Vintage Circus-Inspired T-Shirt Design

I’m looking for a bold, vintage circus-style illustration for a t-shirt design with a slightly dark humor tone. The artwork should feel dramatic and edgy, inspired by classic carnival poster aesthetics — not cartoonish or childish.

Concept:

The design should feature:

A central “normal” main character with a confused, serious, or overwhelmed expression

Surrounded by exaggerated, expressive clown characters

An ornate vintage circus frame or badge-style composition

The mood should be theatrical, slightly dark, and visually powerful.

Required Text Layout:

Top: I LIVE IN A CIRCUS
Middle: AND I’M
Bottom: SURROUNDED BY CLOWNS

Typography must:

Be classic carnival/circus style

Have strong hierarchy

Be large and readable from a distance

Feel dramatic and bold

Style Requirements:

Vintage circus poster aesthetic

Strong linework and bold shading

High-detail but clean vector artwork

Suitable for printing on black t-shirts

No thin lines

No photorealistic style

No stock or copyrighted characters

Colors:

Dominant tones: red, orange, gold, cream, dark accents

Must also include a simplified 3–5 color version suitable for screen printing

Deliverables:

High-resolution vector file (AI or EPS)

Print-ready version for black shirt

Simplified color version for screen print

The final design should feel bold, eye-catching, and instantly readable from a distance, while maintaining a vintage carnival authenticity with a modern edge.