I know, it’s not the most sophisticated or original design to slap on a shirt. However, I was a bit more after color combinations.

I think what might make this work really well would be a glossy finish to the skulls or something with a heavier texture than just letting the fabric of the garment work through.

I’ll admit, I’m currently dreaming of full-garment printing for this design but I will make it available in a smaller format on t-shirts soon at the Tornado Republic store.

I love the uniquely American history of Route 66 in style and culture.

I wasn’t sure if a filigree element would be work or not but I think it’s strong enough without detracting and in the end – I think it works well. Also, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’m enjoying the more earthy-tones and somewhat non-standard garment colors since I’ve been so busy with high-impact-color designs lately.

I’ve been doing work for clients lately… lots of bright colors, eye-popping design elements, most geared toward either small format apparel designs or things like wine labels, brochures, etc.

I guess I was just wanting to play around with different elements. Sometimes it’s fun to just go another direction… distressed and weathered, subdued colors, and totally whacked garment colors – something that looks like it was two different batches of dye mixed together. Navy blue and bright colors that pop are great but sometimes it’s fun to just toss that out the window and go with garment colors that probably have no official color-name, big hem-to-hem printing, and a design that looks like it’s been through too many laundry cycles.

If I could find a POD that could give me all that – it could be a dream come true.

Great pizza by the slice or whole! If you’re not on the West side don’t worry – they deliver!

I’ll be honest, I had a pizza craving yesterday and that means it didn’t take long for me to crave doing a pizza design in my vintage sign style with a modern twist. The colors for this were sampled from a photo of a slice of pepperoni pizza – how’s that for die hard?

It’s another one of my fictitious “Any Town, USA” pieces (or, in this case, “Any City, USA”). The skyline is actually a combination of Minneapolis with some hints of Toronto and Boston which, I’m sure, have perfectly good pizza joints and not all are on the West side so please don’t send me any angry emails.

It’s available on shirts, mugs, hoodies, and more at TornadoRepublic.com

Available for affiliate sales using Commission Junction – Cafepress. As always it’s tagged with the word “tornadorepublic”.

Have I mentioned I love vintage signage and bottle/brewery style labels?

It seemed like a good time to have a little fun with something a little “stronger” than a beer bottle label.

Ballyturk Irish Whiskey, from the little village of Ballyturk, where there are more sheep than locals, was a great place to start. BIW is the pride of this little farming community that uses the unique soil and peat created by the salty air of the cold, North Atlantic ocean to blend its excellent, single malt spirit. The cold, foggy and humid climate is perfect to create a robust, flavorful whiskey in the old tradition.

So, if you’re not able to stop by the local Ballyturk pub on Thursday night to listen to Teagan the barmaid tell stories and sing local folk songs then enjoy a little Ballyturk from the Tornado Republic.

Some of you know that one of my favorite design styles is that found in beer and wine labels, brewery, and tavern signage. I don’t get to indulge in it as much as I’d like. However, I decided I’d be self-indulgent a little and combine a bit of my daily life (that of artist and designer) with this style. So, here’s a little treat to myself and perhaps others, who enjoy these things, may have fun with.

The Student Utility Building. I’m not sure if it’s a point of pride that college was the best five years of my life because, well, it wasn’t pre-med nor law school… it wasn’t supposed to be longer than four years at tops. What can I say? I liked electives.

At any rate, even though I lived in the same town as the college the SUB – Student Utility Building – was still my second home. You could go to the bookstore, grab a soda and chips, order finger steaks for lunch, or just grab a quick game of foosball or watch tv with friends. I certainly have fond memories of our SUB and the many hours I clocked there (including one really bad snowstorm that prevented me from making it home until after midnight).

So, I’m going to indulge myself by commemorating something I think a lot of others who loved college will relate to… the college SUB in all its student comfort goodness.

Available at the TornadoRepublic.com

I’m not sure if it’s just funny or poking fun but seriously… what will an Emo kid do if he doesn’t like it? Write me a sad poem?

Black printing on a black shirt using black machinery, in a darkened room where emotional high school students read poetry and toil away cranking out tshirts.

Occasionally the goth kids bust in to start trouble – wearing their own black shirts printed with black ink using black machiner… hmmm, maybe Darwin was right?

www.TornadoRepublic.com

Thanks to Mary for the heads-up.

Link to Spreadshirt announcement.