The BassGod Webzine/Getting Intimate/Sunshine Patten

The computer age has come a long way since the early years. In the last five years, designers have been able to create the Internet, which has taken the world down a new communication high way. Web site design has also become an innovative big business. One person who knows this very well is thebassgod.com's web master Sunshine Patten. Now let's meet the woman who uses her artistic ability to make thebassgod.com come to life.

Q/A:

What is your background?
I was born June 5, 1973 (a Gemini) in Kansas City, Kansas to hippie parents in the midst of divorce proceedings. I moved to Port Washington, New York in 1985 to attend Junior High School and High School. Many of my electives in High School were art courses (i.e., drawing, painting, and photography). I went to college at the State University of New York at Purchase and graduated with a BFA degree in 1995. While in college, I studied photography, drawing, and painting. In my spare time, I had a college radio show where I played 80's New Wave, Gothic, Industrial, and Techno mixed in with new music of the time.

What are your vital statistics?
I am 27, current hair color is my natural brown w/ blonde streaks (has been black and various shades of burgundy), I'm currently living in New York City and married to a fellow college alumnae, and I have no kids save for a very affectionate domestic longhair kitty cat w/ tuxedo markings. (Why do I suddenly feel I'm filling out a teen magazine questionnaire?) I do word processing and presentation graphics for various corporations and in my spare time I do graphics and web sites for fun.

What inspired you to do web design?
I've been hooked on the Internet since college, actually. I spent much of my last year in the school computer lab learning about it. The Internet has so much going on and it really has such potential for creativity. It's almost like the ultimate art gallery. You design and launch a page, and suddenly, it's on display and you can get instant feedback on it. I've wanted to apply my creativity to something like this for a long time and it's great to finally have an opportunity to.

How did thebassgod.com come about?
Zoo (Rose) and I met in the Trust the Process chat room in May 2000 and were just chatting away and it came up in conversation that she was interested in starting an unofficial web site all about John. She had all of these ideas and as she would mention them, I found myself saying repeatedly, "Yeah! That would be a great idea!" I knew that there were already so many other fan sites out there, but I thought Zoo had some unique, fun ideas that really got me excited about doing this project. So, I offered her my help in launching such a site, and that as they say is history.

What is your part with thebassgod.com?
My job with thebassgod.com is really the as the Web Mistress. I create most of the graphics (i.e., buttons, backgrounds, and logos) and do all of the html encoding via a html editor. I organize the flow of the pages (information architecture) and launch the site updates. I am the "Patty," if you will, of thebassgod.com.

What is the best part of your job at thebassgod.com?
I love having the opportunity to collaborate with the creative minds behind this site. I also like the fact that we have a little community built around our site. It's great to work with such creative people who share a passion for the subject matter. It's fulfilling to create something to share with like-minded people. The feedback from TTP is so encouraging as well.

What part do you think thebassgod.com plays in John's career?
I like to think of ours as a companion site to TTP. Like the "fan's version" of TTP. Even though TTP is contributory and very lively, I like to think that we work together toward the same purpose. To promote JT in his current endeavors and act as a sort of hand book or running commentary (or something of that nature) to the JT world.

How long have you been a John Taylor fan?
I have been a Duran fan since I was 11 years old (1984). It was not long before I became one of those giddy preteens, complete with a life-size JT poster on my wall that I kissed goodnight. I know...it's corny, but sadly, it's true. When I would get all upset about something, my 30+ posters would comfort me and their eyes would tell me that everything was going to be all right.

*Clears throat* But that was 16 years ago. I've grown up quite a lot since then. John has also grown up with me (as well as all of his other fans of course).

When did you first see/hear of John?
The first time I heard of Duran Duran I was 9, when an 18 year old boy that used to baby-sit me told me about a Duran Duran concert he'd just been to. He was still so excited about it afterward. The first Duran Duran video I saw was "Hungry Like the Wolf," however, I first saw John in "The Reflex" on MTV or was it Friday Night Videos? Boy, was I ever hooked! My first concert was Duran Duran's Strange Behavior Tour (1987) at Madison Square Garden when I was 13.

What are your future plans?
Tough question. I always have trouble thinking so far ahead. Planning on moving out of NYC very soon to get a more stable lifestyle going. I hope to soon figure out what career I am going for, because the problem is I have too many interests to number. Computer graphics/web site design would be a great career. I am a "jack of all trades, master of none." I would like to be a mother within the next few years, which will make the career thing difficult. One never knows what the future holds.

