Michael Essek's Blog - T-Shirt Design & Print on Demand Tips

Obinsun Interview: Cute Skulls, Cats, Rainbows – Oh My!

by Michael Essek · Updated: July 20, 2020

Joel Robinson (aka. Obinsun) is an artist I’ve admired for a while.

You’ll regularly see his work being promoted and featured on the homepages of Redbubble, Teepublic or Threadless – and his simple but attractive style is highly recognisable.

Joel was kind enough to answer some questions from me about how he got started, what his creative process looks like, and what advice he would give to up and coming T-Shirt artists.

Let’s get into it!

T-Shirt Artist Interviews Updated: July 20, 2020

Merch by Amazon Phone Cases: 6 Tips To Boost Sales

by Michael Essek · Updated: January 5, 2023

Phone Cases have landed at Merch by Amazon – allowing artists to create designs for iPhone and Samsung cell phone cases, across various models.

In this article I’ll cover the basics of the phone cases, show you how to setup your artwork for optimum results, and share 6 tips and tricks to help you identify target markets for your designs.

Selling T-Shirts Online Updated: January 5, 2023

How To Sell On Teepublic: The Definitive Guide [With 8 Top Selling Tips]

by Michael Essek · Updated: November 7, 2025

Welcome to How To Sell On Teepublic – my comprehensive guide to selling your art on Teepublic.

Whether you’re just getting started with Teepublic – or if you’re a succesful Teepublic designer already – this guide has something useful for you.

I’ll explain how Teepublic works, why it’s a great place to sell your artwork, and give you 8 practical Teepublic selling tips that will help grow your sales.

So let’s dive in!

Print On Demand Updated: November 7, 2025

How To Place Your First Printify Order (with 20% Off)

by Michael Essek · Updated: November 7, 2025

Are you thinking of trying out Printify as a potential Print on Demand Fulfilment Partner – but not sure where to start?

If so – I got you. In this article I’ll show you how you can place a sample order with Printify – without having to integrate with any marketplace or storefront.

In other words, you can test the quality of various Printify providers, without the effort of setting up a full integration.

I’ll show you:

How to setup your free Printify account
How to place your first Printify order
What to look for when you receive your sample order

…And how to do it all while saving 20%!

So let’s dive in…

Selling T-Shirts Online Updated: November 7, 2025

How To Place Your First Order With Printful The Right Way (with FREE Shipping & 20% Off)

by Michael Essek · Updated: May 12, 2022

If you’re thinking of using Printful as your Print-on-demand fulfilment partner – then placing a sample order is an absolute must.

By placing a sample order you’ll get familiar with Printful’s website and ordering process, plus you’ll be able to judge for yourself the quality of Printful’s products and printing.

In this article I’ll show you..

So let’s get to it!

Selling T-Shirts Online Updated: May 12, 2022

Print-On-Demand For Beginners: Your FAQs Answered

by Michael Essek · Updated: February 6, 2025

If you’re new to selling your designs via Print-On-Demand sites, then you probably have questions. Lots of them.

I get a lot of Print-On-Demand questions, and I see the same ones popping up time and time again.

So I thought I would start a ‘FAQs’ page for common print-on-demand questions that can serve as a useful resource for beginners and veterans alike.

I will keep adding FAQs and updating the information regularly – so if you have a question you’d like to ask, please do so by commenting below.

I hope this helps!

Selling T-Shirts Online Updated: February 6, 2025

Billions From Bunnies: An Interview With Jim Benton

by Michael Essek · Updated: March 7, 2020

Is it a cartoonist? Is it a children’s author? Is it the mind behind the licensing behemoth ‘It’s Happy Bunny®’?

The answer is yes – because it’s Jim Benton.

I bumped into Mr. Benton at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas last year, and he was kind enough to let me pick his brain for this ‘ere blog post.

My personal thoughts and takeaways follow, but first let’s dive into the incredibly productive mind of the man himself.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Jim Benton…

T-Shirt Artist Interviews Updated: March 7, 2020

From Print-On-Demand To Brick & Mortar: An Interview With Illustrator David Olenick

by Michael Essek · Updated: March 7, 2020

There aren’t many T-Shirt designers whose work is as recognisable as that of David Olenick.

David is a T-Shirt OG – and his quirky, pun-heavy designs have been a hit across multiple platforms and products since he started submitting to Threadless in 2012.

In this interview David spills the beans on his journey and his methods – whilst sharing a wealth of advice for aspiring artists – plus some of his predictions for the future of our industry.

Enjoy!

T-Shirt Artist Interviews Updated: March 7, 2020

How To Sell On Redbubble (& Actually Make Good Money)

by Michael Essek · Updated: November 7, 2025

This is my new and updated guide on how to sell art on Redbubble.

If you want to learn how to sell on Redbubble – and how to make money on Redbubble – then this guide is for you.

I’ll explain exactly how Redbubble works, how to sell on Redbubble, and give you some practical Redbubble selling tips.

These are the same tactics I’ve used to grow my Redbubble sales income from zero to $1000+ dollars a month, every month.

I’ve been selling art on Redbubble since 2013, and in that time I’ve learnt a lot about what works and what doesn’t.

So in this Redbubble tutorial I’ll spell out the mistakes to avoid, and give you everything you need to help your Redbubble store make regular, repeated sales, month after month.

Selling T-Shirts Online Updated: November 7, 2025

My 11 BEST Print On Demand Companies & Sites (September 2026)

by Michael Essek · Updated: September 2, 2026

Choosing the right Print on Demand Company is essential for your long-term success. In this guide I list the best Print on Demand Companies and review the best Print on Demand Sites – based on several years of experience – so you can choose the right one for you.

These are my personal Print on Demand recommendations for September 2026, and includes plenty of tips, tricks and hacks to help you get the most out of these Print on Demand Companies.

Print-On-Demand T-Shirt Fulfilment Updated: September 2, 2026

Get Exclusive Ideas To Supercharge Your T-Shirt Sales!

Obinsun Interview: Cute Skulls, Cats, Rainbows – Oh My!

Merch by Amazon Phone Cases: 6 Tips To Boost Sales

How To Sell On Teepublic: The Definitive Guide [With 8 Top Selling Tips]

How To Place Your First Printify Order (with 20% Off)

How To Place Your First Order With Printful The Right Way (with FREE Shipping & 20% Off)

Print-On-Demand For Beginners: Your FAQs Answered

Billions From Bunnies: An Interview With Jim Benton

From Print-On-Demand To Brick & Mortar: An Interview With Illustrator David Olenick

How To Sell On Redbubble (& Actually Make Good Money)

My 11 BEST Print On Demand Companies & Sites (September 2026)

5 Ways To Improve Your Ideas - FREE eBook

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5 Ways To Improve Your Ideas - FREE eBook