T-Shirt Blogs

My next book… and some personal thoughts on the future of the economy.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:23 GMT

[The paperback galley copies. It’ll actually be coming out in hardback and Kindle only etc.]

I already broke the news on Twitter a while back, but yeah, gapingvoid Book Number Three comes out in April [Amazon pre-order link here].

Like I said earlier:

Think of it a wee love letter to the blog. As everything and everybody gets swallowed up by Facebook, Google+ and other “Death Stars”, remember the importance of having one’s own piece of real estate to call one’s own…

It’s also very, very short. I was in Brevity Mode at the time. And I made sure to put lots of new cartoons in there, just like last time.

I also didn’t write it for the “social media pundit” yakkin’ crowd. I wrote it for your Cousin Al, something just to plant a seed in his head. Hopefully one day it’ll sprout something.

What’s really interesting to me about the book is the timing. In a year where you can’t turn on the news without some pundit asking, “Where are all the new jobs are going to come from”, this might hint at a good answer, of sorts.

Because the way the economy is evolving, the new jobs are going to come from people who are predisposed to blogging in their underwear, anyway. The people who quit their dead-end, pen-pushing jobs, got a second mortgage, turned their spare bedroom into an office and basically risked everything to pursue their dream. And started a blog to help get the word out.

The people who don’t have to wear an tie and go to endless boring meetings seven hours a day for a living.

The people who actually MAKE stuff. The people who actually create real, thriving businesses from scratch. Up and at ‘em by six a.m. Before they’ve had their first cup of coffee. In their underwear. Exactly.

And thanks to blogging social media, beginning that adventure is far less lonely and daunting a process than it used to be, THANK GOD.

Closely related, my regular Twitter buddy, Umair has a WONDERFUL little post over on the Harvard Business Review, “Create A Meanigful Life Through Meaningful Work” where he laments about how most “successful” people he meets seem to make a living these days. As usual, he pulls no punches– he suggests that maybe, just maybe our current depression is not an economic one, but a spiritual and psychological one.

I’ve been in Manhattan for the last few weeks. Hanging out in all the wrong places (read: painfully hip power hotels), I’ve had the questionable privilege of overhearing more than my fair share of Very Serious Conversations from the movers and shakers of the world.

And boy, have they been tedious: mostly, about eking out slightly sharper terms for deals for more yawn-inducing stuff (whether flicks, financial instruments, or kicks) that’s destined not to matter. So here’s a tiny hypothesis: maybe the real depression we’ve got to contend with isn’t merely one of how much economic output we’re generating — but what we’re putting out there, and why. Call it a depression of human potential, a tale of human significance being willfully squandered (on, for example, stuff like this).

Bravo, Umair! My thoughts exactly. Like the brilliant Guy Kawasaki once famously said, “Make Meaning”. That is where the action is, that is where the economy AND the future is going. For all of us, rich and poor.

Make of that what you will…

You chose money

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:27 GMT

Story of my life:

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:15 GMT

All good relationships

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:27 GMT

[Sent out recently in the gapingvoid newsletter. Sign up here etc..]

Respect

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20 GMT

There’s a lot to be said for simplicity. Even though the type seems as exciting as a Victorian first date, the message behind this shirt is clear: Respect. Don't be thrown by the font though. You either love the Pride and Prejudice vibe, or someone you know would respect you for it.

No mystery behind this one, kids. The message is clear. Rep the respect, and respect what you rep.

Sorry for the surprise gangsta rap. Felt like I needed a palate cleanser after all that Victorian business.

$25.00 | URL Mens Womens Youth| Paypal Credit | Multiple shirt styles – Size availability varies between styles.

For all you zen-hipster knuckleheads in the audience:

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:05 GMT

Creativity Comes After The Fact

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:16 GMT

The cartoon above came to me after a Twitter exchange I had with my good friend, the fellow cartoonist-writer-creativity-guru-ninja-whatever, Austin Kleon:

Hugh: If all your songs are songs about writing songs, don’t expect anyone to listen to them.

Austin: The problem with writing about creativity is that it’s often more lucrative than actually being creative.

Hugh: I know. If I had to write about creativity day-in-day-out, I’d kill myself

Austin: God, I can’t wait to start making some actual stupid art again.

Ha!

Both Austin and I have both written books on creativity. Mine did really well so far; I expect Austin’s, when it comes out next month, to become a massive bestseller, if I’m to still to carry on believing that there’s any justice in the world.

i.e. I know my stuff, at least on a good day, and Austin DEFINITELY does.

