T-Shirts ain't no walk in the park, she says

T-shirt design

I love it and I hate it. The process, the variables, the finished prodcut- they all can be your favorite thing one minute and the bane of your existence the next. I can't wait to see this puppy finished and on the torso of a coworker. Hopefully he/she will look proud. Superhero pose- go!

I wanted to share this process with you, though. It's a unique one, and there's a lot of things to consider when designing apparel.

Here's where I started:

After the feedback from the team, I moved with the chosen image and started thinking color choices.

After this step I ran into the biggest issue: T-shirt color. Now, it's not really about the color and if people will like it, but more- can we find a company that makes it? It would have been smart to consider the following before designing color paletts:

• What ink process do you want to use (i.e. look and feel of graphic)
• Shirt color and style. Have this determined early on if possible.
• Shirt material. Will the ink work well with preferred material?

This is where it got difficult: I liked the colors in the graphic itself, but I started pasting it onto shirts and it looked like a sticker. It wasn't whole, it didn't match, I couldn't get it to become "one" with the shirt.

So iterate, iterate, iterate!

After several other choices, this is where we landed. We all felt like we'd come to a great place where the graphic, color, shirt all worked together quite harmoniously.

But (and that's a huge butt) the physical t-shirt swatches of the "heather-slate" that we wanted did not actually look like the t-shirt above. grrrr It was waaaaaay darker and therefor, all the colors in the graphic would have had to change. I think the key here is to order samples, find a shirt you want to use early on, and design based on that. The web does not depict colors acuratly.

But in the end, the shirt is going to work. You have to wrap it up and move on.

And we're all so excited to start the printing process with the screen printers. It's the best feeling when you've put so much work into a project and you feel like you've finally landed on something you really really like. You say to yourself, "Oh yeah! That's why I spent so much time on this- I need to get it here."

Not all projects are like that....

If you have any questions, I'm always available! I highly recommend taking the t-shirt design class on Skillshare.com with Chris Delorenzo. He breaks down the process really well, and the designer who runs it does some rad stuff for Johnny Cupcakes.

Playtime.

This has been one of my favorite projects.  When you have a clear direction and you know exactly what your boundaries are, you can let yourself play.  Isn't that the case with a lot of things?  Safety is a huge goal, causing trouble and turmoil when we don't have it, but allowing us to let loose and think big when we do.  It's a gift.

As I develop this brand (which is ever and always will be evolving) I'm slowly feeling more comfort and ease as I begin each project.  I'm acquainted with the brand- it's acquainted with me.

Funny how it all works out, after riding the waves and fearing each bump and shake, you get use to it and soon you're sailing along.  I think I'll have a beer today.

Thinking about whales

Most of the time at my job I work on the computer.  I scan little ink drawings and color them in photoshop, or make flyers- you know, it's fun and it changes all the time so I'm never bored.  But last week I painted an image for an upcoming meet up.  I feel the most in love and fulfilled with the world when I'm painting.  I loooove mixing the paint, and I love being a little messy.  I get lost in it, really, and that's all anyone wants.

You'll see below the Thinker from RethinkDB and the Docker whale on a high sea adventure. I used J. W. Turner paintings for reference.  There are a couple photos of my process below.  I glazed a complementary color in the sky so it would shine through all the bushy grey clouds which was the best choice I made.  Water has always been a little difficult but I tried some curly sea foam patterns and it instantly brought it to life, too.

The final image!

Remember,

I just wanted to remind you that you are powerful, you are amazing and so capable!  You really can do it if you put your heart and guts in it!

Wisdom about writing from Harriet the Spy

Have you read Harriet the Spy?  Have you ever heard of it?  I can remember reading that book over and over again, obsessed with everything about it.  Harriet was smart, fearless, and determined- my 6th grade hero.  My sisters would groan anytime I talked about it or watched the 90's Nickelodeon film production because... I was a broken record.  My poor sisters....

For those who have no idea what Harriet the Spy is, it's a middle grade novel about an 11 year old girl in New York city who is a spy and writes down almost everything in her private notebook.  Her sixth grade class eventually grab hold of her notebook one day and read all her dirty secrets aloud to the class- most of which are personal thoughts about said classmates.  It get's rough for Harriet, but truth prevails.

Harriet the Spy has a lot to say about growing up, life's lessons, and more, but it shines an incredible light on the most important things you need to know about writing.  Perhaps this is why I loved the book so much- it is ridiculously inspiring.  Listen to these nuggets of wisdom:

Write like no one is listening.

We tend to edit our words.  When we converse we use tact, tell white lies, and make excuses.  When you write, you MUST be truthful.  Don't worry about what other people think- at least not at first. The editing can come later.

“Little lies that make people feel better are not bad, like thanking someone for a meal they made even if you hated it, or telling a sick person they look better when they don't, or someone with a hideous new hat that it's lovely. But to yourself you must tell the truth” -Louise Fitzhugh

Write everyday and about everything.

Writing is a practice and Harriet practiced everyday.  You HAVE to write in order to improve.  Some people sell their first novel and it's a hit, but I assure you there's a lot of practice behind it.  School helps us exercise our writing skills, but once you leave the classroom you're on your own.  

Write everyday and try to write about more than the "comfortable" subjects.  Try writing about your neighbors?  Perhaps the history of your city has some secrets?

Pay attention.

Insert my absolute favorite quote of all time: 

"To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work." -Mary Oliver

So...Harriet climbed into people's houses and watched them like a creeper.  I don't suggest you do that, though I did as a kid (yikes!).  Next time you're in a cafe, take written or mental notes of what people are doing and saying around you.  The world is a fascinating place, and all the material you need is around you (and on the internet).

Stop worrying about what other people think.

So people don't like what you've written.  Either it's a little "too honest" such as in Harriet's case, or it's not quite....there.  Who cares?  You can fix it.  Good friends will be honest with you, and good friends will encourage you.  Share your work with people, but always do it for yourself.

"Life is Strange."

-Harriet (Louise Fitzhugh)

It sure is!  So enjoy it, discover it, be a part of it!  Laugh at it sometimes, share it, yell at it, and demand that it be exactly as it is.

Here's the classic book cover.  It's a quick read and has a lot to offer.  I was a Harriet wannabe with my raincoat, binoculars and back & white composition notebook.  I still have a "notebook" and I always will.