Success As A T-Shirt Artist: An Interview With Lennon Estes
Lennon Estes, print-on-demand t-shirt artist. Artist Interviews is a column on TEEHUB.COM where we talk to the most talented artists in print-on-demand T-shirt design. Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Lennon Estes, a pioneer in print-on-demand T-shirt design. His work is very distinctive and fans are passionate about his art. Let's appreciate his extraordinary art together.
Q: How did you start designing T-shirts?
L: I have had a little passion for art since I was a child, but it was purely accidental that led me to T-shirt design. In 2021, a friend of mine from college told me to submit my designs to TEEHUB.COM, which I did. I didn't even expect it to be accepted, but it was and I started to love t-shirt design and was willing to devote all my time to it.
Q: What is your design process?
L: Actually, I do work randomly to a certain extent when I come up with some design ideas while watching TV or talking to people. Whenever I have an idea, I record it on my phone, and when I figure it out, I go to Procreate to sketch out my idea. First, the sketch was a bitmap, but then I executed it in Inkscape to make it vector. In design, I always tend to use a minimalist style and because of this idea, I use very few colors and the main colors are dark. But very dark colors are also used to show contrast.
Q: Where do you mainly get your design inspiration?
L: A lot of inspiration, pop culture, personal experiences and interests. Most of my design inspiration comes from my personal life, including a lot of humor mixed with cultural symbols. For example, I am a big fan of 80s pop culture and Japanese culture, including Dragon Ball, Doraemon, and other Japanese anime and animations. I also visited Japan in 2019, which had a great influence on my work, and I created a series of ink paintings inspired by Japanese culture.
Q: What do you think is the future for independent artists on the POD platform?
L: The environment is always changing. Sales of print-on-demand type websites are declining rapidly, and it has become easier to build POD websites. With more and more competitors, artists have to research their products better.
Q: Do you have any advice for new independent artists like yourself who want to succeed?
L: I think the most important thing is to accumulate, work hard, trigger the first thread, and inject new power. Reduce the cost of living and try more. When I first started, I felt a lot of financial pressure. Because the pressure was too great, I could only work harder. If you work hard and believe in your abilities, you will overcome any adversity with the help of the Internet.
Q: What happens if design theft occurs? How will you handle it?
A: Design theft is a real problem. I prioritize creating something unique to me and not letting fear get in the way of my creativity. Once copyright is infringed, I will take action to respond.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a TEEHUB.COM artist?
A: TEEHUB.COM is a great way for artists to showcase their masterpieces through a variety of mediums. Being able to gain support from the community while reaching a worldwide audience proves my worth as an artist. I also find it rewarding to see the things I create being worn in all corners of the world.
Q: How do you see the future of print-on-demand platforms?
L: The rapid development has brought huge space for express delivery by freelance artists, but the market is already very saturated. Therefore, I believe the key to the future is to constantly push the limits of one's own creativity and maintain the highest quality standards to keep the work novel and special. In addition, people are paying more and more attention to intellectual property rights, so artists also need to be cautious about originality to prevent infringement.
The interview is over. A big "thank you" to Lennon Estes! We are very inspired by his creative process itself and the insights he provides us. If you're interested in one of Lennon's designs, visit TEEHUB.COM today to find your favorite t-shirt!