The Essence T-Shirt

The interconnected beauty of life is represented in this exquisitely designed t-shirt by graphic designer, Courtney Kuntz. The shirt, appropriately titled "Essence," was originally created for an environmental awareness art show at the Venice Contemporary Gallery in Venice, CA.Courtney explains the thought behind the design.

It had occurred to me several times before while looking at illustrations of the human anatomy how much similarity there was between the intricate systems of our veins and the branches of a tree. I knew I wanted to do something with a tree because I have been fascinated with them ever since I was very young. I also remembered seeing a tattoo several years prior on a woman's stomach of ovaries...the correct size and placement and everything. I think that's when the concept really connected for me...to create a shirt with a heart (approximately placed and sized correctly on the body when worn) connected to a tree, signifying our co-dependency with humanity on nature and how we must protect our environment to keep this delicate balance intact. I also felt that the messaging of the design would be a lot more understated than the typical "pointing the finger" approach that many environmental campaigns have adopted.

The shirt is currently featured on the Communication Arts' "Exhibit" section of their website and will appear in the September/October issue of their publication.You can also purchase this lovely shirt over at CKDesigns for $32.  Each shirt is hand made on order.  I just got mine in the mail a few days ago and I have to say that it's very well made, definitely recommended!