Comments are back! Yay!!

Here's what I put on ShirtDerbyStats for those that didn't go there:

This is the first woot entry I've done where I could really enjoy using symbolism. The flame burns like lust. The woman represents the object of lust. And the serpent with the fruit is the quintessential symbol of temptation. Plus, the placement is over the heart, which is where our deepest desires often reside. You can see the design process in my latest blog entry at http://theinfinityloop.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the votes!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Great placement I did not think of this placement when you showed it last night.
I like how cleen this looks and the extra things you have to look for in the design.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Seven deadly sins as from the Bible. Way to incorporate the original temptation of the serpent and the fruit (apple). Symbolism really doesn't mean a thing though if nobody stops to look at it and consider it. This shirt does just that, it's an awesome design, and I hope it wins.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

The snake's very subtle, but works nicely, I like the color palette, too.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Great design loopy! I love the way this turned out, and I like the detailing that you put into it! I hope I get another chance to order one of your shirts again. GMV!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Woo hoo! I think this turned out awesome and looks really good with the placement you chose.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

I told myself I wouldn't buy a black shirt but this is so well done, so subtle.

Great work!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

I really REALLY love this one

This is one of those designs that's so good that I might vote for it exclusivly just to make sure it wins.

Probably doesn't need it though. Brilliant Work

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Great work loop. Everything works together perfectly and it looks great on the shirt. Definite winner.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

pretty, pretty.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

If this was a male figure, not a female, I would be all over this one. (Or technically, it would be all over me.) This perverse pyro is all about fire & sex, but pretty girls and their lady bits do nothing for me. Any chance of a beta-version for the lads?

Excellently done! The flow is so great. I am surprised at how nice the candle looks.

Excellently done! The flow is so great. I am surprised at how nice the candle looks.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

brianna says

wow! her so much pretty!

so you get a vote

@TTDesigns - Thanks for the comment and the support of my pic in your sig!

@mrbarister, tehub, cobol, Wonderbunny, lunaxxblue, tgentry, Josephus - Thanks so much! You guys are too kind.

@vivosinemetu -Thank you! IMO, Black was really my only choice when it came to the context of this design.

@Rman3349 - What a great complement! Thank you!

@endangeredomega - hmmmm. So, are you asking for me to do a version of this, but have it be a guy and not to put fire or anything having to do with sex in it? Well, I'm about to do another entry (totally different) so maybe you will like that one better.

@peppersagooddog - Awww. l o l. Now, I'm REALLY flattered.

@lkackman - Thanks! I got practice with candles when I did this design a while back.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Oh wow, I overlooked the snake at first and it's -that- much better now that I see it. All of the symbolism is really relevant and well played, lovelovelove this one Infinity!

This design is just sick!
Great idea and awesome execution!
I am buying this one on Friday!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

You are so talented! Great Job!

theinfinityloop wrote:
@endangeredomega - hmmmm. So, are you asking for me to do a version of this, but have it be a guy and not to put fire or anything having to do with sex in it? Well, I'm about to do another entry (totally different) so maybe you will like that one better.

Nah, I was actually asking for something very similar to this. I love the sex & the fire, just not the girl. Was wondering if you had any plans to do something in a similar vein with a male figure not a female.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Love it, love it, love it. your colors and style are amazing!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

I've got to say, I love this. We need to keep this in the top three!

elstille wrote:I've got to say, I love this. We need to keep this in the top three!

This is so well done I dont see that as being much of a problem...

endangeredomega wrote:Nah, I was actually asking for something very similar to this. I love the sex & the fire, just not the girl. Was wondering if you had any plans to do something in a similar vein with a male figure not a female.

Oh, I read it wrong. Sorry about that! Nah, I can't draw guys very well. They end up looking too boyish and cartoony. I need to work on that.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

I'm so glad you went with this idea, you really pulled it off superbly. Gotta love that placement over the heart. GMV for sure!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

C'est magnifique! Tres bien! Looks great on black.

Btw, PMed you. :D

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Okay, i really feel like an WAFFLES! TASTY WAFFLES! because i can't see the snake. Is it that blatantly obvious?

wileyII wrote:Okay, i really feel like an WAFFLES! TASTY WAFFLES! because i can't see the snake. Is it that blatantly obvious?

The snake is the handle on the candle holder (does that have a name?)

Rman3349 wrote:The snake is the handle on the candle holder (does that have a name?)

