The horror… The horror.
Seems like there’s a lot of it around, these days. From pandemics and war to corruption, lies and the death of truth, it’s hard not to feel like we’re watching the end of the world in real time, while (as a popular meme says) somehow still having to go to work.
Welcome to the apocalypse.
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I believe in staying informed about what’s going on in the world. But, doing so has been hard on the ol’ “reason to keep getting out of bed in the morning” reserves lately. Everything seems terrible. Mostly because it is.
I felt the need to do something about that (for my own mental health and to try to inject something good into the world), and realized that the things that feed me and keep me sane usually revolve around creativity and art in all its forms.
I am not an artist by any stretch, but in addition to my love for consuming and enjoying others’ art, I do like to dabble in making art, despite not being very good at it. Finding the time and making myself do that is sometimes a struggle, and I do better when I’m given parameters - an assignment, a theme, some kind of structure, and maybe even a deadline.
I asked a couple of friends if they’d be interested in joining me in committing to weekly art assignments or “missions” as our own way of being defiant in the face of the apocalypse and its horrors. They stupidly said “yes.”
So, now we’re taking turns assigning art projects each Thursday, with our submissions due the following Thursday. The point isn’t necessarily to make “good” art - it’s just to commit to doing something creative with some regularity, and to enjoy seeing the art that others create.
If, like us, you feel the need for something fun and creative amongst the horror, you’re more than welcome to join us.
You’ll find the “rules” (loose as they may be) below.
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Each Thursday, a new “mission” (art assignment) will be posted below.Participants can devote as much or as little time and effort as they want and/or can afford that week. Spend five minutes jotting something on a napkin if that’s all you have time or energy for, or get carried away with a project and spend days on it - any amount of effort is welcome.
The point is not necessarily to make good art – it’s just to be accountable enough to others that you force yourself to make art of some kind each week, to share it with others, to get to enjoy others’ art, etc.
No one has to give any critique or suggestions or feedback at all. Of course you’re welcome to tell someone you really like their work, but this is not about criticism or even artistic feedback - it’s just for fun.
Submissions are due each Thursday by 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), but you can send them earlier that day or even earlier that week if you want.
For now (until/unless I come up with a better vehicle), projects are submitted by email to artpocalypsethursdays@gmail.com.
Attach a JPEG or PDF file of your artwork (if the assignment was written work, you could paste it in the body of the email instead of attaching, if you prefer).Along with your submission, include your name or (preferably) an alias you want to go by (Some of us feel more comfortable posting our art publicly under an alias instead of our actual names and, besides, it’s more fun that way). Bonus points if your alias is a reference to the movie Apocalypse Now.
Submission of your art is considered permission to include it on this website and/or associated social media accounts.
Don’t want to have your art viewed by the public? (even under an alias?) Totally understandable. Feel free to lurk and just enjoy what others create, or use the weekly missions to create art for yourself that you don’t share with us.
