A Reprint at Threadless

 I never said it here but I was printed again at Threadless. In fact, it did so well that it was just reprinted.

Here is the screenshot.

Here is an image of the art from the submission called "Speed is Relative." It was originally on Olive green but it was actually printed on a natural colored tee. I bought a coupe and the print looks really amazing for a t-shirt print.

Click on either picture for details.

For good measure, I thought I would post the original drawing of the design. I drew it in pencil first, scanned it into the computer, and added digital color/texture (wizardry) to it.

As always, thanks for looking.

Keep On Keeping On

Update: 4/3/2014

I finished this a while back and I thought I would add the art here. It went in a little bit of a different direction than I it would. In the end, I was happy with the results. I hope it would make Crumb proud.

This one is available at my Society6 store (See sidebar)

Here is the original drawing.

A while back a friend of mine mentioned that she would love a reproduction of a classic retro t-shirt design that she loved that was called "Keep On Truckin'." I like the concept and feel but I felt the art could use some updating, and some of my style, to make it even more awesome. I like the idea of the character looking more care-free and more hippie-like. I haven't heard the phrase "truckin'" in a long time so I thought "keep on Keeping on" might sound better contemporarily speaking. The original "Truckin'" design is below.

I am not sure how many colors to make the design yet. I also might change the text style and even the actual phrase is something better comes up; I considered a the recent pop-culture phrase "Haters gonna hate." If you have any thoughts or ideas to add I would be much obliged.

Thanks for looking.

College Designs (Threadless)

I am posting some designs I did for a Threadless Challenge to redesign 12 college mascots. I only got around to 2 but I like how they turned out.

I have always been bothered by the commonly seen Georgia Bulldog mascot I see around town in Athens, GA. I wanted to make a cool and aggressive bulldog to contrast the poorly drawn goblin-looking mascot. I used actual bulldog images, the idea of a full-bodied mascot (which many other colleges embrace), a ready to pounce football player, and the Rancor creature (from Star Wars) as inspiration for my design.

Georgia Design Link


For Auburn I strove to use the concept of their established logo/mascot and take it to the next level. Their logo is circular and I used angles to create more aggression. I also used more of the tigers face to further intensify that aggression. For this design I used actual Tiger images, super hero emblems, an almost symmetrical triangle (and the space it creates), and the current Auburn logo/mascot for my inspiration.

Auburn Design Link

Die Zombie, Die!

Above: Higher Resolution, just click on the image.
Below: Placement.

T-shirt would be printed with 4-color process or however the good folks at Threadless would like to separate it.

So here is a zombie submission for Threadless. It is for the "Comic Loves" competition. It was influenced by the cover of a graphic novel called "Hard Boiled." This a t-shirt version of the a fore mentioned cover done to a zombie theme; I could not find a good link or else I would have included it.

I chose a zombie theme because when I was on a family retreat, called The Lighthouse, I met a man named Larry who was an extra on "The Walking Dead." Larry is the father of an amazing boy named Jared who befriended my son at the retreat. A zombified Larry picture is featured on the walk-on add section on the official website. "The Walking Dead" is based on a long running comic that goes by the same name. This one is for Larry, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Frank Miller and Geof Darrow.

If you get a chance please check out and/or support The Lighthouse; see link above. It is an amazing organization that provides refuge and light for families of Cancer Survivors.

Link to vote on Threadless:

Slowest Train or IF: Ahead

Ahead of the snail was a sloth. Ahead of the sloth was a tortoise. Ahead of the tortoise was a sea horse steering the slowest train. With nowhere to go, without care in the world, they sang there song to the slow tempo of the clickity-clack.

The Slowest Train Coming. I put together the slowest animals in the world playing musical instruments in a nod to train inspired Blues songs. I have a Three-toed Sloth (the slowest mammal: .15 mph), a Giant Tortoise (the slowest reptile: .17), a Garden Snail (The slowest insect: .03 mph) and Sea Horse (the slowest fish: .001 mph). I did not include any birds because there is no bird slow enough for this list.

Five color screen-print design. The t-shirt print wraps around the shirt. Prints up to 25 inches across as a print.




If you get a chance, vote on all of my current designs at Threadless.
including:

More Threadless designs

I am going to post two more soon and try do a promotional blitz. Follow the links to see more details and t-shirt placement. Please let me know what you think and vote at Threadless if you get a chance.

Based on comments and interest, I decided to go with "Armpit Hare" rather than the "Ear Hare" from the previous post.

Threadless

I have just started my attempt at designing shirts for Threadless.com. If you read this post, and you like the designs, please go to Threadless and vote for design and mark that you would buy it. There should links embedded above. If I get printed, not only will it boost my ego but I could receive substantial monetary compensation.

I will probably start posting more t-shirt designs intended for Threadless in the near future.

IF: Muddy

Here is my idea for "Muddy." I have recently come across an opportunity to design some funny "play-on-words" t-shirts. Look for more in the coming weeks.

For those that are interested, I will also be posting some of Griffin's stories and blogger illustrations in the next couple weeks. Follow link below for the original post.

T-shirt ACC Stormwater

Stop standing there idle, help those animals express their frustration.

7/20/09 Update of original art to make all parties happy.




Here is a job I recently finished. It is for the Athens/Clarke County Stormwater department. They needed a t-shirt for their new hot-line. It was requested to illustrate the design to look like a graphic novel. This is my attempt. Tell me what you think.

