More Top Picks Best Amazon Prime Day Delonghi Espresso Machine Deals 2026
player ready...In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, artists and graphic designers across the country are creating T-shirt designs from Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece “Girl With A Pearl Earring,” now wearing a face mask, to Zoom University. Along with spreading the word about staying home and social distancing, the shirts are being designed to support causes related to the coronavirus impact and help the artists stay afloat financially.
Oak Park designer Kelly Perry, who has 20 T-shirt designs for sale on redbubble.com, said that while she’s been home wondering how to help, she decided to create a “Dr. Fauci Is My Homeboy” design. Perry said she was inspired to create the design because Dr. Fauci is “one of the least polarizing figures in all of this. He’s the voice of reason.” She said 100% of her proceeds are being given to the CDC Foundation.
Elizabeth Schmidt is the digital marketing director at Threadless, the Chicago e-commerce site that prints and sells T-shirt designs from an online community of artists. “We just launched a community action plan where all of our artists who are selling through Artists Shops can earn up to 60% more until May 31st,” she said. Threadless CEO Jake Nickell also tweeted Monday that he is forgoing his salary at this time.
“The whole point of this is to help our artists survive,” Schmidt said. “The art community is drastically impacted, especially financially, so this is our way of helping them to earn more.”
Schmidt said one of her favorite designs was created by a staff member. It portrays animated mountains and sunshine, and simply says ‘stay inside’.
Check out our gallery for more designs.