Dave Dorman Updates

Dear Friends,

This week I had a couple of nice press mentions. The first was a podcast interview with “From the Booth” which is sponsored by Captain Blue Hen Comics. You can listen to that interview here: http://bitly.com/Zgk25t

The second was a nice press mention on my Star Wars Dark Empire covers from Ryan Britt of Tor.com. You can access that review and the comment I posted back here: http://bitly.com/Y6dZ8x

There are a couple of Kickstarter campaigns you might want to check out, if you’re interested in supporting them. I am providing artwork for British magazine TRIPWIRE’s 21st Anniversary Issue of their Magazine. I think you’ll recognize my work in the graphic below. That link is here: http://kck.st/10Ic33G

TRIPWIRE 21st Anniversary Magazine

The second Kickstarter campaign I have no connection to, other than I think it’s cool and a game-changer for all of the model and prop making friends and enthusiasts (like me) who follow me here. These guys have created a fail-proof plug & play special f/x kit for your models and props – everything from batteries & lighting to smoke to sound f/x. Check that out here: http://kck.st/XxshQn I really hope they get funded. Again, this is a game changer.

Next weekend I will be joining friends Larry Elmore and Kevin J. Anderson in L.A. judging the Writers & Illustrators of the Future Awards. I am told it’s televised in L.A., so if you want to catch me looking uncomfortable in a monkey suit (that is, tux–I won’t be dressing in a Planet of the Apes costume, which it just occurred to me you might be expecting), please tune in.

Right now I am finishing up a labor of love – a story for Dave Elliott’s MONSTER MASSACRE book that will feature my protagonist motorcycle zombie character, HITCH, which some of you may remember from my book, the Bram Stoker nominated, Int’l Horror Guild Assoc. winner in 1996 from Mojo Press, “DEAD HEAT.” Unfortunately we (Del Stone Jr. and I) were way ahead of the times, writing about zombies before the production world caught on to their money-making potential. Publisher’s Weekly said “Hitch, the protagonist of this gonzo post-apocalyptic fantasy, may be the most outrageous superhero ever conceived for the printed page: a meathook-wielding zombie whose exertions repeatedly challenge him to overcome the limitations of his deteriorating body.”

I will be exhibiting in Artist’s Alley at C2E2 this year in Chicago, so I hope you can come out. Reed Exhibits does a really solid job with this show and it’s quickly becoming the Comic-Con of the Midwest, so check it out. I have to dig up my table #, so watch for me to post that on Facebook – my fan page is http://facebook.com/davedormanfanpage, so please “Like” my page when you get a moment. I am at my 5k limit with friends on my personal FB page, so my apologies for that inconvenience.

Lastly, if you are interested in being one of the “Lucky 10″ at “THE DAVE DORMAN EXPERIENCE” this year, please write to denise@writebrainmedia.com for your reservation. Cost is $350 and I blogged about all of the fun swag you will receive, including the potential of winning a fresh Dave Dorman painting, in the last blog post, so check that out. We will need to know your answer quickly, as it takes a while to get t-shirts made.

As always, thanks for reading,

DAVE.

• On Twitter: @DaveDorman and Hashtag is #DaveDorman
• On LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/thedavedorman
• Podcast: http://itscomicbookday.com

A New Sculpt for the Dorman Household

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I am a fan and collector, just as much as I am a participant in pop culture. To that end, I received this really fun Star Wars Obi-Wan sculpture Thursday from Sideshow Collectibles and I wanted to share it with you in case any of you collect and they’re not sold out already. I bought this piece at SDCC last year, and good things come to those that wait, but this one was 2 months overdue. However, it was worth the wait.

It comes with the Ewan McGregor-version head sculpt as well, interchangeable. I prefer the Alec Guinness version because I’m old school Star Wars.

I wanted to take this moment to thank all of you who caught my lightning fast appearances on WGN Morning News in the past couple of weeks, and especially thank all of you who showed up last night for the premiere of Cris Macht’s film, “A Force Within Us,” which granted me more than my share of on-screen time. The DVDs are $20 each and there are a few left, so get your copy now if you can. It was also nice to reconnect with Mark Voss of Post Meridian, who will be helping me out with my online classes, which will be happening sooner than later. Be sure to write to denise@writebrainmedia.com to get on the list for my first-ever public offering of online classes and portfolio reviews. Watch for my banner ads on Sandtroopers.com as well. 