And both he and I still feel as clueless as anyone else, even if we do get paid to write books about it.

Creativity comes after the fact.

Kids come up to me and ask me all the time…

Kid: How do I get a “creative” career-thing like yours?

Hugh: Make something. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and get cracking…

Kid: What if it isn’t any good?

Hugh: Then you’re screwed.

Kid: Ok, what if it’s pretty good, but it’s still going to take me twenty or thirty years before anybody understands it?

Hugh: Then you’re slightly less screwed.

At that point, they’re already sick of asking me any more questions and so they leave, unhappy. Oh well…

The thing is, people think there’s some set of ideal conditions out there, floating independently in space, that somehow have be met, some magic fairy boxes that need to be ticked off, before you can go and “be creative”, whatever that means.

“I’ve got to quit my job, leave my wife and move to India and become an opium addict yada yada yada…” “I’ve got to drop out of college, move to New York and have a tumultuous lesbian affair with a Japanese novelist twice my age yada yada yada…”

Actually, no. The way to be creative is to make stuff. You wake up in the morning, have some breakfast, hit the work bench and get on it with it.

Or not.

You can’t plan for creativity. You can only plan to do the work.

Whether it ends up being “creative” or not, is decided later. Long after you’ve finished the thing and moved on to something else.

That’s what I mean by it coming “after the fact.”

And so there we are.

Great Scott

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:35 GMT

This one celebrates two of my dearest loves – Back to the Future, and Calvin & Hobbes. Both sustained me when I was a kid – although I still wonder sometimes about Doc and Marty.

In this sendoff, arguably better than those pissing decals (feel free to customize one and send it to a crush. Or your boss.), Calvinized Doc and Marty let everyone know you’re still in touch with what matters. In other words – Date Bait. Enjoy.

$24.00 | URL Mens | Paypal, Credit | M: S – 3XL

Evaded

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:59 GMT

Re–

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:39 GMT

Don’t Trip

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:17 GMT

Hulk Hogan. Wilford Brimley. Gandhi. That handsome bastard Tom Selleck. What do they have in common? A Lip Bush that separates the boys from the men. And if there’s one way that a Mustache levels up, it’s by throwing a double-fist Shaka Bra.

If there’s one way to remind someone they need to stop tripping, it’s the ultimate in Island hand gestures from America’s Jamaica – Hawaii. Home of, most notably, Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Take a page out of Magnum’s book – don’t trip.

$24.00 | URL Mens | Paypal Credit | M: S – L

Brit Skull

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:32 GMT

Here’s one for all you Anglophiles out there. (I’m really hoping you read that in Casey Kasem’s voice. Sidebar – Casey Kasem’s still kicking around. I hope I sound that sultry when I’m nearly 90.)

It’s Brit Skull – and it makes a perfect belated Boxing Day gift for any Harry Potter fan that’s be-bopping around your world.

Now, I know that not all of us can pull off the look of these young inked bruisers, but flying the Union Jack on a skull that stretches your torso will certainly send Her Majesty a message from her cousins across the pond.

And since I like you, and you probably don't like currency conversion, 20 British sterlings is about 30 of our American dollars. Not bad, Sinstar.

$31.20 | URL Mens | Paypal | M: XS – XL

You must love what you do

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:33 GMT

A perfect moment

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:38 GMT

I tried…

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:37 GMT

REAL Success

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:31 GMT

Afternoon Longing

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:32 GMT

Fight the Power

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:24 GMT

There’s really no two ways about it, the amish are pretty tough folk. They raise a barn like a mug, and they’ve been satirized by the king. But even more impressive is that they’ve never heard of the Kardashians. And that, I respect.

In the grand tradition of Amish defiance – and because I hope to channel some of their awesome beard-growing mojo – I’m going to fight the power. Answer the call of the Mennonite Madmen, my peers.

Join your Amish brethren – and Chuck D. Fight the power.

$19.97 | URL Mens Womens | Paypal Credit | M: S – 2XL, F: S – 2XL

This is why the Internet is important: Inheritance Jewelry

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:28 GMT

My friend Danielle makes really awesome jewelry. And now she has her own website, Inheritance Jewelry .

OK, granted, the website could use some work design-wise, but it’s still early days, she’s new to this world…

This is what Web 2.0 REALLY means to me, why it’s REALLY important.

It allows a young woman like Danielle to follow her dreams, without having to take out a loan, without having to sign a lease with some rich landlord in some expensive neighborhood.