Wow, I didn't even notice the handle. That's very cool. And beautiful!

very smart design...gets my vote
the colors are prefect and the art is slick

kudoos

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

I would buy this for sure, ergo GMV.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

beautiful, simply beautiful!

gorgeous work

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Wow this is really beautiful. Nice touch w/ the snake & apple.

to the unassuming populace this design will be looked at as a hot woman coming out of a candle. unless you really like explaining your t-shirts, and i suppose it would be a good way to begin a conversation, i would pass.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Even with everything you said about not being too happy with it, it came out great and looks to win, so congrats on this one. I think it came out great and the colors work great on the shirt for sure.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

This is quite beautiful - you've always been one of my top 10 favorite artists here... perhaps top 5, but I rather not actually be that picky....

However, being a busty lady myself, I just can not see myself wearing an image of a busty lady on my chest...

(Although, I *HAVE* made exceptions for Fairies - don't know why, but I've always held a soft spot for Unicorns, Dragons and Fairies)

SydneyB wrote:
However, being a busty lady myself, I just can not see myself wearing an image of a busty lady on my chest...

llo! I can't see myself wearing it because I have the opposite problem. =(

Still though, love the design! It's pretty obvious that you put lots of effort and thought into it. =]

@Blammoed, serum79, Babs3, haydawn, iris420, phoenixgirrl, bradyson - Thanks! You guys are awesome.

@AnnaJo - Thank you. Hey you know my girl and your guy should get together some time. ;-)

@elstille - Yes! Please let's!

@fofmock - I hope you're right.

@dekonstruct - Thanks. Yeah I had a hard time choosing which design to work on first, but my friend SailorButterfly talked me into doing this one.

@ansharp - Merci Beaucoup!

@wileyII - My husband didn't see it at first either. I think Rman3349 answered for you. It's the handle.

@antsyashley - Thank you! I'm a bit concerned for myself because I think the snake is cute. That's probably weird...

@byrbwr - I see your point. Maybe people will like for it to be a conversation-starter.

@DavidShenoda - Thanks. But I don't remember saying I wasn't happy with it. What are you referring to?

@SydneyB, monotreme - I hear you. That's cool. I can't please everybody. Thanks for the compliments though.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

It's a pretty design, but I'm afraid I don't understand the symbolism you put into it. The snake and the apple refer to Eden, right? But it was scarcely LUST that made Eve eat the apple... the snake's sexiness didn't lure her into it. The Tree of Knowledge fits much more closely with Greed or Envy, or perhaps Gluttony if you really want to stretch it.

Similarly, I wouldn't say I feel lust in my heart of all places.

The flame, at least, makes more sense, with Dante having described the punishment for lust as fire. Still, you seem to be using the fire to make the woman more attractive, not as a warning against accepting her advances.

It's an absolutely gorgeous design, don't get me wrong; I just don't think it fits with the theme.

StarryHeavens wrote:It's a pretty design, but I'm afraid I don't understand the symbolism you put into it. The snake and the apple refer to Eden, right? But it was scarcely LUST that made Eve eat the apple... the snake's sexiness didn't lure her into it. The Tree of Knowledge fits much more closely with Greed or Envy, or perhaps Gluttony if you really want to stretch it.

Similarly, I wouldn't say I feel lust in my heart of all places.

The flame, at least, makes more sense, with Dante having described the punishment for lust as fire. Still, you seem to be using the fire to make the woman more attractive, not as a warning against accepting her advances.

It's an absolutely gorgeous design, don't get me wrong; I just don't think it fits with the theme.

One could say that Lust is what made Adam eat the apple, which would make a fiery woman that is trying to get you to lust very fitting. Also where was there mention that this is a warning against lust?

StarryHeavens wrote:It's a pretty design, but I'm afraid I don't understand the symbolism you put into it. The snake and the apple refer to Eden, right? But it was scarcely LUST that made Eve eat the apple... the snake's sexiness didn't lure her into it. The Tree of Knowledge fits much more closely with Greed or Envy, or perhaps Gluttony if you really want to stretch it.

True, it would be closer to Greed or Envy, because the serpent claimed it would make her like God. However, I'm going for a more loose symbolism--as in the serpent representing temptation, and temptation usually is side by side with lust.

StarryHeavens wrote:Similarly, I wouldn't say I feel lust in my heart of all places.

I thought about that, but I couldn't really get away with placing the design on the bottom-middle of the shirt now, could I?

Seriously though, if we want to get literary or biblical, the bible says "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." I was thinking more along those lines.

StarryHeavens wrote:The flame, at least, makes more sense, with Dante having described the punishment for lust as fire. Still, you seem to be using the fire to make the woman more attractive, not as a warning against accepting her advances.