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Getting Intimate with Sunshine Patten May 2001
Sunshine Patten (aka Pre4Pepsi) [picture taken February 2000] Web Mistress/Design Co-founder of thebassgod.com	The computer age has come a long way since the early years. In the last five years, designers have been able to create the Internet, which has taken the world down a new communication high way. Web site design has also become an innovative big business. One person who knows this very well is thebassgod.com's web master Sunshine Patten. Now let's meet the woman who uses her artistic ability to make thebassgod.com come to life. Q/A: What is your background? I was born June 5, 1973 (a Gemini) in Kansas City, Kansas to hippie parents in the midst of divorce proceedings. I moved to Port Washington, New York in 1985 to attend Junior High School and High School. Many of my electives in High School were art courses (i.e., drawing, painting, and photography). I went to college at the State University of New York at Purchase and graduated with a BFA degree in 1995. While in college, I studied photography, drawing, and painting. In my spare time, I had a college radio show where I played 80's New Wave, Gothic, Industrial, and Techno mixed in with new music of the time. What are your vital statistics? I am 27, current hair color is my natural brown w/ blonde streaks (has been black and various shades of burgundy), I'm currently living in New York City and married to a fellow college alumnae, and I have no kids save for a very affectionate domestic longhair kitty cat w/ tuxedo markings. (Why do I suddenly feel I'm filling out a teen magazine questionnaire?) I do word processing and presentation graphics for various corporations and in my spare time I do graphics and web sites for fun. What inspired you to do web design? I've been hooked on the Internet since college, actually. I spent much of my last year in the school computer lab learning about it. The Internet has so much going on and it really has such potential for creativity. It's almost like the ultimate art gallery. You design and launch a page, and suddenly, it's on display and you can get instant feedback on it. I've wanted to apply my creativity to something like this for a long time and it's great to finally have an opportunity to. How did thebassgod.com come about? Zoo (Rose) and I met in the Trust the Process chat room in May 2000 and were just chatting away and it came up in conversation that she was interested in starting an unofficial web site all about John. She had all of these ideas and as she would mention them, I found myself saying repeatedly, "Yeah! That would be a great idea!" I knew that there were already so many other fan sites out there, but I thought Zoo had some unique, fun ideas that really got me excited about doing this project. So, I offered her my help in launching such a site, and that as they say is history. What is your part with thebassgod.com? My job with thebassgod.com is really the as the Web Mistress. I create most of the graphics (i.e., buttons, backgrounds, and logos) and do all of the html encoding via a html editor. I organize the flow of the pages (information architecture) and launch the site updates. I am the "Patty," if you will, of thebassgod.com. What is the best part of your job at thebassgod.com? I love having the opportunity to collaborate with the creative minds behind this site. I also like the fact that we have a little community built around our site. It's great to work with such creative people who share a passion for the subject matter. It's fulfilling to create something to share with like-minded people. The feedback from TTP is so encouraging as well. What part do you think thebassgod.com plays in John's career? I like to think of ours as a companion site to TTP. Like the "fan's version" of TTP. Even though TTP is contributory and very lively, I like to think that we work together toward the same purpose. To promote JT in his current endeavors and act as a sort of hand book or running commentary (or something of that nature) to the JT world. How long have you been a John Taylor fan? I have been a Duran fan since I was 11 years old (1984). It was not long before I became one of those giddy preteens, complete with a life-size JT poster on my wall that I kissed goodnight. I know...it's corny, but sadly, it's true. When I would get all upset about something, my 30+ posters would comfort me and their eyes would tell me that everything was going to be all right. Clears throat But that was 16 years ago. I've grown up quite a lot since then. John has also grown up with me (as well as all of his other fans of course). When did you first see/hear of John? The first time I heard of Duran Duran I was 9, when an 18 year old boy that used to baby-sit me told me about a Duran Duran concert he'd just been to. He was still so excited about it afterward. The first Duran Duran video I saw was "Hungry Like the Wolf," however, I first saw John in "The Reflex" on MTV or was it Friday Night Videos? Boy, was I ever hooked! My first concert was Duran Duran's Strange Behavior Tour (1987) at Madison Square Garden when I was 13. What are your future plans? Tough question. I always have trouble thinking so far ahead. Planning on moving out of NYC very soon to get a more stable lifestyle going. I hope to soon figure out what career I am going for, because the problem is I have too many interests to number. Computer graphics/web site design would be a great career. I am a "jack of all trades, master of none." I would like to be a mother within the next few years, which will make the career thing difficult. One never knows what the future holds. =Back to Top=
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