Submissions will be posted on this site for all to view - hopefully sometime on the Thursday they are due - perhaps slightly later when I’m busy. :)
The Missions:
Illuminated Manuscript: March 14-28, 2024
The Mission: In a sort-of nod to St. Patrick’s Day, create an illuminated manuscript. Either use your own writing or take a page of plain text from a book, magazine, or elsewhere, and decorate it with flourishes, borders, and other designs, Medieval-looking or not…
Movie Poster: March 8-14, 2024
The Mission: In honor of the Oscars airing this week, design a movie poster for a fictitious film you make up about your life or current events or any other subject/topic you choose.…
Second Anniversary: March 1-7, 2024
The Mission: This week (somehow) marks two years of Artpocalypse Thursdays. Thanks to all of you who have helped make that happen! I feel like I should give each of you a gift, and the traditional gift for a second anniversary is cotton. So, this week’s assignment is to make art out of cotton. Happy anniversary!…
Leap Day: February 22-29, 2024
The Mission: Make any type of art you like that honors Leap Day in some way. Maybe show what you’ll do with the extra day? Or combine art and math in some way? Or make frog art? Or make art using 29 or 366 of something? Whatever you like!…
Your Rushmore: February 15-22, 2024
The Mission: In honor of Presidents Day, create your own Mount Rushmore. Using whatever medium you like, pick four people meaningful to you and deserving of the honor of being commemorated in granite for eternity, and draw/sculpt/carve/write/paint them into history…
Homemade Pigment: February 8-15, 2024
The Mission: Make your own pigment out of natural ingredients. Use it to draw, write, or paint something…
Poetry Scavenger Hunt: February 1-8, 2024
The Mission: Throughout the week, take pictures of (or write down) words, phrases, or sentences you see or hear around you (on signs, in your mail, on a box you find at work, etc.). No cheating - these should be bits you actually encounter, not made up later to make the assignment easier! Using these random scraps of language, create an original poem…
Jigsaw Puzzle: January 25-February 1, 2024
The Mission: Make a jigsaw-style puzzle (without a jigsaw, unless you have one) for someone to put together. Bonus points if you give/send it to someone else and they complete the puzzle…
The Art of Soup: January 18-25, 2024
The Mission: We haven’t done cooking as art, yet, and winter is the perfect time for soup. Some of us are making the same ones on rotation these days, and could use a new recipe. This week, make soup - either an old favorite recipe or something new you invent - and share both a photo of your creation and the recipe so we can all steal it and add it to our winter meals lineup…
Clothing: January 11-18, 2024
The Mission: Create an item of clothing. Bonus points for wearing it somewhere and showing proof…
DIY Coloring Book: January 4-11, 2024
The Mission: Create your own coloring book page (or pages) using whatever works for you - black sharpie, computer, pencil, etc. - and then color in your design with crayons or colored pencils…
New Year’s Mantra: December 28, 2023-January 4, 2024
The Mission: Instead of creating a list of resolutions for 2024, think of one central thought or “mantra” or guiding principle you’d like to remind yourself of throughout the coming year and use as a guidepost to keep you on track toward a particular goal, set of goals, or intention. This mantra can be a word, a phrase, or even a short paragraph, but keep it simple enough to be memorable and focused. Create a poster or other piece of art that displays the mantra, decorated or embellished in some way…
How I Spend the Holidays: December 14-28, 2023
The Mission: Give us a glimpse into what you do for the holidays. Choose any medium you like - writing, drawing, photography, collage, whatever - and document some part of your holiday time - travel, time with family, traditions, much-needed relaxation, solitude, etc. Just show us something about how you spend the season…
Holiday Ornaments: November 30-December 14, 2023
The Mission: Create your own ornament(s) for your Christmas tree or other holiday decoration. Use whatever materials you have on hand - the more creative, the better…
Abstract from Ordinary: November 23-30, 2023
The Mission: Take a photo of something ordinary, but take it from a unique angle or perspective that makes it seem abstract…
Macy’s Parade: November 16-23, 2023
The Mission: Design a new balloon or float that you think should be added to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…
World within a Song: November 9-16, 2023
The Mission: Tell us about a song (or more than one if you want) that changed your life. What is the song? Why and how did it resonate? What was going on with you at the time, and what impact did the song have on you then? How does the song affect you now? Etc. Write about it in any format you wish. Create artwork to go along with your writing, or let the writing be the art. Share a link where we can listen to the song, if possible…
Election: November 2-9, 2023
The Mission: Election Day falls this week. Pick an issue or candidate, real or fake, serious or funny, and create a yard sign, door knocker, flyer, postcard, campaign sign or other political collateral to get out the vote…
Dia de los Muertos: October 26-November 2, 2023
The Mission: Celebrate Dia de los Muertos by crafting either a nicho, a calavera, an ofrenda, or all three, using whatever materials you like…
Decorative Gourd Season, Part Deux: October 12-26, 2023
The Mission: Decorative Gourd Season, Part Deux. Paint or otherwise embellish a pumpkin or gourd (or several) to decorate for the season…