You can vector with a mouse.

Even if you don't see your own ability, I applaud your father for supporting and encouraging you.

We often seem to be overly critical of ourselves...

Is it easy? Everytime I try drawing stuff it hurts my hand after a while. I'm not so good with the mouse 'cause it feels really uncomfortable for that kind of stuff.

draw a mouse with a turtle singing.
bad design? yes.
Get a tee shirt? yes.

Your dad sounds incredibly supportive. Lucky you!

that's so very true, professorE. Plus threadless is really amazing and even though there are crap designs out there, I'd hate to put one out myself so that's added pressure.

I laughed cassiepaige... but I'll work on that idea, perhaps. ;)

Thanks squinty girl... he is, but perhaps he just wants me to win so he can get a bit of that 2k C;

He just rejected the mouse & turtle singing thing though, he says it has to have potential to win.

Cool dad.

Pretty sweet deal.

Every great artist starts somewhere. The Sistine Chapel wasn't Michelangelo's first project.

Kudos to your dad for stepping up.

tell ur dad to buy u a wacom tablet...things will b easier for u....trust me....the tablet rocks!

ok...you can vector with a mouse. It's quite easy if you learn to use the pen tool in illustrator. A wacom tablet is nice. I love mine. But I really don't suggest someone just starting to get one. They aren't cheap, the least expensive one is $100 and honestly you should work on your skills before you invest in a tablet. They are a nice tool but having the skills always is superior to having tools to make things easier.
Your dad sounds AWESOME by the way. And I'd say that your number one thing you need to do is come up with a great idea. That's rule #1. My last sub was well drawn and technically pretty good but it was just abstract and only scored a 1.6. I didn't really care cause I was just experimenting...
So come up with a concept that works VISUALLY that will blow people out of the water. Then go from there.

^what he said.

I'm pretty good (if I say so myself) with the mouse and pen tool. Vectors are my main strength and I've gotten really good at it over the last three years at school. It doesn't take that long to learn the basics and from there it's just development and technique. I'd like to get a tablet eventually but they do cost a bit and I don't want a half arsed one, I want the real deal.

And Jpiatt is on the money with the idea thing. Get something that will create a visualy interesting T-shirt and then get that idea into the computer. Then you should put it into critiques and go from there. People do help out in these and it will help you develop your idea and art work.