Finally, my friend Brian Wyrick is very near reaching his Kickstarter goal for his graphic novel, The Henchmen. If he reaches his financial goal, I get to do the cover, which will be a really fun piece, so I look forward to it. A special thanks to Brian for making the 4-hour drive & coming out to the premiere last night, too. That link is here: 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1416077417/henchmen-an-independent-comic-book

As always, thanks for reading. 

Dave

 

Announcing My First Ever 24/7 Dave Dorman Online Store

Dear Friends of the Page,

I typically post a temporary page if I’m having a sale on my prints for a special occasion, but I’ve been thinking it would be wise to have a full-time online store, so here is the link to my new online store:

http://davedorman.bigcartel.com

Please feel free to share the link with your social networks. It would be an enormous favor to me.

Additionally, I have some fun new interviews posted on our podcast, http://itscomicbookday.com, and as always, I invite and encourage you to join me on my Facebook Fan Page, http://Facebook.com/DaveDormanFanPage and on Linked In where I’m an open networker at http://linkedin.com/in/thedavedorman.

As always, I thank you for your support and interest in my work. I’m hard at work on getting my new online school launched, and I will be posting news here as I’m able to start accepting students. If you are interested in being on the early invite list, please email denise@writebrainmedia.com.

I should also mention, I’m in a Star Wars documentary called “The Force Within Us”  by my friend Cris Macht. I will be attending the premiere at the Arcada Theater in  St. Charles, IL on Friday, March 22nd, so if you are in Northern Illinois, I welcome you to join us there.

Have a good one, everybody,

Dave

I Need Your Opinion – Dave Dorman Experience 2013?

Dear Friends,

I’ve gotten more than a few Facebook messages on this matter, and I’d like to check in with you who follow my blog. I’m considering doing another “Dave Dorman Experience” this year during C2E2, but I want to make sure there’s still interest. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this tiny event, here’s what it entails:

• A limousine picks you up at a designated location at C2E2 and drives you to my house.
• A private chef prepares a gourmet dinner, served to you, my guests.
• I give a brief studio tour and my various collections & paintings.
• I create a fresh piece of art for my guests, starting with the preliminary and going through to the final painting. (Last year I did a Boba Fett piece.)
• We draw straws to see who goes home with either one. 
• I offer access to my private vault of prints, prelims and available paintings for sale. (This is great for collectors.)
• This year, I hope to have customized shirts for everyone as a keepsake.
• The limousine returns you to your hotel in Chicago.

Let me know if this is something you’d like to see me do again this year. We had a lot of fun with the fans who joined us last year! Please email my wife & publicist at denise@writebrainmedia.com if you’d like additional information.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Dave 

 

My Updates, A New Year’s Sale, and 2013 Plans!

Hi Everyone! And Happy New Year!!

2012 was an interesting year (to paraphrase the old Chinese proverb). I had a great year creatively and not so good health-wise. I had a great run on Darth Maul covers for Dark Horse Comics, and had the opportunity to produce another great widescreen style print for the Star Wars Celebration VI last August. In addition, I took the time to paint some personal pieces and found great confidence and strength in the freedom of creativity that I was able to channel into those pieces. I believe that has come through in my commercial work as well, and I feel that I am doing the best work of my career at this point. I am very much looking forward to carrying this into 2013 and beyond! (More on those projects down below…)

Health-wise it was a very weird year. I am usually a pretty strong guy as far as my personal health, but 2012 hit me unexpectedly hard. At the beginning of the summer I caught the flu, which eventually turned into walking pneumonia. Unfortunately that hit me during the time of the San Diego Convention, so if you saw me there and I did not seem myself, that’s why. I eventually got over that and felt better for about a month, then at the beginning of November I was hit with an appendicitis. Fortunately, I knew what it was (with a little self-diagnosis help from the “interweb”) and Denise took me to the hospital the next morning before it could rupture. The doctor removed my appendix and I started to feel better for a couple days, and then I began to feel worse. Without going into the painful details, I spent the next four weeks with complications and a misdiagnosis that just kicked my butt to the point where I was almost bedridden.

Finally with the advice of a doctor friend and the urging of Denise, we went to my family practitioner for some help. He immediately ordered blood tests and then promptly put me back in the hospital the next day, finding I had an abscess where my appendix was, and it was the size of a softball. Within a day of them taking care of this, I was feeling so much better. I was in the hospital for this during the first week of December, and was so happy to be feeling better for the upcoming Holiday season.

While I am still recovering, (I am almost back to 100% now), it made me realize how lucky I am to have the things God has given me. My wife, my amazing son, my family and friends, and the talent and creativity that drives me to continue to be the best I can be in all I do.

