The Rubber Band

A logo I created for the Dad-based Garage Band that I am in. It’s based on a vector image that I created, but rasterized with some distressing thrown in.

I have been playing guitar with a group of dads in a garage band for a little over a year now. What started out as a breakout session in the bedroom of my friends’ sons’ bedroom has grown into a full-fledged 5-person band. Although we try to meet weekly, a plethora of other dad-related duties compete for our time, making our practices inconsistent at best, but we try. Our adoring fans include passers-by and neighbors, either too young to know good from bad, or just too curious to turn away from the train wreck/spectacle that is transpiring in the garage.

We call ourselves “The Rubber Band“.

Part pun. Park joke. The Rubber Band expands to accommodate – whether that be each others’ schedules, talents, or even new members wanting to “give it a try”. The truth is? We’re not all that good, but we sure have a great time not being that good.

Thank you Shawn Burgwald ( Drums ), Kenn Matthews ( Vocals ), Mike Jock ( Bass ), Todd Vandervort ( Guitar ) and to that 20-something couple walking their dog three months ago that decided to pick up the open mic and join us for a song.

Keep on rockin’ in the free world.

Take care. Stay healthy. Live life.

-Scott

P.S. And Dr. Stewart, if you ever read this, I’d like to challenge you to a battle of the bands 😉

P.P.S. Here are some alternative logos and artwork I came up with before settling on the one pictured above.

#RubberBand #GarageBand #Music #Guitar #Musician #Rock #Drums #GarageBandMusic #Dads #DadsPlayingMusic

Vandervort Realty

“Are there any tests available yet?”, Jodie asked me.

“No, not yet. I’ll check again tomorrow.”, I replied, discouraged.

“I’m going to forget everything before I get a chance to be tested on it!”, I continued.

“Same here.”, Jodie smiled

It would be almost three months from the point I finished studying for my California real estate agent exam to when I was actually allowed to be tested on it. The testing centers were either closed or restricting the flow of candidates to a small trickle. Thank you, COVID.

Fortunately, I passed.

Over a year ago my wife, Jodie, decided to get her brokers license. She started in real estate over ten years ago right after our oldest daughter was born. She had done really well, too, building relationships and selling and buying homes all over San Diego.

“Well, what if I get my agent license, too? Then I can help you out – maybe hold open houses or something.”, I offered.

She smiled.

I smiled back. In real estate, agents work “under” a broker. My wife would essentially be my boss.

“Unless you have something against sleeping with your employees?”, I smiled.

“Nope”, she laughed back.

So we studied together. Then, after we were done studying, we waited together for exam spots to open up. It took me almost a year. It took her even longer because, to become a broker, she had to prove her work experience, a process that took forever due to the glacial pace of the Department of Real Estate weighted down by COVID restrictions.

Jodie passed, too.

We threw around names for a while and decided on “Vandervort Realty”. Over the years I’ve realized my last name can be a bitch to spell for newbies, but instantly memorable – if only because it’s a bitch to spell. It would be perfect for a company name – as long as we didn’t have to create any musical jingles to go with it.

The company logo proved trickier.

Initially Jodie wanted to go with a design she had found on Etsy, but I insisted on designing one for her. Illustration and graphic design has become my “thing” over the last few years, just as real estate hers.

“I work cheap.”, I told her. “You can pay me in vegan brownies!”

“Deal!”, she said.

We went through countless revisions. The endeavor expanded into a business card, listing sign, and Facebook Page, too. But finally the day came.

Vandervort Realty Brokerage Realtor Real Estate San Diego

“I like it.”, she admitted.

“Really, so we’re done?”, I asked, stunned.

“Yeah”, she smiled, “Well, for now…”

“Good”, I smiled. “You have a lot of baking to do, you know.”

“Yup.”

Take care. Stay healthy. Live life.

-Scott

Vandervort Realty is a family-owned real estate brokerage located in sunny San Diego. We pride ourselves on making relationships, not sales. Our goal is to educate people to help them make the best decisions in any market. For more information you can contact me here on DrawnAndCoded, or visit our Facebook Page.

#SanDiegoRealEstate #Realtor #Brokerage #RealEstateAgent #FamilyOwned #VandervortRealty #SanDiego

Daddy’s BBQ Sauce

A logo I created to support my cousins’ new endeavor, Daddy’s BBQ Sauce.

My cousin Paul and his wife April just launched a new BBQ Sauce, “Daddy’s BBQ Sauce”. The BBQ Sauce is based upon a family recipe handed down by April’s grandfather. Paul and April have served it for years at family gatherings in their backyard on smoked and grilled meats. Before I eliminated meat from my diet due a prostate cancer diagnosis I looked forward to it’s unique sweet taste and how it caramelized on the meat. Without sounding like a hypocrite, it’s delicious.

I might seem like the last person that should be promoting a BBQ sauce, but I want to be the first to support my cousins’ endeavor because I believe in it. It’s good. So good that I volunteered to create a logo for them to support them. Over the next few months they’ll be promoting “Daddy’s BBQ Sauce” on a road trip across the United States. If you see them, tell them their cousin Scott said, “Hi!”, and pick up a bottle.

“Daddy’s BBQ Sauce” is also available on their online store.

I used Clip Art Studio, Gimp, and ultimately, Inkscape to render the logo. The logo went through several iterations, each focusing on a caricature of April’s grandfather. Some of the other finalists are below, but most people I talked to favored the “laid back” demeanor pictured above.

Take care. Stay healthy. Live life. Try “Daddy’s BBQ Sauce” ( you’ll love it )!

-Scott

#BeefRibs #BBQPorn #PorkRibs #Grill #BBQSauce #BBQTime #Grilling #Brisket #BBQLife #BBQ #BBQSauce #SmokedMeat #Rubs #HomemadeBBQSauce #FamilyRecipe #DrawnAndCoded #Comic #Family #CustomLogo