This is why the web needs to stay open…

Go, Danielle, Go! Rock on.

“Souls Need To Be Touched”

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:24 GMT

Thanks to Kathleen Warner for ordering the gapingvoid business card above.

The idea that a business card should be more than just a way of handing out contact details, but a social object that states what you believe in, what you stand for.

Exactly.

Marioflage

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:29 GMT

Now that the holidays are (for the most part) blissfully over, ‘tis the season to treat myself to a piece of urban flair. After all, I’ve braved the storm. I’ve wrapped up family time without having a National Lampoon meltdown.

And what better way to reward myself for the sanity-bending time with the fam’ than to Deck the Abs with some boughs of badass. Mario’s back. But let’s be real, he never really left. Join me in my new tradition – MeMas. It’s kind of like XMas, but it’s for you. Treat yourself, sweetheart. You’ve earned it.

But look alive, kids. This bad boy’s priced to move. It’s on sale right now, but who knows how much longer that’s going to be. So I say in the spirit of MeMas – this is gonna look bitchin.

Update: They are selling out of this one fast! Only small sizes left. I'll have to look for another MeMas gift. :'(

$30-$35 | URL Mens| Paypal Credit | M: XS – S

When Pigs Fly

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:35 GMT

I remember when my granddad used to offer me a twenty-dollar bill. When I went to grab it, he’d yank it out of reach like that succubus from Peanuts and cry “When pigs fly!” Well, screw you old man. I’ve got my own twenty dollars now, and I spent it to toss in the face of you and your flighted-porcine doubting crowd.

It’s called heavier-than-air flight, gramps. It was probably called “witchcraft” when you were coming up, but now we just call it science.

Next time I see my granddad, I’m going to show him my shirt. And take my twenty dollars.

$32.00 | URL Mens | Paypal, Credit | M: S – XXL

Happy Holidays

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:12 GMT

See you folks in the new year.

Dance Your Ass Off

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:52 GMT

When Kevin Bacon was taking guff from this shitkicker, did he sit there and just take it? No. Not only did he completely destroy him in tractor chicken, he did exactly what a townie’s t-shirt told him. He danced his ass off.

My recommendation? Be like the bacon. Don’t take no guff. And let everyone know what you think. And if that doesn’t work? Start a poor man’s Oasis with your brother. I was going to include a Bacon Brothers clip here, but thought better of it. You’re all welcome.

$20.95 | URL Womens | Paypal, Credit | F: S – XL

Gorilla Cop

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:27 GMT

People may not always like dealing with the police – but you can bet things would be pretty tense if you had this silverback knocking his baton on your door. Let’s celebrate freedom from our simian brothers with this cool, and kind of frightening, shirt from fiftyseven-thirtythree.

Although if there were some sort of Island of Dr. Moreau for civil servants, it might be nice for them to make DMV gorillas or meter maid gorillas. The whole poo-flinging thing may actually be an attitude improvement for them.

$30 | URL | Paypal, Credit | M: S – XXL

CRYSTAL DAGGER videos

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:54 GMT

As new CRYSTAL DAGGER demo videos roll in we'll be compiling them here for easy viewing: http://www.blackouteffectors.com/?page_id=1170 The flash viewer we use only displays the first 4 videos in the compilation as thumbnails, but there is a page scroll button at the bottom right of the player that will let you scroll through the many pages of thumbnails.

Home Geeves

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:25 GMT

When E.T. phoned home the first time, he had to make do with a busted milk crate and a ten-speed. But the next time he needs a ride, he can just phone Dial-A-Butler and catch a ride on a sassy old-style big wheel. In round two, he's going to get serious about the image he projects on the moon.

Because this time around, E.T.’s not going out like some punk. He’s going out in style. He’s going to let all those G-men on his case know which end is up. That’s right, coppers – straight from E.T. to you.

$24 | URL | Paypal, Credit | M: S – 3XL

New TSHIRT designs!

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:33 GMT

We FINALLY have a Musket tshirt for sale and it is bitchin'. Also, the Crystal Dagger shirt for the anti-black tee crowd. http://www.blackouteffectors.com/?page_id=387

The CRYSTAL DAGGER

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:10 GMT

IT IS HERE.

Diggin’ the beat from Nick Speed on this The Black Opera...

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:07 GMT

Diggin’ the beat from Nick Speed on this The Black Opera track, “Villains”.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON, TWO by Dean Fleischer-Camp //...

