[ 24: Twelve Months of Tees :12 ]
Twelve 24: 12 Months of Tees
Welcome to my year-long project. In 2024 I’ve set out to push the boundaries of my practice, by developing my lettering skills and incorporating illustration in to my work. I love creating wearable art, and I love calligraphy and lettering that can be seen in everyday life, on everyday objects, and not necessarily on a 2D surface. T-shirt design gives me scope to try new things, print elsewhere, and make it a 360 piece. Plus I’ll never get tired of seeing people wearing my designs.
I’m treating this project as a sort of art foundation, a year of experimenting with lettering styles, calligraphy and illustration, with no expectations of the outcome, other than to push myself to do something a little different, which my heart has been wanting to pursue.
By the end of 2024 I’ll have 12 unique projects under a larger umbrella project: twelve 24 (sure, not a super inventive name…)
I’ve also asked 12 friends who have a visually creative output as artists, to wear the tees, one artist per month, so we can display and celebrate their work too.
Each T-shirt release will be on the 29th of every month. All will be printed on organic cotton material by either myself or independent UK businesses. Every item will be packaged by myself and includes an A5 print of the corresponding design.
5% of profits from each month will be donated to 12 different charities over the course of the year.
The rest of the profits will go towards funding the next month’s print design. I’m really excited about this project, giving myself a long term project to focus on with the ability to exercise my creativity just for me (and for you, if you wanna buy one!).
Month 1, January: HAKONE
The design for January is heavily inspired by my time in Japan, and portrays a time where I remember feeling truly content, peaceful and at ease there. The specific scene in the circle is from a time I was alone in a gondola, in complete silence bar the mechanism movement. I’d made it on to the lift with an hour or so until sunset, having just arrived in mountain town Hakone. We (me and the gondola carriage) ascended through the hills, seeing geothermal activity below and the pink hues of a slowly disappearing sun until we reached the apex of the lift, where Mount Fuji appeared from beyond the shadowed hills… I was so overwhelmed with awe gazing between the orange sun to my left and the grandeur of Fuji to my right, I didn’t expect to see the mountain at all (no idea where I thought it would be hiding) but the reveal was just magical and I felt so privileged, fulfilled and at peace right there.
This month’s charity is Cancer Research UK. 5% of profits from these T-shirt sales will be donated 🧡
Artist of the month is Rory Lewis, hand-poke tattoo artist.
Creative Friends: Rory Lewis
Rory is a good friend I’ve known for several years now, he’s from West Leeds in Yorkshire and is currently a practicing handpoke tattoo artist, with a residency at Buzz Club Tattoo.
With a passion for illustration and drawing, Rory’s artistic journey has developed organically over time and his canvas has switched from paper to skin. In 2019, he first tried his hand at stick-and-poke tattooing, using himself and our friends as willing sketchbooks.
His work manifests symbolism and mysticism, in a playful take on the traditional handpoke style. He’s hugely inspired by folk art from around the world, drawing inspiration from nature, symbolism and spiritual practices. His work always follows him on his travels across the globe; from Peru, Brazil, Portugal and (soon to be!) India. On his shop you can find various merchandise including prints, stickers & T-shirts - or go get poked with some ink at @buzzclubtattoo in Leeds!
What are three things you enjoy spending your life doing?
Tattooing, Climbing & Wild Swimming
In your own words, describe what you do (as an artist)
“That’s a tough one. I’m a handpoke tattooer and artist, exploring my practice and drawing inspiration from ancient traditions, folk art and symbolism.
I’m particularly interested in how different communities around the world use tattooing as a sacred practice; marking the skin as permanent amulets and adornments for power, protection, confidence - almost giving the tattoos magic powers.
