Uhaul Walrus Graphic

One of the things I’ve enjoyed over the years are the high-quality postcard-style vector illustrations decorating the sides of U-haul moving trucks. There are several for each state and of course, the series includes a walrus!

This illustration is one of several for the state of Maine. The text refers to the presence of Walrus in Maine during and after the last ice age. I have more information about these Altantic Walrus coming in a future post. It’s a change from our usual focus on the more common Pacific Walrus.

As for U-Haul, the illustration series is highlighted on a excellent series of webpages at U-Haul’s site. The explain the illustrations, have PDF coloring versions of each illustration and lots of information about the subject matter of each of the graphics.

Here’s a link to the walrus-specific page:
Here’s the Coloring Book PDF link (downloadable PDF file):
http://www.uhaul.com/SuperGraphics/File/34/ColoringBook

You can’t book a flight, or a Uhaul to Maine if you want to see walrus these days, seems like we’ve all missed them by a few years… I really enjoy this series and give much credit to the effort that U-haul has put towards the support of this marketing campaign.

Fun Walrus Illustration by Alexei Vella

I really like this walrus illustration by Canadian illustrator Alexei Vella. This would make a great shirt or small framed print. Just thought I’d share it with all of you!

Alexei Vella specializes in creating images that are both striking and complex, sensual yet undeniably intellectually involving. In order to achieve this unique look, Vella employs a complex colour palette, an eclectic application of graphics and texture, and a sophisticated use of antiquated surfaces.

Visit Alexei’s website to see more colorful illustration work.
http://www.alexeivella.com

Walrus Escape! This would have been fun to see!

I just discovered this video, of a walrus “escaping” from it’s area in Sea World San Diego to roll around and cause a commotion. THAT would have been fun to see. Enjoy!

Upper Playground: One of my Fave Walrus Logos

Here’a another in my on-going and totally informal round up of design/apparel companies with cool Walrus logos. I’ve loved Upper Playground’s walrus logo for a long time. UP is an urban apparel/designed goods retailer based out of San Francisco, with an excellent online store. They have a store in Portland, which is where I am, over in Old Town – I think I’ll cruise over there and buy one of these shirts.

If you want one, here’s the direct link to the men’s T with this walrus logo, but if you like urban/street apparel with a great, edgy design sensibility – check em out. There’s more to life than Hot Topic, kids.

Since 1999 Upper Playground has been committed to representing progressive urban lifestyles. With headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, Upper Playground has established itself as a leader in the contemporary art movement.

Check out UPs blog(s), if you’re into contemporary and/or street art and culture.

Origami Walrus: Why not?

OK, you know how people say you can find ANYTHING on the internet? I keep coming up with wacky web searches to find material for the blog and today we have the next installment – how to fold an origami walrus!

Origami Walrus by DonyaQuick on DeviantArt

http://donyaquick.deviantart.com/art/Origami-Walrus-Instructions-128087160
Thanks to Donya Quick on DeviantArt.

Is that a baby walrus back there?

Why, yes it is. This is an old picture actually. This is the walrus from the New York Aquarium.

If walrus is on the menu…

I’ve blogged about igunaq before, here: Queue This up for Survivor: Greenland

Forgive me for not pulling a pic from this video. Here’s the link.

http://current.com/shows/cooking-in-the-danger-zone/92780861_eating-raw-walrus-delight-cooking-in-the-danger-zone.htm

I haven’t decided what to have for dinner tonight, but I can’t tell you what I WON’T be eating…

Rhonda the Negative Walrus Stereotype

In my quest to cover all things Walrus, I give you a cartoon walrus I do not approve of, on a show I don’t like much either. Ironically, this episode is one of the only entire episodes of “The Penguins of Madagascar” that I’ve seen. So allow me to introduce you to Rhonda the Walrus.  The episode description should cover why I don’t particularly care for this character.
Marlene is getting a new roommate. Before her roommate arrives, she dances with Skipper with excitement, but Skipper is paranoid that Marlene’s roommate may be a spy, possibly with the intent of stealing Kowalski’s newest invention, a device whose function is not yet known, even by Kowalski. The penguins point out to Marlene that the new arrival weighs at least 1,500 pounds, enormously heavier than she is, and suggest that multitudes of otters might be on the way. The new roommate turns out to be a walrus named Rhonda, who is sloppy, has bad manners, bullies Marlene, and uses her as a live tissue. She also farts in the water constantly as well as in Marlene’s home. After faking her approval to the penguins several times, Marlene finally asks them to ship Rhonda somewhere else. But when she learns that a labeling error resulted in Rhonda being headed for a polar bear reserve in Alaska, her guilty conscience causes her to save the annoying roommate. At the docks, Marlene grabs onto a rope and uses Kowalski’s invention, which turns out to be a plasma cutter, to free the crate at the dock where Rhonda is being shipped out of. Once the crate returns to the zoo, Marlene and the penguins arrange for Rhonda to be transferred to the Hoboken Aquarium. Rhonda ends up being a spy after all, and she steals Kowalski’s plasma cutter and discusses it with Dr. Blowhole, Skipper’s unseen dolphin arch-enemy, en route to a new aquarium.
Rhonda’s the type of character you come up with when you use the word “walrus” as an insult. And let me close this out with one note to Dreamworks: Rhonda is a FEMALE walrus. WHY does she have TUSKS?
Rhonda is voiced by Kathy Kinney who was the overly made-up loudmouth Mimi (a character I initially found refreshing) on the old Drew Carey show.