Week one-nintey-nine of Operation Graphite – theme: Dr. Seuss.
For Christmas, my son got some bright washable markers. I thought I would try them for some bright and vibrant Seuss inspired structures. Can’t tell if it’s a bit too much, or if it’s pretty spot on for a Seuss book.
Shock – Seussian
The theme selected for week two-hundred of of Operation Graphite will be: The Force Awakens, again.
Hey, didn’t we already do a Star Wars theme for The Force Awakens? Yes, yes we did. That first theme was just an anticipationary (not a real word dude) theme since the full trailer had just come out. Now that Episode VII has finally hit theaters, it has been widely praised and many can get enough of a Star Wars film that finally dosent suck. We are skipping a week for the end of the year and holiday season. That means there will be some more time to see the film, cause by the time this Grey Op is due, spoilers will be accepted.
Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: The Force Awakens, again.
All art work is due 9 P.M. PST on Friday, 1.8.16. Submissions will be published the weekend of 1.9.16
Week one-nintey-eight of Operation Graphite – theme: Reptile.
Reptiles, there cool. Sadly, it was one of those weeks where I just couldn’t get into the theme, despite my appreciate for all kinds of reptilians creatures, except for the ones David Ike is obsessed with. I think I should not have picked a image with so many individual scales. That kind of threw me into, get shit done quick and sloppy, mode. Just too much going on at the moment. Makes me wish I had put some dark weeks for the holidays. Maybe I will.
Shock – Iggy
The theme selected for week one-nintey-nine of Operation Graphite will be: Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss seems about as good as any theme to have around Christmas. Even though only one of his stories is really centered around the winter holiday, it is one of the most widely know Seuss story next to Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. Besides the signature rhymes, names and dialogue in Dr. Seuss stories, the thing I really came to love was the bizarre illustrations. There was something almost disturbing about these cute characters set amongst an almost nightmarish, Daliesque landscape of twisted architecture. It was almost a nonsensical whimsey that was cranked up to assault any part of your mind that wanted well ordered design. It was wild, flowing, organic and completely devoid of practicality. It was a perfect seed of chaos in the minds of children who would need to resist the monotony of order and rigorous efficiency later in adulthood.
Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: Dr. Seuss.
All art work is due 9 P.M. PST on Friday, 12.25.15. Submissions will be published the weekend of 12.26.15
Week one-ninety-seven of Operation Graphite – theme: S.H.I.E.L.D.
While the theme was open to any usage of the Marvel universe intelligence agency, I definitely had the TV show in mind. The first season was a little shaky, but so few shows are really great in their first season. I’m glad the show got some time to grow. The characters that once annoyed me are now fantastic, the stories are wider better, and the over all mythology of espionage side of the Marvel verse is building to something pretty cool. I realized that Hydra is starting to remind me of Wolfram & Hart from Angel. Just give those Whedon boys time, the first season might suck, but it will get better.
Shock – Grant Ward: Agent of Hydra
The theme selected for week one-ninety-eight of Operation Graphite will be: Reptile.
When I was in college, there was a herpetology major in my dorm whose room was a small zoo of snakes, frogs and other creatures. Being a fan of reptiles, I would visit him pretty often. I learned about handling snakes, and a little about how to care for them. This information would be helpful later when I ended up adopting a boa named, Johnny Thunders. There was this little rule about pets being forbidden in the dorms, so that friend got promptly evicted once it was known by the administration that he had a mini wild kingdom in his room. When he lived off campus, he had an entire room in his house dedicated to reptiles and other creepy crawly pets. Reptiles are pretty cool, literally.
Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: Reptiles
All art work is due 9 P.M. PST on Friday, 12.18.15. Submissions will be published the weekend of 12.192.15
Week one-nintey-six of Operation Graphite – theme: Edo Period.
Often, when people think the Edo Period, they usually think of chanbara films. Since my mind usually wanders towards swords, I am also guilty of thinking that narrow. The woodblock printings that inspired everything from Impressionism in Europe, to modern Manga and comic books thrived in the Edo Period. Many woodblocks depicted monsters of mythology and folklore, and these have always been some of my favorite.
Shock – Spider Yokai
The theme selected for week one-nintey-seven of Operation Graphite will be: S.H.I.E.L.D.
Every intelligence organization needs a snazzy acronym. The simple three letter ones are quick and succinct: KGB, CIA, MI6. However, to really get some extra milage, you need your quasi militaristic spy force have an acronym that also describes what they are offering.
Marvel’s agency of spycraft and homeland protection is The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, also known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Before the television program, and the Marvel cinematic universe there were comics dating back to the 60’s. After fighting in WWII, a much more melanin deficient Nick Fury led the intelligence organization during the cold war. In the Marvel films, S.H.I.E.L.D. and agent Phil Coulson have been there from the beginning. Now the Agents have their own show, and still find themselves pitted against their oldest adversary.
Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: S.H.I.E.L.D.
All art work is due 9 P.M. PST on Friday, 12.14.15. Submissions will be published the weekend of 12.12.15
Operation Graphite 