Just the Facts, Ma'am
Fun Facts about Brenda
Let's have a little fun, shall we? You've seen my work and my bio, but what does Brenda run on...besides caffeine? However, this is still a portfolio site, so, let's learn not only what my favorite things are, but how I, as a designer, approached the composition of each card below.
Just the Facts, Ma'am...
Many people associate this phrase with jack webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, from the popular 1950's television show "Dragnet." However, Jack Webb's Character never said these exact words (See Link). OK, yes, Joe Friday did say "Just the facts, ma'am,"...just not by Jack Webb's...and not in the 1950's, as many are led to believe.
Summary:
"If your an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary. If you're not, no explanation is possible." -An Elvis fan's motto. It's hard to convey how deep our love for Elvis is, but if you know, you know! Whether you've just met, or have know each other a long time, when we share a love of Elvis, we are family...always!
Mindset:
It's one of the first things people learn about me, so it's only appropriate it be first on this list. However, knowing how protected Elvis' image is...and rightly so...I wasn't sure if I could use "the obvious," so it became of game of "Tell Me/Without Telling Me." After a lot of brainstorming and a painful step outside of the fan role, it hit me...The TCB lightning bolt! It's universal enough for many to recognize, but it's also something very specific to Elvis. But now I need a backup singer. Eureka!...a note written by Elvis, regarding his karate patch, which include the TCB lightning bolt! Everyone will understand the TCB logo. Fans will recognize the handwriting and may even recognize the correlation between the two...a perfect match!
Dean Martin
Summary:
Like Elvis, I can tell you exactly where I was, the day I became a fan. His cool, smooth style in...everything...defines "crooner." His comedic ability and timing could rival the greatest comic. The passion he put into everything he did, his down-to-earth nature, his pure, natural talent...is what made him so incredible!
Mindset:
Dean was, quite literally, an entertainer-of-all-trades. How do you sum up an immensely diversified, 49-year career? I concluded that a few things define Dean, universally. A tux with a red pocket square, a cigarette in his hand (to detract from an old boxing injury), a stage, and a microphone. But, these symbols could describe anyone. So...with a lot of Illustrator magic, I created the first ever, Dean Martin vector! I then finished it off with his signature and created a simple, custom pattern swatch of some some retro/sparkling stage lights, because Dean was never about big productions, on or off stage.
Summary:
I love everything about the 1950s! - the cars, the music, the colors, the style, the overall aesthetics...just ...everything!! So, you might think my love of the 50's is a result of being an Elvis fan. Actually, believe it or not, it was my love of the 50's that introduced me to Elvis.
Mindset:
This one came easy. The 1950s were an iconic era, with equally iconic and universal symbols. Not every decade has the privilege to be defined so clearly...so perfectly....by so many factors. The 1950s did have that privilege. Poodle skirts, saddle shoes, jukeboxes, unique, colorful cars, diners, drive-in movies, rock n' roll...all define the 1950s. To tailor that to me, I always loved the poodle skirt image and always wanted/still want a Wurlitzer jukebox. Plus music is everything to me, so it seemed only natural to pair the two.
Summary:
I grew up watching reruns of Bonanza (still a favorite), The Rifleman, Big Valley, Gunsmoke...I love those shows. Today, I still watch and love these shows, I play an old west themed video game, I own a cowboy hat, a pair of cowboy boots and my dream vacation is to take part in a working cattle ranch. Adulthood has not changed my love for this era! It was a time before technology, skyscrapers and overcrowded cities. It was a time of connecting with nature, at it's best! The beautiful, red rock scenery, incredible, obstruction-free sunsets, pollution-free night skies with millions upon millions of stars...It was a time of appreciating what you have and not taking anything for granted! It ties as my #1 favorite era!...Someone...please...invent a time-traveling DeLorean!!!
Mindset:
This one was challenging. Not only did I have to differentiate it from horseback riding (below), but I also had to find a way to convey old west not country western. My first thought was to not show a person at all, but with every iteration, I couldn't escape modern country western vibes. So, I made a list of commonalities in western TV and film. The two most common - cowboys and desert landscapes. Sorry to say, in the 1950s, unless you were Dale Evans, COWGIRLS were not common in TV and film. Of course, there are tons of cowboy and horse vectors out there, but none matched the style or image I had in my head. I wanted to reflect a 1950s style of illustration, as well as an "action shot," the kind you would see in comic books. Once again, I took to Illustrator, created a vector that matched my vision, drew on a saddle horn and Hi Yo Silver!
