garment – Tarjan Studio

Harley Bear

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Harley Bear

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. This design was very popular at the Black Bear Diner Corporation’s Bullhead City, Arizona diner. The adjacent city, Laughlin, Nevada, had an annual river run event for motorcycles, so this design was popular during that event. This design ended up being the most popular design we sold to the diners.

Harley loves the wind in his hair, the open road, and hangin’ with his buds. Check out Harley’s trick scoot. With a bear head headlight, bear claw rivets on the saddlebags, and other bear details, Harley’s got a truly unique scoot.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Trekker Bear

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design of my favorite recreation activity-hiking! Unfortunately, though I thought this would make a great shirt for the diners to sell, the corporation decided not to carry this design.

As all bears know, if you go not, you know not. This happens to be my personal quote, so I said it is an ancient bear proverb in the design. It’s insightful knowledge because you can’t experience the world unless you get out and see it.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Crater Lake Bald Eagle Call

This design was created as an apparel design for T-shirts. It represented one of the eagle’s calling to its mate.

The immense and beautiful Crater Lake extends to 1,932 feet deep. The now peaceful lake is the remnant of the once 12,000-foot-high Mount Mazama which erupted 7,700 years ago. The cataclysmic eruptions of ash and magma were so immense that the magma chamber emptied and collapsed leaving a huge caldera which later filled with water, thus, creating Crater Lake. Crater Lake is one of Oregon’s greatest treasures. Many animals including our nation’s treasured Bald Eagles (depicted in this artwork) can be seen in the park. At the time we sold these shirts to Crater Lake Company, there had been a pair of Bald Eagles that would nest at the park each summer.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Grand Canyon Eagle

Medium: Watercolor, Digital/Photoshop, Image Size: 12”h x 26″w, T-shirt Image Size: 7″h x 15″w 2002.

This design was created as an apparel design for T-shirts for the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon National Park is incredible. Its sheer size and complexity of eroded canyons and ridges is awe inspiring. This Golden Eagle looks over the popular south rim of the canyon.

Painted in watercolor. Scanned into the computer and floated. Digital painting and enhancements, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Celebrate Life’s Pleasures

Celebrate Life's Pleasures

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. As the diners began to expand into California, I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design of two bears picnicking in a classic California wine country scene with an old Airstream trailer and classic old car in the background.

Whatever your pleasures may be, do them as often as possible – preferably 32 weeks a year or more. As these wine loving connoisseur bears have discovered, it will be the best elixir you’ll ever find.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Big Dogs Make Great Chairs

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. I created this design when I saw a very short man in the grocery store who was wearing a Big Dog T-shirt that said, “That’s Mister Big Dog to You!” I thought, what a rude shirt to wear for such a size impaired person, so I figured I would respond with a design that would put those Big Dog fans in their rightful squashed place.

Dogs are definitely man’s best friend – most of the time, but sometimes they can get a bit too much attitude. When this happens, it’s time to politely put them in their proper places by sitting on them. In doing so you’ll discover, as this bear did, Dogs do make soft, comfy chairs. If you have issues with the knarly, stuck up attitude of people who wear Big Dogs apparel, then here is the perfect way to politely show them who is boss. Bears definitely rule. In fact, sitting on those Big Dogs is quite nice, as this bear discovered.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Wise Wolf

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 22″h x22″w, 1997.

This was one of my Native Visions collection of illustrations where wildlife and Native American beadwork were combined together. Each design pays homage to an important animal in Native American mythology. The beadwork is painted to create the illusion of beads complete with imperfections. It was done in Photoshop, and I created my own custom bead brushes to do it. I admire wolves because they are intelligent, and I wanted to capture that quality in this artwork.

Painted in watercolor. Scanned into the computer, floated, painting enhancements, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Where Wolf

This design was created as an apparel design for T-shirts. I thought this would make an interesting design by having the wolf comprised of nine different animals. Things aren’t always what they appear to be as is the case with this Wherewolf. What at first appears to be a nice portrait of a wolf head, is actually an image comprised of many hidden animals. Where are all the animals in the ‘Wherewolf’? Find the grey squirrel, field mouse, snow goose, raccoon, western fence lizard, coyote, red-tailed hawk, and bobcat.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Proud Wolves – Beadwork

Proud Wolves - Beadwork

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 16″h x 22″w, T-shirt Image Size: 10″h x 14″w, 2002.

I did this illustration of two wolves as part of my Native Visions preprint line for T-shirts. Native Visions was a collection of illustrations where wildlife and Native American beadwork were combined together. Each design pays homage to an important animal in Native American mythology. The beadwork is painted to create the illusion of beads complete with imperfections. It was done in Photoshop, and I created my own custom bead brushes to do it. These two wolves look proud and noble.

Painted in watercolor. Scanned into the computer and floated. Digital painting and enhancements, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Happy Howlidays

Yes! Christmas has gone to the dogs, so… you might as well join the fun and howl away the howlidays too. This artwork depicts how I think dogs would like to celebrate Christmas-floating above town in a sleigh and howling out their favorite Christmas tunes.

Painted in watercolor. Scanned into the computer, floated, painting enhancements, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.