inPrint Companion: July 17
(an artist's guide)
Oh man -- 10 a week makes it hard to keep up and submit designs -- we'll keep trying to stay on top if you keep readin!
We were also a little delayed as we added THE ARTOMETER! to our process (Steve will be so proud!) -- see how well your new favorites score!
Artists with Money Now:
Satan's Little Helper (666)
I am a huge mythology buff and a dog owner so personally I adore this shirt and plan on buying it out of stock for gifts this year. On a pure art level this is a great example of some detail vector work (done with some reference photos most likely -- Olly and Ross can yell if I'm wrong) -- seemlessly tying the multiple heads together with some gentle strokes. The slight color variation in the fur and the dark noses are awesome details in this very one color world. The unique shirt color was an well informed choice as it plays into the theme and lets the puppy's colors really jump out. This shirt has a great all around appeal and some cool artwork, it's only drawback is that it falls into the "faceless" art realm as the pure vector forms can get lost in the sea of similar Threadless designs.
Reviewed by
BasicShift
Stat City
Another great vector illustration, Stat City does some fun things with great details and a high impact color. Much like the corporate logos this seems to draw color inspiration from the image captures our busy lives with impact. Playing the micro and macro views of the daily life with some very identifiable forms and symbols -- drawing you in to explore each little light. The great touches such as the "x"s used in the graph to represent stars and the hatched rules becoming rails makes this design a superb example of how a different artistic concept can be executed in such a way that doesn't remove it from being accessible to all.
Reviewed by
BasicShift
Happy When It Rains (Blik Runner-Up)
I love Stingerstyler's illustrative techniques for their ability to push the idea of simplification further each time. This design makes it even more apparent as a versitile wall decoration on top of a playful design. Starting with the stylized sun and the bouncing from left to right and towards the bottom the shirt's composition is seemingly erratic while you look for each fun detail. This idea translates well when one imagines creating their own scenes on a wall. The muted colors allow the design to pull off of the brighter background of the shirt and seem more vivid on a traditional neutral wall color. Each character and rain treatment is innvoative yet childlike -- all while retaining an appeal for any age.
Reviewed by
BasicShift
Africa
I like this design because it’s daring. I could picture the artist saying ”normally the animals are unable to defy gravity, but for this I’ll keep it.” Also I like the angle of the design. Normally we get submissions that have and organic pull from the shoulder to the middle of the shirt. Here the bold rectilinear striping that comes forth reads like a soccer jersey at first glace. The color and stressing has the paint roller effect that makes it feel worn and natural. The single blue is cool as it implies the sky. The peach is nicely layered to imply earth and sun. Even though I love the design, I would have liked to see some of the peach or blue come through the animal silhouettes, trees, large brown striping to create slightly more texture like the bottom of the design. I kinda feel that the tree on the left is more successful in implication that the animal and brush on the right. Overall the art is a simple screen approach that I enjoy.
Reviewed by
Quoo
7.00 (Blik Winner)i>
There are a lot of subtle details that make this design entertaining. This feels like a storybook illustration. White and tinted outlines define light sources and elements that sit in front of one another. Pattern details in the chair fabric, leg and even the clock make for a consistent look. The colors are nature’s best in brown and greens. Good use of diagonals aid onlookers in moving from top to bottom. The girl is well illustrated too. As far as execution of design it is well done. But as wearable art, it feels like it may be better suited as a kids t-shirt or library aid. *Maybe not so much for male audiences.
Reviewed by
Quoo
Anteater
A patterned, form with a sedated glance sits on the top. Then you follow the Anteater’s tongue ALL the way down the hole to see these clever little ants. I like how the length of the hole creates flow and story, seemingly getting attention, but I wonder why the use of pattern stopped at the anteater. It would have been nice to see some more layering in the earth implied like the ant hill. Some of the lighter orange around the anteater’s feet showing he is standing on something might have helped me like this design more. Some good ideas here, but if it had more going on with texture and ants, I would consider wearing it. Another great kids t-shirt, but maybe not so much for adults.
Reviewed by
Quoo
The ones we love to hate, a.k.a. Text-T:
Stop, drop, and roll doesn't work in hell
The font here is pretty nice - but seems to lack some of the power as an italic version. It's just one step away from a stop sign which may or may not be intentional - as an identity and brand designer this could really work but should really have been taken to the next level. Perhaps reading STOP at a larger scale and pulling the viewer into some details as they read the rest of the slogan would have been a more solid approach. The upward tilt also seems to allude to the "roll" but doesnt quite get there -- maybe as one reads the slogan drop and roll could have had their own treatment -- pushing it further and exaggerating would have been much more interesting.
Reviewed by
BasicShift
Selects - The Uber-Shirts:
The Deep
I showed this design to a few friends and they of course said “my kid can do that.” I quickly replied with “but can you do that?” And of course they could not. The reason being is that, even thought the treatment of the elements are childlike in appearance, there is a huge commitment to consistency of story, lineweight, color, scale and pattern. This is why this design works for a printed piece of artwork. Look at how the white and green do much to get you around the design, while the blue is pushed back, still allowing for the design to feel full by creating patterns to break up shirt color. This is pretty hard to do with so many overlapping elements Even the text in its immature treatment feels like it belongs with this art. There is a lot of complexity here that makes the shirt better for wear. Stripes, teeth, bones, dots – all mixed with other colors. So the combination feels endless from small creature to large. The onlooker here will discover all the hidden offerings of the deep in a comical fashion of course.
Reviewed by
Quoo
Reprints, The Rebirth of Designs:
Who F*cking Cares?
An interesting concept that has some nice subtle points, Who F*cking Cares?, is an interesting reprint choice in some ways. The art doesn't hold up as well for me as some other designs as the person walking has some anatomical issues (either his forward foot is short or the forshortening is off -- and the back heel should be raised further if the front foot is off the ground). It may seem nitpicky but with so many great ones to choose from in terms of art -- I have to question it. The contrasting colors and grayed out person really play up the concept well in the end though, and it would be a good shirt in any collection.
Reviewed by
BasicShift
Obi Wan Kerrist
This shirt is fun. After reading the comments on the shirt, I too was like “NO” then “Maybe” then “OK, it’s good.” However I have had my share of shirts that were fun, meaning no harm and offending people at the same time. So much in fact that I was forced (ha I said Force) to turn my shirt inside out. This shirt, I hope would not cause a problem for onlookers. Actually I would hope that Pastors and Sunday school teachers would wear it. It is simple, well illustrated and should appeal to anyone that loves Star Wars and respects major religions. This design really isn’t thrown forward in heavy linework. And I think that is what makes this work overall. The cross does more to define the character and the power of Jesus as he fights against the dark side. The serious glance in the onlookers direction is a nice touch. The colors are bright and warm. A non typical approach as many might have gone with more fluffy colors like sky blues and purples. And thankfully no halos.
Reviewed by
Quoo
Feb 06 '07 by
