This design is my second submission to this competition and a continuation of the theme from my first. Here is what I proposed:



What I had in mind for a trend for Threadless was a reimagining of old images in the public domain. There is a wealth of fascinating, obscure and downright awesome images from days long gone that would make sweet tee designs and I think it’s something that everyone can do. It doesn’t require any special equipment or skill – just the ability to identify the potential in images that exist in the public domain and be creative with them.



Far from ripping-off the original works, I feel it's a way of paying homage to these works and their artists. The way I see it; if people are reusing and getting inspired from my work in 100 years, I would have done something right.



Thanks!

nice work!!!!

Yes please

haha great!

excellent! i think this is a little more obvious interpretation of your intention than your last design.

great!

Looks quite dandy! $5

Love wood type..but would love it on cream....cant wear that!

5$

Pretty original I dig

looks awesome!

SPIFFY!

Looking $weet!

haha, super!^^

$5 easily :)

GREAT $5

The shirt looks awesome as I've already stated in your blogs :)

"Threadless could do this in house without paying outside artists for it"



a lot of very talented people work at threadless. If they wanted they could design all of the shirts in house, but that's not really the point of the site now is it?



love this one fathh! looks great on gold and definitely something i would wear.

great great great

Wonderful!

I like the style of this, very unusual in tshirts, but its something different and can cause a new trend. GOOD LUCK!!

Great,$5

WHERE'S MY MINT?



but still 5$

4$

I love this kind of shirt. Also think Threadless needs more shirts with texts (not necessarily slogans).

Cool!

Really cool!!!

Most probably very cool.

yes, please! great stuff!!

Good. Not quite hitting it bbut I like it and it is original.

Great design, nice refunctioning!

great! 5$

Cool! $$

simple and great idea.

Nice.

So TOTALLY EPICALLY AWESOMELY AWESOME!

5$!!

nice. 5 for sure



check mine out at

http://www.threadless.com/submission/251419/Music_Sweet_Music/showmore,designs

looks like a kid i knew in 7th grade... he bit me. i didn't like him very much.



i like this shirt tho!

Great work Aled!

I'd wear the shit out of this

is that a manticore?



Great job boss!

This is most excellent my man! I would totally wear this!!! 5 from me!

wow this its so great!!

5$$

gimme this. $5

Love!

cool!

Awesome!

This design is most probably very awesome.



A much simpler and more refined version of your first attempt at this new trend, good stuffs here.

I love your idea and the execution of this design is absolutely great!

Oh, this would have been awesome if it was already printed by someone else by another artist. In fact I own this shirt and bought from last brand new concert. Boo!



http://www.merchdirect.com/BrandNew/Tshirts/Liger_TShirt?productid=8875

Hah! I assume from your tone that you're accusing me of copying that. I'm really not surprised someone else has used the manicore - it was pretty much one of the sweetest public domain images I found and the person who did that tee obviously felt the same way. It's from the website of an Aussie guy who scans old books and catalogues public domain images for people to use. I might argue that I've been more imaginative with it though and that was the thrust of my idea when I was imagining a trend - instead of just putting a band name next to it.



Although I'm a bit gutted that someone has already used the manicore, I am cheered that other people are out there bringing forgotten images to tee design! And I don't think that the fact it has already been used should preclude Threadless or someone else from printing my interpretation. Because of the nature of public domain image use - it becomes more about the manner in which the image is used - rather than the image itself. Indeed - if my design was printed - the design and arrangement and 'concept' could be copyrighted, but anyone would be free to use the image of the manicore. Such is the nature of the public domain beast.

you are one of the most talented illustrators I know fatheed, but with all due respect I don't see how this is much more imaginative than Chris23's example.

With all that being said, I found the original book, this is from, and there is quite the selection of interesting creatures that would make sweet tee designs, but I think everyone would agree that drawing an original one based on those would be much better than this.

Thanks, Sam. The surrounding text gives it completely new context compared to just the image on it's own. The type itself and layout is an homage to the circus and show posters of the 1800's. Humour is subjective and if the idea of someone putting up posters in search of a dangerous, awesome creature doesn't amuse you, then you probably won't like what I've done.

Haha - yeah there is a bunch of illustrated creatures in that book but this one is the best by a country mile. It has a person's face! Redrawing my own creature would completely miss the point of using public domain imagery. :)

I like what you're suggesting, but if you do use public domain images you really ought to take them a step further than their original intent to make the idea artistically justifiable. As it stands, you could have done a lot more with the image. It's a little amusing, but otherwise totally reliant on the fact that it's borrowed.

sweet

This is totally awesome!!!!!

reallllly nice! :)

hehe, awesome

I think this is awesome, would definitely wear it. $5

This is superb, a big $5 from me!

We live in a time where everything has been done. Reinventing old ideas and adding new concepts is awesome and should be encouraged. This is a 5 and buy design.

All-around goodness.

i need this tee $5

Let me start off by saying that I DIG this BIG TIME! I think recycling public domain images can make for awesome tees. However, this concept is by no means a new trend.



Natalie Dee, mastermind behind Married To The Sea, has a daily strip based on this concept and has also produced some tees as well.



Additionally, I've had a go with this idea back in my early Threadless days - The Elysian Waltz, A Bicycle Built for Doom and Seeking Wisdom.



I don't mean to poop in anybody's hat. I just wanted to speak my peace.



P.S. $5!

Haha - thanks LBB! I completely accept what you're saying and I've always conceded that what I'm doing is nothing new. I do, however, not agree that it has ever been a popular trend here. There are examples of people using public domain imagery on Threadless in the past but there has never been a plural acceptance of it and the score for my first submission (despite some criticism and disapproval) demonstrates (in my opinion) that there is now more of an appetite for this kind of design on a tee. To my mind, this challenge is not about inventing a new style or theme but popularising one.

Royalty free art ftw!

I like this. I might even wear it.

Großartig!!!

Great!!!

$!!!

bump because this is awesome!!!!!!

This contest has led to some awesome ideas and discussion.

This Tshirt is a great idea, and a trend that i could see becoming popular. There is quite a difference from using vector packs (also copyright free) to this idea of creatively re-imagining the context of the illustrations.

that is definitely an awesome creature! really turned out great!

Very cool! Love the tee design!!!

is that the manitcore?

man i want this so baaaaad