But most of all, I would like to thank all of you who have written and emailed and Facebooked during the last two months following this horrible event of mine. It was so helpful to keep my mental strength up and the desire to get past this to be able to get back to painting and creating the art you all look forward to, and the work I take so much pleasure in creating. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Now…onto 2013!

I plan a few things for the coming year and who knows where work will take me as the year progresses. The two big things I am proud to work on will be personal projects–both through Kickstarter–as I will be publishing them myself. The first will be “NEMO,” a triptych of large canvas paintings reproduced in a series of affordable prints to high-end Giclees.  There will also be a “Making of” book, and possibly a video DVD to accompany it.  More to come on this as I finish the art.

The other big project I am so happy to announce–finally–is the continuation of my “RAIL” graphic novel series. It has been quite a while since the original edition appeared, and following the problems with the original publisher, and the distractions that life throws at you, I am just now finally getting back to my personal project. I plan on reworking some of the material in the original RAIL book and offering a new edition through KICKSTARTER. I am hoping to be able to fund both this revised edition and the first sequel. My intent is to publish all four books in this series myself, with support from all of you, my fans. Quite a few of you have asked when the follow-up will be coming. I hope 2013 will see this happen.  I will have more on this very soon as I pull this together. Keep watching.

DAVE DORMAN PRINT SALE

I had a lot of fans asking if I was going to have a holiday print sale this year. Unfortunately my illness prevented me getting this ready for a pre-holiday sale. But I figured, “Why not start the New Year right for those interested decorating their walls?” So I have decided to offer the print sale as a New Year’s Sale! This sale can be found on this page of my website: http://www.davedorman.com/swprints2013sale.shtml

The sale will only go until midnight Jan. 5, and I will send out the prints the week of Jan 7. I hope you can find something you like!

I will endeavor to update this blog a little more frequently now that I’m home and healthy again. And I THANK YOU again for all your well wishes during this past 2 months. With my reinvigorated health and drive to create, I do not think you will be disappointed with what 2013 will bring for us.

May God bless you all with health and prosperity in 2013. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

DAVE.

Is DragonCon Founder Ed Kramer the Sandusky of Sci-Fi? Or “Why Dave Dorman is Still Boycotting DragonCon: Part 2″

Dear Friends,

Once again, more information comes to light, in the form of an ATLANTA magazine expose’,  which underscores why I won’t be attending or associated in any way with DragonCon, until I know without question that alleged pedophile Ed Kramer is no longer benefiting financially in any way from the show. Sure, I could be earning good money at that show, but I cannot do so and sleep well at night. If any other shows I attend get tied to the same allegations, I will be boycotting those as well. As the dad of a young son, nothing turns my stomach more than this. There is a special place in hell for those who prey on the vulnerable who cannot defend or speak for themselves – the young, the elderly, the disabled, animals.

This article in Atlanta magazine was thoroughly and painstakingly researched by journalist Scott Henry. It is a long, sad and convoluted tale that required of Scott Henry much unraveling to get to the truth of the matter. You will be shocked by what you read here, and I suggest that you take the time to do so. There’s also this article on Examiner.com, in an article “DragonCon: Does Your Ticket Money Go to An Accused Pedophile?”, from which I quote:

And Mr. Henry reports that the revenue from the for-profit DragonCon (Comic Con International is non-profit) is unreported, and part of that money generated from ticket sales went to Mr. Kramer as recently as last year. He reports:

(Kramer) eventually received dividends for 2009 and 2010—although he won’t say how much Kramer received for those or previous years—but was forced to file the second suit last year in an effort to collect his 2011 dividend of $154,000.

And The Atlanta Magazine’s Mr. Henry also informs that Mr. Kramer became a millionaire from DragonCon, but while DragonCon Cofounder Pat Henry has taken to Facebook to say that Mr. Kramer had no ‘involvement’ with DragonCon since 2000, the Atlanta Magazine’s account paints Pat Henry as being less than truthful. Mr. Kramer’s collection of his stock dividend from his share of DragonCon ownership (said to be about one-third of the organization) indicates that he certainly had some involvement in its operation, if only to make sure he collected his money.

So, if you attended DragonCon in the past, a percentage of what you paid went to Mr. Ed Kramer, an alleged, but not as of this writing convicted, child predator who sits in jail awaiting extradition to Georgia.

The unanswered question is will Mr. Kramer be able to collect his share of revenue this year? If so, that means part of your 2012 DragonCon ticket money will go to Ed Kramer, and its more than likely that the dollars will be used in his legal defense.

