How to Design a Character

Since I have a fabulous artist as a collaborator, I like to involve him in my creative activities. As a Tucson Summer Chorus committee member, I offered to have a mascot created. The 2023 music theme for this fun chorus was Pirates! Brad Peterson (aka Anderson Atlas) designed Captain Jack Saguaro! He was very popular and ended up on a T-shirt for the participants and mugs.

The Evolution of Captain Jack Saguaro

Later, I had him updated as an author for our publicity. He was featured in our booth at the Tucson Festival of Books in March 2024. See how the baton and sheet music were replaced with a quill pen. I’m not sure how the whip comes in, but maybe it’s to help me whip out more books!

It’s now time to update Jack for this summer’s TSC. The theme this year is “Rhythm.”

Captain Jack Saguaro has become Conductor Jack Saguaro (although he may be promoted to Maestro Jack Saguaro). Brad added several animals native to the local Sonoran Desert as rhythm makers, joining Jack in shaking his percussion instruments, maraca, and percussion stick.

The rattlesnake shaking his tail is excellent. He’s vibrating at fifty times per second!

The Gambel’s quail is adorable but a bit stationary. But wait, shouldn’t Conductor Jack wear formal concert attire, like black tails? Plus, musicians tend to prefer more refined earrings, so the pirate earring had to go.

In the next version, Jack is in his concert attire, very distinguished-looking. The quail is now tap-dancing on the drum with some excellent wing action. The Gila woodpecker is flying onto the high hat to join the party. However, one of the other committee members wanted the woodpecker pecking a different instrument; it does look like the high hat is falling over. I like action! The other member wanted another desert animal to play the high hat, though. Bring on a happy javelina! The Gila woodpecker was then given his tambourine. That will sound great with his undulating flight.

Here’s the final, signed, and copyrighted version. Pretty impressive, right?! Notice how the notes changed from black to orange? Nice touch, Brad. 

If you sing, come join us in the Tucson Summer Chorus. Rehearsals start June 3. If you prefer to enjoy the music, the concert will be on July 26.

Species included:

Saguaro    Carnegiea gigantea

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake     Crotalus atrox

Gambel’s Quail     Callipepla gambelii

Gila Woodpecker      Melanerpes uropygialis

Javelina Tayassu tajacu