Again, using a more loose symbolism, the flame is what lust feels like. Hence, my title. I didn't mean it as a warning here. Although that's a neat way to look at it too. There are usually consequences of lust, and being burned would be a good way to describe a possible one.

StarryHeavens wrote:It's an absolutely gorgeous design, don't get me wrong; I just don't think it fits with the theme.

Thank you. I disagree with you about it not fitting the theme, but it's great that the design can make one pick it apart intellectually.

StarryHeavens wrote:It's a pretty design, but I'm afraid I don't understand the symbolism you put into it. The snake and the apple refer to Eden, right? But it was scarcely LUST that made Eve eat the apple... the snake's sexiness didn't lure her into it. The Tree of Knowledge fits much more closely with Greed or Envy, or perhaps Gluttony if you really want to stretch it.

Similarly, I wouldn't say I feel lust in my heart of all places.

The flame, at least, makes more sense, with Dante having described the punishment for lust as fire. Still, you seem to be using the fire to make the woman more attractive, not as a warning against accepting her advances.

It's an absolutely gorgeous design, don't get me wrong; I just don't think it fits with the theme.

Adam and Eve can easily be seen as a story of "desire", lusting after power, etc. etc.

Your points are weak, and your attempt at intellectualism is pathetic.
Never comment again.

StarryHeavens wrote:It's a pretty design, but I'm afraid I don't understand the symbolism you put into it. The snake and the apple refer to Eden, right? But it was scarcely LUST that made Eve eat the apple... the snake's sexiness didn't lure her into it. The Tree of Knowledge fits much more closely with Greed or Envy, or perhaps Gluttony if you really want to stretch it.

Similarly, I wouldn't say I feel lust in my heart of all places.

The flame, at least, makes more sense, with Dante having described the punishment for lust as fire. Still, you seem to be using the fire to make the woman more attractive, not as a warning against accepting her advances.

It's an absolutely gorgeous design, don't get me wrong; I just don't think it fits with the theme.

Adam and Eve can easily be seen as a story of "desire", lusting after power, etc. etc.

Your points are weak, and your attempt at intellectualism is pathetic.

Never comment again.

cobolisdead wrote:One could say that Lust is what made Adam eat the apple, which would make a fiery woman that is trying to get you to lust very fitting. Also where was there mention that this is a warning against lust?

One could equally say that love, boredom, hunger, curiosity, or a desire not to get into a fight with his wife were what made Adam eat the apple: "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." There's nothing in there about sex.

I also never said that theinfinityloop said he was trying to use fire as a warning; it was just the only intriguing explanation I could come up with.

If people want a shirt with a hot woman on it, there's nothing wrong with it; I was fully looking forward to getting to see lots of them in this Derby, since at least six of the deadly sins can be well personified by them. My point was simply that, since I am skeptical about the appropriateness of his symbolism, I'm not sure how this shirt is different from the dozens of shirts with sexy, fiery women that are already in print.

theinfinityloop wrote:I'm going for a more loose symbolism--as in the serpent representing temptation, and temptation usually is side by side with lust.

That makes sense; it's a little loose for my taste, since I can't think of any sin that can't be boiled down to "temptation" (desire to do something you shouldn't do), but it certainly is Biblical, at least...

theinfinityloop wrote:I thought about that, but I couldn't really get away with placing the design on the bottom-middle of the shirt now, could I?

True; there's no winning with that one, but I still wouldn't consider it a selling point.

theinfinityloop wrote:"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."

Ahh, Matthew. A good point.

theinfinityloop wrote:Again, using a more loose symbolism, the flame is what lust feels like. Hence, my title.

I was trying to look for something more original, to see how this shirt passes the "similar shirts are sold elsewhere" test, but it seems the popular interpretation is the popular one... ;)

theinfinityloop wrote:I disagree with you about it not fitting the theme, but it's great that the design can make one pick it apart intellectually.

It really is an absolutely gorgeous design, so I can't blame people for loving it. I hope I didn't come across as mean in any of my posts (and I am going to stop now, as I think I'm straying a bit too far from the "constructive criticism" I was intending). After all, it's infinitely nicer than my own non-existent shirt design, right?

lwoodnj wrote:Adam and Eve can easily be seen as a story of "desire", lusting after power, etc. etc.

With that logic, gluttony = lust for food, greed = lust for money, sloth = lust for leisure, pride = lust for praise...

"Lust" is defined as "sexual desire," which the woman on this shirt absolutely does symbolize, but the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, in my eyes and understanding of the Bible, does not.

Never comment again.

I certainly am not going to obey that one, but I am going to leave this conversation before I inadvertently lead it into becoming uncivil, for theinfinityloop's sake.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

A small note,

I also never said that theinfinityloop said he was trying to use fire as a warning;

Loopy is a girl.

