Posts Tagged ‘watercolor’
Cuppa Confidence
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
Cuppa Confidence, commission by Amy Crook for Jo Van Every
Another commission for the delightful Jo Van Every! This time it was for her website, where we were trying to find a good visual metaphor for one of her services. I suggested the cup of tea, something calming and confidence-boosting, and added in the “confidence” on the tag in Photoshop later.
After a recent client meeting I realized that one of the things I do for people is help them feel more confident before a big thing. This particular client got short-listed for a job. We had a session before her interview. She hung up feeling more confident about what she could bring to that job, how to communicate that in the interview, who else she could go to for support, and how to ask them confidently. It may be a cliche but a picture is worth a 1000 words, so I talked to Amy about how to capture that outcome in an image and we came up with the Cuppa Confidence. Because tea makes everything better.
-Jo Van Every
I was so inspired by this idea that I’ve started a little series of watercolors around this theme, and you’ll see Exuberance in this April’s Floating Gallery very soon.
Cuppa Confidence, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.
Categories: Completed Commissions, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: all rights reserved, cartoon, commission, cuppa, jo vanevery, nfs, pen and ink, tea, watercolor
Glass Fish
Thursday, March 5th, 2015
Glass Fish by Amy Crook
This translucent fishy is swimming in a lovely blue-green bowl, fins fanned out like tattered silk. There’s just a hint of scales along his body, and his big black eyes and grumpy mouth make him adorable as well as elegant.
His body is a rich, bright orange with hints of red and gold, but you can see the water through the transparent paint.
He’s a bit like a painting of a glass sculpture of a fish. Very meta.
Glass Fish, 7″x5″ watercolor on paper.
Glass Fish, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the elegant sweep of his transparent tail. Below, he’s nestled in a frame, swimming happily in the tiny space. Unlike real fish, paintings don’t need big tanks.
Glass Fish, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals
Tags: goldfish, nfs, orange, sold, watercolor
Smoke 2
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015
Smoke 2, abstract art by Amy Crook
An obvious sequel to the painting above, Smoke 2 has more variation in both line and colour. I used a different paint, one that’s a mix of greens, and varied the technique as well.
Where the first painting is full of roiling clouds, this smoke drifts up in lazy lines. It reminds me more of an altar with thin sticks of incense burning at different rates, each one sending up its own cloud of colour and scent.
I don’t smoke myself*, but I always did love incense and candles, and the different strange shapes that occur when two insubstantial elements interact, air and smoke dancing together to create something ephemeral and beautiful.
*no, not that, either
Smoke 2, 4″x6″ watercolor on paper.
Smoke 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the variation in colour from blue-green to forest green to olive, dissolving in wisps that are just barely visible on the thick, creamy paper. Below, the piece is in a frame, small and unassuming, but perfect to bring a little beauty and peace into an otherwise drab space.
Smoke 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, green, smoke, watercolor
Smoke 1
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015
Smoke 1, abstract watercolor by Amy Crook
Thick black smoke dissipates into fanciful curls and clouds, diffused by the draughts of invisible air.
This abstract painting is an exploration of subtle detail, a mix of the deliberate and random. The paint is blue-black, and little hints of blue show up here and there among the shades of grey.
As peaceful as watching incense burn, this frozen moment won’t make anyone sneeze or set off the fire alarm. It would make a wonderful meditation focus, each tiny facet a point of consideration.
Smoke 1, 5″x7″ watercolor on paper.
Smoke 1, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see some of the drifts and swirls up close, showing variations in the grey from blue to violet. Below, you can see the smoke trapped in a frame, forever frozen to the eye.
Smoke 1, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Floating Gallery, Series and Books
Tags: for sale, smoke, watercolor
You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?
Monday, March 2nd, 2015
You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You? by Amy Crook
This dark-eyed beauty is just making sure that you weren’t going to actually try to wear the garment she’s laying on. Or, if you were, that it has the requisite quantity of cat hair on it.
This loose watercolor captures the regal essence of a cat determined to be queen of the world without regard for what the staff thinks. The soft tortoiseshell coloring contrasts beautifully with the turquoise garment, and there’s a touch of pale blue in the background that’s hard to see in reproductions.
You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, 6″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the loose brushstrokes and intense, black-lined green eyes of this gorgeous creature. Below, she’s chilling in a frame, pleased to be displayed as she deserves.
You’re Not Planning to Wear This, Are You?, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: cat, for sale, watercolor
Core Freedom
Monday, February 23rd, 2015
Core Freedom by Amy Crook for Jo Van Every
Another commission done, this one a new addition to my Horizons series. This one is entirely watercolour, even the raptor circling above in the clear blue sky. Jo had this to say about her newest acquisition:
Since moving out to a rural area and acquiring dogs, I walk through woods and fields daily. I’ve been paying attention to subtle differences in colour as the seasons change. I can identify several tree species by shape in winter. I am more aware of the subtle differences in bark colour and leaf colour, especially in spring. I also notice the change in the colour of the sky depending on season and humidity. Amy’s paintings of bare trees and crows resonate with this landscape that I observe daily. She painted another painting of autumn trees with a moodier, cloudy sky. While I liked that one, the orange leaves against a blue sky speaks to me much more clearly and Amy was happy to paint one just for me.
Core Freedom, 8″x4″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Categories: Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: all rights reserved, bird, commission, horizons, raptor, tree, watercolor
Sea Turtle 2
Sunday, February 8th, 2015
Sea Turtle 2 by Amy Crook
A bonus post! This little turtle was the predecessor to yesterday’s art, and when I was looking on the blog to link to him, I realized I hadn’t ever given him his own post.
I really like the splooshy-bright turquoise sea he’s swimming through, which makes me think of the Caribbean, especially the way his simple 3-color palette stands out against it. He’s done in the same gold and green as the third turtle, but with white for highlights rather than the purple shadows.
Sea Turtle 2, 6″x4″ watercolor and Primatek watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper.
Sea Turtle 2, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the details of his shell and determined little face. Below, the piece is in a tiny frame, all ready to add a splash of marine life to someone’s desk.
Sea Turtle 2, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: nfs, primatek, sea turtle, sold, watercolor
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