Sad Penguin Artisan T-shirt, Black

You think it looks like an owl, huh? Well, you wouldn't be the only one.

The art printed on this T-shirt was originally an acrylic on canvas piece that I painted for my mom.

Years ago, my mom was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer.

Upon hearing the news, I temporarily moved to her state to help her operate her business while she went through intense chemo and surgery.

To cheer her up during the difficult times, I did just about anything I could to make her laugh or give her something to smile about.

There was this one particular t.v. tray she used often. It was one of those collapsible wooden contraptions that you can fold and store. One day, she, my brother, and I sat and laughed about how all the knots and swirls in the wood of that t.v. tray looked like animals. Thus, my acid animal paintings began. They are all based on the patterns of wood grain on that single tray.

"Sad Penguin" was the first, but not the last of this expanding project of mine. I remember sitting in my little brother's cramped bedroom painting in the small corner he allotted me. I painted and we talked. At that point, the stress and worry ran like an unspoken undercurrent between us. Seeing someone you love fighting cancer and not knowing what to do to help is one of the hardest things to navigate. So we found humor where we could.

Once the painting was finished, I presented it to my mom and she started laughing immediately. It had been a particularly difficult day, and that tearful laugh was exactly the goal I wished to achieve.

My mom, who graciously posed as my model for this t-shirt design, went on to win her fight against cancer and remains a warrior to this day.

So, if you are looking to make someone smile, I'm happy to share Sad Penguin with you too. Perhaps it will serve you as it has served us.

The 100% cotton unisex classic tee will help you land a more structured look. It sits nicely, maintains sharp lines around the edges, and goes perfectly with layered streetwear outfits. Plus, it's extra trendy now!

• 100% cotton
• Sport Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Ash Grey is 99% cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 50% cotton, 50% polyester
• Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170-180 g/m²)
• Open-end yarn
• Tubular fabric
• Taped neck and shoulders
• Double seam at sleeves and bottom hem
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Mexico

Disclaimers: 
• Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.
• Dark color speckles throughout the fabric are expected for the color Natural.

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!