KNOCKED GOOSE HONK HONK // FUNDRAISER MERCH RUN HAPPILY HEIFER AFTER SANCTUARY

Hello 🌦️ welcome to the catch up of what's been going on in my world as of lately

I wanna start by addressing the Goose in the corner; I have just pressed and released a new merch line in which the goal is to raise as much money as possible for Happily Heifer After Farm Animal Rescue. Each of these shirt's sold will have their Profits donated, if I can sell over 50 units of these shirts, I will donate ALL proceeds from each shirt sale. HHA (Happily Heifer After Farm Animal Rescue) are the realest of the real when it comes to genuine support, best interests and ensuring quality of life for all walks of life within their care

These Knocked Goose shirts are in pre-order, all orders will be dispatched in very early October, if you don't see your fit, you want the Goose on a Tote bag or even a Hoodie, let me know, whatever AS Colour stock, we can print this on (within reason) and I want to raise as much money for HHA as possible on this run, so any support means more than I can describe in words

I'm going to keep checking in over the next month (we are nearing the end of August 2025 as I write these words) to raise awareness & promote this fundraiser. In the meantime, even if you don't want a shirt, but would like to help the amazing legends at HHA, you can always donate the money directly to them via;

https://www.happilyheiferafter.org/product-page/donation

I'd like to talk a bit about this design & how it came to be, some of you may be very confused by the whole 'KNOCKED GOOSE, HONK HONK' gimmick to these shirts. If so, you're probably not too familiar with the band; Kentucky Hardcore/metalcore legends that are, Knocked Loose.

I remember where I was the first time I heard this Knocked Loose (pardon this quick tangent, but things will come full circle), it was when I had just moved back from living overseas probably about 8 years ago.

Knocked Loose had just released an Album called 'Laugh Tracks', one single being Dead Ringer. at the time, I was f***ing blown away at what I was hearing. After non-stop living room moshing to Dead Ringer on Youtube, I needed to know more about this band, so I completely immersed myself in their album 'Laugh Tracks', which to this day has been one of my most impactful initial listens to an album for a (at the time) new band.

One of these songs from 'Laugh Tracks' is a song called 'Counting Worms', in which the vocalist Brian Garris, barks 'ARF ARF'

For better or worse, I know the 'ARF ARF' has been almost as iconic as the band itself, leading to their frontman requesting fans not bark at him in public, to memes taking the clip to bizarre & hilarious depths even to today.

I'm not sure how much the band still embrace 'ARF ARF', but I know I'm always feeling a little healed anytime a 'ARF ARF' comes my way.

A while ago I saw a TikTok for Knocked Goose, 'HONK HONK' and it killed me. Silly goose behaviour just absolutely sends me and this was a touch on the Knocked Loose gimmick that I loved

Fast forward to more recently; I've been on a quest developing my perspective as well as hand, eye co ordination & technique via constantly drawing in pencil, keeping an eye for consistency & detail. I knew I wanted to start vearing back into the digital art world, birthing ideas through pencil sketch & refining & finishing via vector illustration and digital colouring. That's a whole thing in itself to get into, but more specifically to the topic of this blog, I knew I wanted to run a fundraising shirt, I knew I wanted to make a well crafted digital illustration from pencil studies, and I knew I wanted Knocked Goose Honk Honk on a shirt

I also started becoming fascinating with the idea of printing & pressing onto banners, when a Jem McPherson (shouts out Jem McPherson) reached out to be part of his Animal Kingdom Art Show. As the stars aligned, I combined all of the above to where we've landed now.

I'm really grateful for the pressure time gave me to see this through, especially doing so while moving two properties (both small, one living, one working) which in hindsight was F***ED but just that much sweeter to be on the other side of.

The design was drawn completely from scratch in my sketchbook, to digitally illustrated, to then printed onto DTF Transfer & first debuted via being pressed onto Canvas Banner to display at Jem's Animal Kingdom Art Show

This was really stressful for me, as I literally got it done in the very final moments before the submission deadline day, but I did it. To see this piece displayed amongst other amazing artworks and then getting to meet everyone was a really special thing I am very grateful for. This reaffirmed my confidence for this shirt run and brings us to where we are now as I continue to type these words

I have now setup a working space completely privately from out of my brothers bedroom and I am almost in tears at how amazing that feels. The humble beginnings where we cut our teeth are imperative, but to be on the next level now of operating is really exciting and feels like I'm stronger in my abilities than I ever have been

I've got a lot more to say, but I'm going to leave it at that on this round of catch up. I really want to spread awareness & promotion of this fundraiser so I'd like touch base again soon with an update on things & more

On the side of tattooing, I have time available to tattoo in the month of September in Brisbane, Townsville & Melbourne. Hit me up to book or Enquire!!

Much love, thanks for reading 🫶🏻