From the Portfolio: Maylene & the Sons of Disaster

rubbish, theres nothing wrong with maximalism. it doesnt look cluttered, in fact the composition is great. you shouldnt second guess your previous work, everyone changes their tastes and aesthetics over time, especially as your competency reaches higher levels.well done.

The croc/eagle and the faded pink splatter are cool. But that's where it ends.

No doubt about it though, great job!

Hi, I saw this shirt in Sydney, Australia when they played here and while I think it's a fairly decent design I felt the 3d text was too much. Still, a very beautiful illustration.

you should do a tutorial of this piece

I agree with you here Oliver... I really like the elements separately, but combined, the themes don't coincide in my opinion. Also, as a Maylene fan, the only graphical element in this design that could somewhat represent this band... is Maybe the eagle/alligator creation, but even then... they are a southern, metal band. This design really screams experimental post-hardcore :P .. Sorry to get so specific with the subgenre, but in all honesty, Fans of these types of bands (including myself) get that picky.. Gotta still please them to get em to actually buy the shirt. I would have gone a route that really focuses on the band's "myth-like" branding. Their music focuses on telling a "Tale" of "Maylene" and her Sons of Disaster. It's kind of a self-created southern "Folk Tale." It makes them feel... Legendary... by creating their own story or what could also be described as "Mythology."

Wow, I wrote a lot. You are a great designer though Oliver, and those elements, by themselves, are great as well. Keep it up and I hope this helps if the band ever throws (more?) business your way!

I don't think there's anything wrong with not liking things you've done before. It's a good way of telling whether you're getting better. And of course there are things you've made and will always love, but that's when you really hit the nail on the head.

More importantly, thanks for posting something you're "over" and saying how you'd approach it differently now, rather than posting something new and trying to explain why it's awesome. Don't see that enough.

amazing......so amazing.....

Despite outside perceptions, I understand the feeling to go back and look at something that you just went over the top with. My mom is an artist as well and one thing she always tells me when I show her something and ask if there's anything I should add to it. "Don't add paint to a masterpiece!" Anyway, to everyone at gomedia, you are my heroes!

The type looks almost too kiddy for Maylene :p
The croc head on the eagles body looks weird.. but still cool :)

This would absolutely be a shirt like nothing I've ever seen worn in public. I'm not sure about white, but the design looks really neat, nonetheless!

@jarrod: The two different styles are totally forced. If I were to do it again, I probably would have just put the text in the middle of the back or on the sleeve. Or maybe drawn a torn up scroll with the band's name on it.

@jukefive: shut your mouth, junior.

I think the illustration is great, but the text treatment and other elements feel like a different style altogether and kind of push the illustration into the background. When you have a Black & White illustrations, it is very easy for them to become secondary to any element even simplistic secondary elements, that makes use of vibrant (or semi-vibrant) colors, which is the case here I think.

But maybe it looks different when actually worn by someone.

You're right it looks gay. The illustration sucks too. needs to be smaller. 0/9000 fail. Burn the shirt, stay bowling. Give up on design, be an accountant.

I agree with your comments on being too busy. I really like your illustration though, and think it stands well on it's own, maybe some B&W ornamentals could be added.

that's a great band (and shirt)

I like it! I would have still featured it in my blog. ;-)

It really seems like you were trying to force these two elements together? A highly detailed eagle and simple basic type with simplistic color. Those two elements don't seem to mesh together very well. Coming back to this piece a year later with the knowledge you have now; how would you improve it if the client wanted it re-done? I would love to see pictures? compare and contrast. Thanks

It looks nice but I don't think it represents M&SOD at all

Well, it's maybe true that the typo is not that readable, but it's still a nice concept.
I just wonder how hard it is to print ?

Well... I agree, the typography doesn't match the feel of the drawing.. The swirls match good, though

Haha, disappointed. It looks really great to me. Maybe because it's just fresh to me, I dunno.

Either way, good work.

I hate looking back at my work, there's always something that I would have done differently. This is still an excellent design, keep it up.

It's still cool in my book.