Hi Yo?...
Contrary to popular belief, The Lone Ranger did...NOT...say "Hi-Ho Silver!" No, it's not a mandela effect. It's merely a case of misunderstanding...or should I say...a case of Buck Jones (See Link). The original (Golden Era) Lone Ranger himself, Clayton Moore, tells us it's “Hi Yo, Silver” and not “Hi Ho, Silver.”...and Who are we to argue with a texas ranger and his native american sidekick! There was even a 1938 episode titled "Hi Yo Silver."
Summary:
Music has been my heart and soul for as long as I can remember. As a little kid, I would sing....well, we won't go there...but music has always been my entertainment, my stress reliever, my therapist, my motivator, my sidekick...and so much more!
Mindset:
This was another challenging one. I had to think of a way to make an auditory medium, visual. Additionally, I wanted to keep with the theme of the website. A jukebox and music notes were already taken with another card, plus the music notes were a little too universal and the jukebox a little to specific for my liking. I decided to call on Google for inspiration...they delivered! Up until 1960, the only form of music you could buy, was vinyl. Record players were made to play regular LPs, but 1949 saw a new form, a 45 RPM , with a much larger hole. To play this, you needed an adapter, called a "spider," which was perfect to represent music and stay within the them. That said, the music notes and jukebox idea was abandoned. I created another custom pattern for the background, featuring jukeboxes, music notes, transistor radios, retro microphones, records and retro shapes.
Summary:
Nothing compares to a live concert. The energy, the production, the authenticity of the people on stage, getting called on by the performer and being too awestruck and shy to engage (yes, this happened to me), or possibly getting to speak to your idol after. These are all memories that don't fade. Memories you look back on with complete fondness.
Mindset:
I had to think of a way to make an auditory medium, visual, but I also wanted it to reflect my favorite span of music - 1930s through the 1960s. A jukebox and music notes were already taken with another card, so I took to Google for inspiration...and I found it! Up until 1960, the only form of music you could buy, was vinyl. Record players were made to play regular LPs, but 1949 saw a new form, a 45 RPM, with a much larger hole. To play this, you needed an adapter, called a "spider." Then, I thought, why not use music notes and a jukebox, but in a different form, I created another custom patterned background featuring jukeboxes, music notes, transistor radios, retro microphones, records and retro shapes.
Summary:
My exposure to horseback riding (western pleasure) was as a kid, every summer, on a white pony, named Rosey-Rosey. As I got older, my affinity only grew stronger for the majestic animals. They are beautiful, gentle, yet powerful creatures, and sitting atop one forces you to be present and enjoy nature.
Mindset:
The initial idea was obvious...but it needed more. Someone riding with a helmet? No, that conveyed the English discipline and I ride Western Pleasure. Then I saw a picture of a cowgirl...perfect...but I wanted her to reflect me! I found a horse vector I liked, but it carried a man. So, several additional vectors later, more good 'ol Illustrator magic, and I had a vector of...myself! The background (also needing "magic") is a barn...because, well, where else do you find horses?
Summary:
I don't remember a time when there hasn't been an animal of some sort, in my life. As a matter of fact, I loved animals so much, that my first-ever career choice, was to be a veterinarian. What changed? I worked at one. I loved it...but...let's just say, there were a few deal-breakers.
Mindset:
I found challenge in finding a cohesive pairing. I tried a "stack" of animals, like many vets offices have. I tried a collage, both with animal silhouettes and footprints, but in such a small space, it was too busy, or important detail was lost. After many variations and much trial and error, I found a Westie vector that looked exactly like my dog, now...No, not all Westie's look alike and many dog owners will tell you the same...I simplified the vector and made a few minor changes to better match my dogs features. Next was the background. After more trial and error, inspiration finally clicked with a single pair of hearts! I then simplified the Dean Martin background pattern, creating a new swatch, to finished this off.
