Today we’d like to introduce you to Brighton Cook.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
There’s not a super unique story because I was exposed to wonderful art all my life. My mother started taking me to galleries before I could walk, and both of my grandmothers are accomplished artists and designers. My gift for art was recognized at a young age, and fortunately I was given the support and encouragement to pursue it. Growing up, I participated in art lessons, attend art camps, and competed in art competitions.
The turning point was when I took intro to Visual Communication my Freshman year at TCU. I was introduced to a career path that allowed strategic thinking plus creativity, which was a perfect fit for me. Through the TCU Graphic Design program, I learned the importance of communication at every level- white space, shapes of letters, color, scale, etc.… From then on, Graphic Design has been one of my biggest loves. My passion is typography, which makes for very interesting or very boring conversations with me. I was once told I could talk for 20 minutes about the letter Q. I now work for a company called FreeRange Concepts and I really enjoy it!
Please tell us about your art.
Primarily, most of my work is focused on my job with FreeRange Concepts, which is a restaurant and entertainment company. We have four concepts- The Rustic, Bowl & Barrel, MUTTS Canine Cantina and The General Public- the first three of which are in Dallas! I am the in-house graphic designer, so I am responsible for creating everything visual for all of our concepts, from menus to band posters. I also do some freelance on the side for local companies and musicians such as logo design, wedding invitations, and custom t-shirts. I really enjoy creating poters for the musicians that play at The Rustic. We have three locations (Dallas, San Antonio and Houston), so there’s a wide variety of artists. When creating the posters, I research the artist in depth and listen to their music while designing to fully get in the zone. I have a combo of hand drawn and computer-generated pieces, which result in a unique look for the final product.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
There’s a saying that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. The thing is, it takes a lot of hard work that can be mentally and emotionally draining at times. Stay diligent, stay focused, and self-reflect. If you are struggling to find work, don’t be afraid to reach out to friends & agencies such as Creative Circle. Never stop creating.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see my artwork at any of our various properties across Texas! You can also see my work on Facebook & Instagram on our various profiles, as well as in the windows of various local establishments.
Contact Info:
- Website: brightoncook.com
- Email: brightoncookdesign@gmail.com
- Instagram: @brightoncook
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