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:24 GMT

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON, TWO by Dean Fleischer-Camp // Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp Written by Jenny Slate & Dean Fleischer-Camp Jenny Slate as “Marcel” Our picture book MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON: THINGS ABOUT ME is out! If you love any of the following— paints, painting, reading, beauty, words, pictures or cursive— we made this book just for you! www.penguin.com/marcel

Enjoy this today: J Mascis - Circle of Friends

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:40 GMT

Enjoy this today: J Mascis - Circle of Friends

TUTORIAL: How to create a vintage t-shirt using DTG

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:11 GMT

Follow this step-by-step tutorial to turn your latest design into an authentic looking vintage print.

The final design will be printed on a Brother GT-451 DTG (Direct To Garment) printer. Our artwork was created in Adobe Illustrator and sized to the largest dimensions possible for the DTG printer (350mm x 400mm). We used a Gildan Ultra Cotton Ice Grey t-shirt for this print as the muted colour helps to create an authentic vintage look.

Open artwork in Adobe Photoshop and ensure it is sized correctly. The DTG printer is capable of reproducing photographic quality work onto a garment, so ensure your artwork is created at 300dpi or higher for the best possible print.

Create a new layer and fill this white, Edit > Fill > White. Drop this below your artwork layer.

Make your own or get your hands on a few quality free grunge textures. For this tutorial I used 11 Free Hi-Res Light Grunge Textures from Fudgegraphics.com.

Open your grunge textures in Adobe Photoshop.

Image > Adjustments > Desaturate will turn each image b/w. Use Image > Adjustments > Curves to set a strong contrast in each texture.

Go to Select > Colour Range. Using the eyedropper cursor, click on an area of white in your texture. Play around with the Fuzziness slider until you are happy with your selection. Click OK.

Invert the selection you have just made. Select > Inverse.

Create a new layer above your artwork. Fill the selection with white, Edit > Fill > White.

Repeat the process with all of your grunge textures.

Play with the positioning of each grunge layer until you are happy with the distress. Layer > Flatten Image and save your graphic as a high quality jpeg.

With the artwork ready to print, we can move through to production. The printer I am using is calibrated for use with Adobe Illustrator and I already have a number of Illustrator templates set-up for various print locations and garment sizes.

Open the artwork and chosen template file in Adobe Illustrator. Copy the artwork into the template and position accordingly.

Send your design to print. We configured the DTG printer to use a low ink consumption to ensure we get the desired level of distress.

Pre-dry the garment on a heat press. Press for 10 seconds, allow to cool and check for moisture. Press for another 10 seconds if required.

Stretch your garment over the printing platen ensuring the garment is aligned correctly and all creases have been flattened out.

Hit the big green print button!

And finally, dry your print on the heat press, 180 degrees for 30 seconds!

Ensure you wash your garment inside out and on a cool wash to maintain the life of your print.

Indigo Clothing has a Google+ Page

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:50 GMT

You can now find Indigo Clothing on Google+. Google+ launched its new ‘pages' feature today which allows businesses and brands to have their own page on the new social network. This is very similar to the Facebook page system but it will be interesting to see how Google build this into the search engine.

Indigo Clothing

on Google+

Musket v1 review

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:56 GMT

I know it's not exactly current, but I just ran across this review on a blog I wasn't familiar with: http://mothertone.blogspot.com/2011/04/blackout-effectors-musket-v1.html

T-Shirt Blogs

My next book… and some personal thoughts on the future of the economy.

You chose money

Story of my life:

All good relationships

Respect

Related Posts:

For all you zen-hipster knuckleheads in the audience:

Creativity Comes After The Fact

Great Scott

Related Posts:

Evaded

Re–

Don’t Trip

Related Posts:

Brit Skull

Related Posts:

You must love what you do

A perfect moment

I tried…

REAL Success

Afternoon Longing

Fight the Power

Related Posts:

This is why the Internet is important: Inheritance Jewelry

“Souls Need To Be Touched”

Marioflage

Related Posts:

When Pigs Fly

Related Posts:

Happy Holidays

Dance Your Ass Off

Related Posts:

Gorilla Cop

Related Posts:

CRYSTAL DAGGER videos

Home Geeves

Related Posts:

New TSHIRT designs!

The CRYSTAL DAGGER

Diggin’ the beat from Nick Speed on this The Black Opera...

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON, TWO by Dean Fleischer-Camp //...

Enjoy this today: J Mascis - Circle of Friends

TUTORIAL: How to create a vintage t-shirt using DTG

Indigo Clothing has a Google+ Page

Musket v1 review