light hits at different angles. Below, I’ve got the piece tucked into a temporary frame, though it will get a more careful framing before it comes to live at your house permanently.

Hibiscus Pools, framed art by Amy Crook

Hibiscus Pools, framed art by Amy Crook

  • Title: Hibiscus Pools
  • 4 in. x 3.5 in. duochrome watercolor and salt on watercolor paper
  • $199 for the original (tax will be added if you live in CA)
  • Frame is included at no additional charge to protect the delicate art during shipping
  • Shipping is free anywhere in the world
  • Payment plans are available, just email me
  • The button below will take you to Paypal – if you’d like to pay another way, just let me know and we’ll work it out

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art
Tags: , , , , ,


Silver Lining

Monday, October 15th, 2012

Silver Lining by Amy Crook

Silver Lining by Amy Crook

This piece combines elements from several of my series: whimsical clouds from the Fairytale Sky paintings, a blue filigree moon, and salt-pool stars. The shining blue of the clouds is matched by the swirls of blue in the filigree on the moon, where the silver of the filigree is echoed in the clouds.

Silver Lining, 10″x8″ iridescent and Japanese watercolor, salt, and glitter gel pen on Arches cover black paper.

Silver Lining, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Silver Lining, detail 1, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the various elements all catching the sunlight, shining against the black paper background. Below is the moon itself, a soft periwinkle blue with shimmering silver and blue filigree giving it an otherworldly feel.

Silver Lining, detail 2, by Amy Crook

Silver Lining, detail 2, by Amy Crook

Finally, the piece is hanging out on my desk with my iPhone, though I think it would look gorgeous on a wall as well.

Silver Lining, framed art by Amy Crook

Silver Lining, framed art by Amy Crook

Categories: Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes
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