As humans, we’ve been marking skin for generations, using tattoos as symbols of identity within the tribe or to represent different personal qualities; like bravery or beauty. But I find it fascinating that, by bringing elements of ritual and ceremony into a tattoo session and setting clear intention, the tattoos can take on a whole other mystical meaning; enhancing our way of being and having the ability to change how we feel within ourselves. It’s definitely something I’m keen to explore more”
Rory’s work: hand poke tattoos
Month 2, February: PEACE
This month’s design reads ‘Peace’ in a scrawled blackletter style reminiscent of grunge and metal band logos, connoting the opposite of the meaning of the word written. I always liked the idea of sleeve prints on short sleeves so added in a little calligraphy heart on each side.
This month’s charity is Medical Aid Palestine. 5% of profits from these T-shirt sales will be donated 🧡
Artist of the month is Jaydon Rowbottom, illustrator, artist and maker.
Creative Friends: Jaydon Rowbottom
Jaydon is an Illustrator, Artist & Maker originally from Swadlincote in Derbyshire and currently residing in Leeds. He holds a studio space at Aire Street Workshops (where my old studio was!) and has worked on an array of cool projects, most recently completing several new murals across the city. His hands on work building and painting birdhouses, large graphic artwork on windows and park benches is paired with his endearing character designs utilised in his animation work. Proficient in both physical and digital art forms, Jaydon’s positive, energetic demeanour is translated to his work, landing him jobs with many local businesses in the Yorkshire area.
I met Jaydon at an art market in Leeds back in 2017, held at Nation of Shopkeepers in the city. Since then he’s worked with the likes of The Wardrobe, Cup of Kin, Prospect Morley, Leeds Council, Canal and River Trust, Links Motorcycles, House of Fu, Rabbit Hole Coffee & more.
What are three things you enjoy spending your life doing?
Being around people, Appreciating wildlife, Painting
In your own words, describe what you do (as an artist)
“I market myself as an individual that adds character to businesses, whatever form that takes. My main three titles are Artist, Illustrator & Maker, but as a multidisciplinary freelancer I’ve found myself taking on many types of work, such as; painting, woodworking, illustrating, animating, directing, creating content and much more. However, the one thing that pulls it all together is that it is imbued with character.”
Jaydon’s work: character design
Month 3, March: THE USUAL DAYS
March brings a first of colourful t-shirt designs, with a large abstract back piece reading ‘The Usual Days’ in a looped illustrative lettering style. On my travels in Nagasaki, Japan, I stopped for my morning coffee before catching a train and noticed a rare bit of english text on the cafe wall. It read ‘thank you for the usual days’. I remember thinking it didn’t quite make grammatical sense but something struck me about ‘the usual days’, the small things in life, the normal or ‘usual’ days where nothing special happens but they’re just lovely because that’s what life is.
This month’s charity is Young Women’s Trust. 5% of profits from these T-shirt sales will be donated 🧡
Artist of the month is Rose Dufton, artist & painter.
Creative Friends: Rose Dufton
Rose is a painter working in Leeds, creating gorgeous landscapes using a staple colour palate that’s evolved over the past few years. She loves to work en plein air, creating small paintings while looking at and being surrounded by the nature that inspires her.
Rose trained in print design at Leeds College of Art, and this love for pattern design led her to become passionate about colour, texture and shape. Her work sits somewhere between abstraction and representation, creating pieces that feel familiar and nostalgic; notions of hazy memories or poetic dreams.
What are three things you enjoy spending your life doing?
Creating, Exploring, Spending time with friends
In your own words, describe what you do (as an artist)
“I am an artist, and co-founder of Still Studio in Leeds. My art practise focuses around drawing & painting but also comes in many different forms. I love spending my time painting, bonus points if it’s painting outside. I am endlessly inspired by nature and could paint trees until the end of end of time! At the studio space I co-run we host monthly creative workshops as well as opening the space for other makers to use and run their own workshops. Running this space for the past 18 months has been incredible, we have created such a wonderful community of creative people in Leeds city centre.”
Rose’s work: Landscape paintings