I only hope that one day, those who chose without having the facts to vilify my friend Nancy Collins  (who fought the good fight for years) will apologize to her.

Dave.

Dave Dorman New Comic Book Covers for Gestalt Comics’ STALAG-X

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to announce I’ll be doing the comic book cover art for a new sci-fi graphic novel project for Australia’s largest comic book publisher, Gestalt Comics, in partnership with two writers: NY Times Bestselling Author Kevin J. Anderson and Xena: Warrior Princess co-producer and scriptwriter Steven L. Sears. I’ve done a lot of cover art over the years for books Kevin has written, including the Young Jedi Knight series and his book Dogged Persistence. Steven and I are both former Floridians and military brats.

Here is how Kevin J. Anderson describes the STALAG-X story:

“STALAG-X is the gritty story of human soldiers trying to survive in an alien concentration camp, and one mysterious prisoner who calls himself “Joe Human.” He cannot allow the vicious aliens to win . . . but because of his own dark past, he doesn’t dare allow himself to be rescued either.”

The release date hasn’t been announced yet, but we are looking at late Fall 2012 for the first issue. I will keep you posted here, and for the writing side, follow http://kjablog.com for Kevin J. Anderson’s posts.

As always, thanks for reading!

Dave.

First Look at Dave Dorman’s New Battlestar Galactica Fine Art Limited Edition Print at SDCC

Dear Friends, I’m posting this from the floor of the show at San Diego Comic-Con and I wanted those of you who couldn’t be here with me to share in the fun of this new Battlestar Galactica print. This first release is limited to 250 signed and numbered prints by licensee ANOVOS. I hope you all like it. This is one of my favorite TV series of all times, and I couldn’t have been more honored than I was when ANOVOS asked me to do this piece. Edward James Olmos gave us his personal stamp of approval on this one, and it was a huge fan boy honor to speak with him earlier this week. Without further adieu, here it is:

Scramble in the Hangar – Battlestar Galactica Fine Art by Dave Dorman:
Size is 20″ x 36″ Widescreen Format

Dave Dorman’s First-Ever Battlestar Galactica Fine Art Print Launches at SDCC

Dear Friends,

I’m pleased to announce that ANOVOS, famed for their wonderful costume and gear recreations for Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek, asked me to do their first fine art print, which is also my first-ever Battlestar Galactica art from the newest series (2004-2009). Here is just a pencil study I did of Edward James Olmos/Admiral Adama, to give you a sneak peek at a small portion of the art. Most of your favorite characters will be in this piece – a hangar scene – and I hope that you enjoy the work when we unveil it next Wednesday night at San Diego Comic-Con (heretofore referenced as SDCC).

I Am Doing Three SDCC Exclusives this Year:

As always, I’m in Booth #4500, which is an end cap booth facing the lobby between the two F Doors. We are in that first row that runs parallel with the lobby. Joining us this year is Blackwatch Comics, which is ABC’s General Hospital actor and amazing writer Michael Easton (writer, “The Green Woman” for DC/Vertigo) and artist Christopher Shy of Studio Ronin fame. Their SOUL STEALER: The Collector’s Edition is launching at the show – an award-winning goth fantasy trilogy in a gorgeous Taschen-style book. Be sure to check them out. They are also offering sneak peeks at a cool historical fiction novel called “The North End of the World” about one of my favorite photographers, Edward S. Curtis, who documented all of the Native American Indians’ customs and images in photography.

I will have a new limited edition Sketchbook of my pencil illustration art for sale, limited to 250 copies, signed by me. I started this tradition last year and sold out, so I realized this was a worthwhile thing to do and affordable for the fans at just $10 per book.

My first-ever father-son collaboration on a Kaiju (Japanese Monster) toy for Max Toy Company will preview at SDCC (just the art, not the finished pieces) for founder Mark Nagata, a rock star in his own right when it comes to toys.

I will be joining the panel for HEAVY METAL on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in Room #8. As you may have read in my autobiography, my very first published piece of work in my career was a HEAVY METAL cover, so naturally, I want to help them celebrate their 35th anniversary. This is my 30th anniversary in the business this year.

My Captain America art will be in the MARVEL Comics Pop-Up book launching at SDCC.

I will be happy to sign my Crimson Empire and Darth Maul Dark Horse Comics covers for anyone who would like an autograph. Autographs are ALWAYS FREE. I will be doing a signing in their booth, so check out their website for the dates/times.

