Still shocked, confused and saddened at the loss of such a talent and competitor in Kyle Busch.
May his family have all of the strength and support during this time.
Rest in peace, Kyle.
10. Share a design tip for people just getting started.
Definitely just be yourself out there and have fun! That’s when it feels like time stands still when designing and you can generate those unique and powerful ideas that can take you places!
Technically, don't be afraid to jump into new programs and take your time, as it can take years to become efficient, so don’t rush it!
From childhood trips to the track, to my mother’s courageous cancer battle and a sketch by my wife, here is Brendan Droppo Design's story. (Thank you @tradingpaints and @ItsMichaelCarey for the feature: https://t.co/YIhsAR3BxS)
A thread:
1. How did you get your start designing?
Growing up it was art (drawing) first. Whether at home or school, it was long hours on the kitchen table or just waiting for art class to start. When I was very young, my father was an Earnhardt fan; however, he quickly turned into a Bobby Hamilton 43 fan after Dale had wrecked him. His fandom transferred to me shortly after when I attended my first race at Pocono in the ’90s, cheering for Bill Elliott and my favorite restaurant [McDonald’s]! My love for art then merged with my newfound passion for NASCAR, and I went from drawing ships and skateboarding shoes to race cars and paint schemes, envisioning my own racing someday.
As a teenager in the 2000s, I switched from pencil to computer, and began to develop technical skills using paint and 3D programs for countless hours. I was uploading accurate NR2003 skins for users to enjoy, gleaming if they commented on the details I put in. I then started creating fictional paint schemes, showing a forum what cars would look like if an associate expanded to primary, using fan reception as motivation — a Dale Jr. concept had even won a Speed Channel contest and appeared on live TV, shocking my father!
During my first summer off from Graphic Design college, I knew I wanted to design NASCAR paint schemes professionally. I then cold emailed and landed a remote internship with Matt Kenseth’s spotter’s company, where I designed my first ever paint scheme for Chase Austin’s No. 07 Cavi and Macy’s Chevrolet in the Nationwide (Xfinity) Series at Daytona. To repay the favor, I brought my father to the other side of the fence to look at it up close, a time we still reminisce on to this day.
9. In your recent years, you’ve graced LEGACY MOTOR CLUB with a number of primaries between the No. 42, No. 43, and the No. 84. Compared to your previous work, is there anything for LMC that you’re doing differently to help make those entries stand out more on track?
I think Jimmie has a very strategic and meticulous vision on how he wants his legendary team to look, and I’m so grateful he entrusts me with understanding that and bringing that to life. I enjoy how the team’s gold accents have been evolving from season to season, making the cars shine and be identifiable out there. It’s a blast leaning into the classic look with often a modern spin with new sponsors. With such a rich history of schemes also, any throwback is like Christmas to me with how much fun we can have using neon and those famous Petty colors — such as this season’s Darlington Throwback paint scheme designs.
The team is growing in all directions and has innovative partners and personnel that provide me with all of the creative flexibility I can ask for and more so I can push boundaries, so that definitely adds another layer of the appreciation I have for sure.