An Abundance of Sketches
Overview
I was skimming through my sketch book the other day and decided to vector all the margin doodles and notes that never really went anywhere. For your consideration, here are 16 half-baked t-shirt illustrations with unique font pairings – all using a singular 5-color palette.
Ramen Smasher
“What a travesty! Breaking the ramen to fit in the pot. Only a maniac would do such a thing.”
– Me, after realizing people actually do this.
Primary font: Beastly
Secondary font: Amatic SC
Forensics Fun
A quick graphic tee for all the kids in high school forensics class. Putting the “fun” in forensics. “If we discover a body, we high five and party!”
Primary font: Vaase
Secondary font: Abula
Sorcerer Slippers
Found a pair of what can only be described as “Sorcerer Slippers” in my mother-in-law’s front yard. Perhaps a wizard battle took place? The fireball must have been strong because the only thing remaining were these magic slippers.
Primary font: Neretto Sans
Secondary font: Phalanx
Escape Room Sphinx
Can you solve the riddles of the Sfyncks? A not-really-a-sphinx doodle turned into a not-really-an-escape-room logo.
Primary font: Prater Serif
Secondary font: Salsbury
Luna The Chonky Bear
Emma drew this sketch when she was 7 and it’s STILL on our refrigerator! Luna is such a lovable chonky girl. I also learned Alaska has a “Fat Bear Week” to measure the fatness of their bears for hibernation. Definitely worth a read 🧸
Primary font: Cubano
Secondary font: Sign Painter
Chicken and Fish Kebabs
Yummo! Fake food truck concept for all those mystery meat lunches. Is it chicken? Is it fish? It’s CHISH! Run by Sal M. Nilla and his brother T. Rick Onosis.
Primary font: Phoreus Cherokee
Secondary font: Helvegen
Doobie Brothers Misheard Lyrics
This song clearly says “I’d like to hear some funky Dixie lamprey…”
Primary font: Rocka & Billy
Secondary font: Tomahawk
Danger Zoo
What if a petting zoo, except dangerous? Scars make the best souvenirs!
Primary font: Octin College
Secondary font: Zzyzx
Relax and Obey
Mugatu’s little dog from Zoolander, illustrated in a ShowBiz Pizza marquee style from the 80’s.
Primary font: Don José
Secondary font: Cottage Sans Rounded
Alanis Morissette Misheard Lyrics
You Oughta Know… the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me!
Primary font: Bratsy Script
Secondary font: American Lemon
Jaguar
A little practice with e-sports mascot stylings.
Primary font: Evan Eckard Rocklin
Secondary font: Azo Sans Uber Regular
Flamingo Drink Stir
When we were kids, the little neighbor girl was chewing on a glass margarita drink stir and it shattered in her mouth. She proclaimed “I thought it was plastic!”
That phrase is etched into my vocabulary. I get to drag it out whenever someone suddenly realizes the consequences of their own actions.
Primary font: Hansley Hamelin
Secondary font: Bluberry Regular
Memento Mori
A favorite quote of mine “Remember to live because remember you die.”
Primary font: Service Station
Secondary font: Sandoll
Cambodian Monkey Rescue
When mom has had a few beers, you’d better buckle up because she’ll usually go on a tear about the plight of monkeys in Cambodia. I made her this shirt graphic and matching embroidered jacket as a gift.
Primary font: Seidlitz
Secondary font: Watermelon
Crocs and Crocs
Punny Egyptian canoe adventures. Don’t be in denial.
Primary font: Rachael Script
Secondary font: Secret Society
Crime brûlée
Arson possum loves to flambé for fun and profit. Based on a silly meme image, also I like possums.
Primary font: Little Dinosaur
Secondary font: Caffeine
Wrapping Up
Never discount the weird and wonderful ideas lurking in your sketch book. With a little love and attention, you might be surprised with what you can create using all those half baked ideas (and puns). Thanks for reading!