I Loooove this shirt!!!

+1

StarryHeavens wrote:One could equally say that love, boredom, hunger, curiosity, or a desire not to get into a fight with his wife were what made Adam eat the apple...

(snip)

...it's a little loose for my taste, since I can't think of any sin that can't be boiled down to "temptation" (desire to do something you shouldn't do), but it certainly is Biblical, at least...

From Loopy's earlier reply I'm guessing she didn't add the serpent and apple in because of this, but the symbolism is actually very TIGHT. In some research I did last year I discovered, to my surprise, that Eve is actually considered the first Femme Fatale. I was suprised because I'd always related the concept of the femme fatale to film noire and hard-boiled mysteries, but the femme fatale throughout art history has encompassed a much broader range. As with the archetypical femme fatale, Eve is also often considered a sexual symbol.

So although Loopy may have included it only for loose symbolism, the serpent and the apple are actually a perfect symbol to include in a design about lust.

I love the design but I'm not sure if it would be kosher to wear in public. The placement isn't quite ideal to me. I think it would look better in the lower left corner (lower right when you're looking at it).

Re: Santa's Sin - Jolly 'Ol Glutton

"You had me at, HELLO....I mean the candle", nicely done, so that in the beginning stages, and I liked it then. Great Job!! GMV

StarryHeavens wrote:It's a pretty design, but I'm afraid I don't understand the symbolism you put into it. The snake and the apple refer to Eden, right? But it was scarcely LUST that made Eve eat the apple... the snake's sexiness didn't lure her into it. The Tree of Knowledge fits much more closely with Greed or Envy, or perhaps Gluttony if you really want to stretch it.

Similarly, I wouldn't say I feel lust in my heart of all places.

The flame, at least, makes more sense, with Dante having described the punishment for lust as fire. Still, you seem to be using the fire to make the woman more attractive, not as a warning against accepting her advances.

It's an absolutely gorgeous design, don't get me wrong; I just don't think it fits with the theme.

Perhaps this has already been said (but I looked and couldn't find it) that the snake and apple simply symbolize original sin... which would fit perfectly with the theme.

Anyways, I really love the the design but I just don't like the shape of the girl/flame. It just isn't very flame-like with the hair swirling off in various directions like that. At least it isn't very realistic. I know I am being nit-picky but it bugs me a little.

With all that being said, congrats on fogging and good luck!

I hope this shirt wins, i love this design. love the symbolism and placement, this shirt rocks!

@MorbidEclipse and jacobwratten - Thanks!

@eHalcyon - Yeah!...Um...yeah I was going for that this whole time! Seriously though, thanks for taking it to an even deeper level. Again, I love how this is making people think.

@OrngNinjaTurdle...or should I call you Michaelangelo? ;-) - I respect that. However, I think the impact is better with the current placement. Thanks for your comment though.

@moran31 - Thank you! I actually liked this from the beginning too, which is rare. Most of the time I'm frustrated with my designs until I can finally see them come together, but I enjoyed every step of this one.

@palmettogirl - Thanks! Picture it as if the flame just came ablaze and there was a slight breeze affecting it. That's what I was going for.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Really nice design. But if I wore this my wife might get suspicious.

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Probably my favorite design of the derby. Great work in all aspects (Illustration, color, symbolism and placement) I doubt you need it but heres another vote.

theinfinityloop wrote:@dekonstruct - Thanks. Yeah I had a hard time choosing which design to work on first, but my friend SailorButterfly talked me into doing this one.

So, when you win, do I get a cut of the winnings?

SailorButterfly wrote:So, when you win, do I get a cut of the winnings?

Can you squeeze a dinner date out of your busy schedule next month?

theinfinityloop wrote:Can you squeeze a dinner date out of your busy schedule next month?

Anything for you, darling! :D

SailorButterfly wrote:Anything for you, darling! :D

Can I take pictures? :P

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Congrats on the fog, and an amazing design! I predict you will rack up residuals in Woots top sellers for weeks at the very least. Well done

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

**WANT!**

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

ohmigod, this is so awesome! Fantastic symbolism and style, too. :-)

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

congrats on the print!

they totally screwed up the meaning in the intro to it though...

i didn't take it to mean lust as in love, like woot said, i thought it meant actual lust. more biblical interp i guess.

anyway, grats.

Great shirt! This design definitely deserved top spot!

Re: Lust is Like a Flame

Yay...pssss OUCH!

Man, I totally missed this. I didn't notice that woot did shirts until about 3 days ago.

Darn, I really wanted this shirt, too.