This is a 5 color screen-print on a light blue t-shirt. I added an updated version July 17th so you can take a look at the half-tones.

Griffin Day 5k: T-shirt

I have not posted in a long time and for a good reason. My 3 year-old son was diagnosed with Leukemia ALL on May 20th. We are blessed to see our son, Griffin, responding well to the treatments on a medical level. This type of Leukemia has 80-90% cure which is great. That said, he has not been himself and he is currently in a lot of pain.

We were in the hospital for over a week and I have been transitioning back into work. The only free time I have is when I sit with Griffin to comfort him. I cannot draw while I do this but I can read, and I have read four books since this whole thing started: The Shack, The Wizard of Oz, The Sun Also Rises and Dune. I will probably not get into posting often for awhile: this also means I will not be visiting my favorite bloggers very ofter either. I have not forgotten all of you.

The t-shirt designs, above, are for a benefit for my son. A friend of ours had the bright idea of putting on a 5k run to benefit Griffin and our family. We are making a day out it with a raffle, potluck, and music in the evening. These shirts will be given to the runners and will be available for purchase by the general public. If you are able to be in the Athens, GA. area July 18th please come by: Let me know in your comments and I will get you more information. If you like the shirt and you want to get one/support us please let me know.

About the design: Griffin's favorite color is purple, hence the purple shirt. I wanted to graphically show cancer cells (red crabs) intermingled with white blood cells (yellow rounded stars) and have the cancer cells disappear across the design. It's all very symbolic and hopeful. To top it off, who does not like looking at a picture of my son Griffin.


Update: To purchase t-shirts and/or register for the 5k go to

http://griffin5k.blogspot.com

Eric Clapton

Recently I was humbled to be to have the opportunity to designs a concert t-shirt for Eric Clapton. This kind of opportunity does not come up very often and frankly, I honored just be able to take part. Clapton is a music legend, and in my opinion, he is be admired for staying relevant and rocking for so many years.

I have been doing some freelance design for a screen-printing company for which I used to work full-time. Pretty much all the t-shirt designs seen on my blog are from work I have done for this company. When I got the call that we would be submitting designs to Clapton's management I was ecstatic. The only direction they gave was not use Clapton's face or an image of a guitar. So here is the best of what I came up with in a two day dead-line.

Sound Cloud: The concept was to combine psychedelic art with modern design.
Rasta Clapton: The idea here was to capitalize on one of Clapton's best known hits; his remake of the Bob Marley classic "I Shot the Sheriff."
Clapton Monument: He is so monumental in the history of rock that I thought it only fitting.

I am still waiting on what Clapton's people think. In the interim, please let me know your thoughts. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

IF Poise: T-shirt Submissions

In these recently created designs, and the designs from the previous two post, I have been trying to create compositions with a great degree of poise.

Poise from Webster's- 1: a stably balanced state : equilibrium poise between widely divergent impulses — F. R. Leavis>2 a: easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling.

"Odd Bird"

"Type-Writer"

"Super 80's"

"Tape Vomit"

"The End" based on the real ending of The Watchmen.

I have not been posting lately because I have been fervently working on some t-shirt designs. These, along with the previous two posts, are some of the submissions I have made to a start-up company called "Transmission." I am very excited about the prospects of this company.

Please let me know what you think about the designs: Would you were them? Which is your favorite? Do any of them rub you the wrong way? Do they have poise?

IF: Intricate

Here is an intricate way to hurt the environment.

Created for a new t-shirt line my friend is starting. More news later.

More T-shirt Art

Content Edited (9/17/09)

In other news, the first design from the previous post is going to be printed. It will be printed on a natural colored shirt with browns, red, and oranges(see below). I am overjoyed to have a shirt chosen by Dan for his solo tour.

T-shirt Art February

Content Edited (9/17/09)

I was recently commissioned to do some t-shirt art for a couple of bands. I was really excited to do some art for Dan Auerbach, of "The Black Keys," who is putting out a solo album. The "Keys" are awesome, and from what I have heard, Dan's album "Keep It Hid"sounds like it will be great too. I did one creative 70's feeling design (top), another based on 60's Jazz Art and Ohioan pride (center), seen in previous "Keys" apparel, and a more Head Shot approach (bottom).


This design is for a Country rocker I had not heard of named "Jonathan Singleton." I was told to take inspiration from Bob Seger t-shirts/posters. I found a photo of "Singleton" live that worked well. "Singleton" is touring with Eric Church and I will have a design of his that I will show in my next post. IF and MAD will have to wait.

I hope the musicians dig my ideas. If you get a chance, please let me know what you think.

There will be much "celebration" and jubilation when designs go to print.

IF: Routine

Living in Athens, GA., it has become very routine to draw bulldogs. I have drawn bulldogs countless times and the only way I think I will escape this request is to move somewhere outside of Georgia. This project was fun because I also got to draw Jared, the Subway spokesperson.
I finished this one today, for a freelance client. T-shirt design, hence the limited color.

So a rhino, a giraffe, and an elephant go into a bar...

I recently felt inclined to draw a rhino, a giraffe, and an elephant drinking coffee together. I could not explain why I needed to draw them, I just did. Then out of the blue I was requested to do some t-shirt designs for "Iron and Wine," who is a musician I like a lot. His promoter wanted a circus themed design and any other art. The gray shirt is my circus styled design and I got to use my RGE drawing for another design on a natural colored shirt. I thought they turned out pretty cool and I hope "Iron and Wine" thinks they are cool too.