Okay, I think that’s everything for now. If you’re a blogger, reporter or journalist wanting to connect with me at the show, please set up your schedule with my PR firm WriteBrain Media – denise@writebrainmedia.com or call 630.845.4694. If you haven’t already, please “Like” my Facebook Fan Page – I’m very active on there – it’s http://Facebook.com/DaveDormanFanPage. Unfortunately, I’m over my limit for people I can friend on my personal page, so I flit back and forth between the two pages these days.

Thanks for reading,

Dave.

Dave Dorman’s New Star Wars Celebration VI Art: ATST’s and EWOKS! Your Questions Answered!

Dear Friends,

After StarWars.com posted my new art for the Star Wars Celebration VI Limited Edition fine art print, “Breaking Ground: Imperial Base, Moon of Endor,” many of you had praise and an equal number of you had questions for me, so this blog is addressing your questions about the art. I did this piece to incorporate the elements that I enjoy – the ATST’s, the Ewoks, the Biker Scouts, who are the hot rodders of the Imperial Guard – in a scene that has never been, but nonetheless plays out in my own theater of the mind. Note: Please be sure to check out my other artist friends producing prints who are also listed the Celebration VI Gallery at StarWars.com.

Star Wars Celebration VI Art by Dave Dorman, Unfinished.

Before moving ahead, I just wanted to clarify that the image I’m showing you here is unfinished. I still have more work to do – a few added elements and tonal changes and color corrections. I will post the actual final version after I return from San Diego Comic-Con.

#1. Why is Darth Vader surrounded by Imperial Guards? First off, this was a compositional decision. I needed to draw your eye’s attention to Vader, and the bold red of the Imperial Guards against the cool earth tones of the rest of the piece ensures that he commands your attention. If he were just sandwiched among Storm Troopers, you wouldn’t readily notice Vader. Secondly, Vader is overseeing the Emperor’s construction of the second Death Star, so the Imperial Guards are ensuring and reporting back that nothing is amiss on the Moon of Endor.

#2. What’s with the ATST’s? The Moon of Endor is a forested planet, so naturally, deforesting needed to be part of the construction for the Base Camp. In my mind’s eye, the ATST’s made perfect sense as the laborers in this scenario, due to their strength and adaptability. After all, the “AT” in ATST does stand for “All Terrain,” so I replaced their heavy gun array with claws.

#3. Why the Ewoks? Over the years, I’ve had literally hundreds of fans request that I paint Ewoks, so this piece is my tip of the hat to those fans. Obviously the Ewoks are resisting the intrusion from the Empire, so they are creating chaos and getting arrested in this scene.

#3. What is the cost of the print? Like many of you, I have been hit hard by this horrendous economy, so rather than the typical $100 cost for my previous Celebration limited edition prints, this year I have lowered the cost to $80. I wanted to ensure that you have money to spend on other items at SWCVI as well. I’m a fan, too, and I know I would like it if my dollar stretched further.

#4. How can I pre-order this print? Lucasfilm has changed their contract, so please watch for me to post pre-order information on this blog and my Facebook Fan Page, which is http://facebook.com/DaveDormanFanPage. At this time I’m not prepared to take pre-orders, so please do not email now. However, after I return from San Diego around July 20^th, I will make a posting of all of the information needed to preorder this print. As stated previously, the edition is limited to 250 copies, so those who have purchased prints from me before and would like a matching number, I will also be able to take that information when ordering begins.

I will be posting a separate blog about my San Diego Comic-Con news, probably tomorrow, so stay tuned. I apologize for the radio silence, but I’ve been slammed with deadlines. I’ve been posting the work I’m doing on my Facebook Fan Page, so you’re probably aware that I just did a Pathfinder cover for Dynamic Forces and I’m doing the Darth Maul covers for Dark Horse Comics. Probably the biggest surprise is my first-ever limited edition Battlestar Galactica (2004 series) fine art print that we’ll be unveiling at San Diego Comic-Con with ANOVOS. I also have a Kaiju Japanese Monster design to unveil there – my first-ever collaboration with my son Jack for Max Toy Company and Mark Nagata. It’s been a busy but fun and creatively rewarding summer so far!

I have added a lot of public appearances to my schedule, so I will go over those in my next blog as well. For those of you near Northern Illinois, I will be appearing at Comic Book Mania – a small but growing convention at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Illinois this coming Saturday, July 7^th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Joining me will be my artist friends Doug Klauba and Cory Carani, among many other talents appearing there.