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 

 

Dave Dorman #SWCVI Pre-Orders Counter Is Now Officially Open for Business!

Hi Everyone!

The Pre-Orders Counter is Open for Business! I thank each of you for your interest in pre-ordering my new Star Wars Celebration VI Print titled Breaking Ground: Imperial Base, Moon of Endor. Here is how the finished art looks:

Final Art: Dave Dorman’s Star Wars Celebration VI Fine Art Limited Edition Lithograph

This print features a look at the Imperial Base construction site on the Moon of Endor, which is seen as a staging point for the Emperor’s mightiest weapon: The Second Death Star. We see Lord Vader himself supervising construction with a keen eye, ready to report back personally to the Emperor himself.

I had a great deal of fun working on this piece. Once again, I tried capturing a scene not filmed, but intricately tied into the storyline of the film. In this case, it was a “missing scene” from Star Wars: Episode 6 Return of the Jedi. This piece features some of my favorite troopers–the Scouts–and for those fans who have asked me hundreds of times over the years, have I ever painted Ewoks?…well, here you go!

Here are details for you:

Pre-Order Rules: Only those attending and picking up the prints in person at Star Wars Celebration VI can place an order…or: If you can arrange for someone else to pick up your order, that is fine, but you must contact me at dormanart@yahoo.com and give me their name.

Price: $80. Here’s my reasoning: My previous Celebration prints have been priced at $100, but I have lowered this year’s print price to $80 to reflect the current economy. I felt uncomfortable pricing the print as high as previous editions, knowing that finances are limited for the great majority of fans and collectors, myself included.

Paper: The lithograph is printed on an archival paper, of the same quality as previous years

Dimensions: Widescreen style, 20” x 36”

Quantity: It is limited to 250 copies

Autograph: Each limited edition lithograph is signed and numbered by me, Dave Dorman

Specifying Your Print Number: If you would like a specific number, please make a note of that on the Paypal order form so that Denise can track it in her spread sheet. I will do my best to deliver the number you ask for, but it will be a first come, first serve situation. You may wish to submit an alternate number in the event that your preferred number is already taken.

Remarques: Due to contractual reasons, I cannot add a remarque to your pre-paid drawing prior to the show. All remarques must be done at the show, in person. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at dormanart@yahoo.com

ORDER YOUR PRINT HERE & NOW!: Go to  http://www.davedorman.com/swc6print.shtml to place your order directly from me thru’ PayPal. You will find the ordering button as you scroll down that page.

On-Site Sales at SWCVI: If you prefer, you can purchase your print from me at the show. These prints have always sold out, so getting in your pre-order is a prudent decision.

Where to Find Me: I will be at Booth #939 in the regular section of the show, not in the ACME Artists Section. My booth information will also be included as a friendly reminder in the confirmation email you receive from me for your pre-order.

As always, I thank each of you for your interest in my work and for supporting my career. I look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

Dave.

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.

A Special Thanks to THE DAVE DORMAN EXPERIENCE Winners

Dear Friends,

Despite the frustrating start to my C2E2 Saturday (my car died) I finally got to McCormick Place by 2 p.m., and was only on the floor for about 30 minutes before I had to turn around and connect #TheDaveDormanExperience winners with the limo we arranged to transport them to and from my private residence. My apologies to any fans I missed meeting on Saturday.

Here is an image (courtesy of my caterer Julie Feece) of the winners: Valentin Perales of Houston, TX, Mike Bawden of Bettendorf, IA, me, the driver from H & M Limo, Scott Toth of Clinton Township, MI and Christian Bawden, a student at the Cleveland Art Institute. We were missing winner Dennis Rosado from San Francisco who missed his flight, so I will make it up to him at another date convenient to him.

Here’s a photo of the wonderful meal we shared together in my dining room:

Here’s Valentin watching my live painting demo:

At the end of the night, everyone got an Artist’s Proof of their favorite Star Wars litho and the chance to win the pencil preliminary of the Boba Fett painting I did, plus the actual painting, which I did in acrylic to get it done in time. The prelim winner was Valentin Perales of Texas, and the painting winner was Scott Toth of Michigan! Congrats to both!

We had such a good time, we plan to do this again, so if you have any interest, keep an eye on my blog for details. We could easily do another private event during Wizard World in August of this year.

I want to point out to everyone that my longtime friend and colleague, Marvel/DC comic book and videogame artist Dave DeVries, creator of The Monster Engine was featured on national morning news show CBS This Morning today. Here’s the link to see the feature: http://cbsn.ws/JcGIfI. Kudos to them and producer Andy Merlis (he’s @BrooklynARM on Twitter) for not only producing such a wonderful piece, but for having the bravery to cover “geek” material we don’t typically see on network news. Kudos also to my wife who worked hard to help line produce this piece. If you’re in New York City any time from May 3 – May 31, be sure to check out Dave DeVries’ one-man gallery The Monster Engine show at Sacred Gallery. Here’s the promo for that:

My own one-man gallery show, Pi ala Mode will run through April 29th at Chicago’s Rotofugi Gallery (Lincoln & Diversey Avenues in Chicago). As always, I thank you for reading, and I hope you’re having a great day.

Dave.

A Toy Design First: Dave Dorman and Son Collaborating with Max Toy Company on Monster Toy Design

San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL– April 11, 2012—Max Toy Company CEO Mark Nagata is pleased to announce his first-ever collaboration with Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning artist Dave Dorman, and Dave Dorman’s seven-year-old son Jack Dorman. This also marks the first time Max Toy Co. has collaborated with a father-and-son team, but according to Nagata, “Dave’s son Jack has already exhibited some uncanny art chops, so this unique team will make for a way cool monster design. Add Dave’s passion for Japanese monsters and his design sense to the mix, and I know this toy will be a best seller.” Nagata, who named his own company after his own son, understands the power of the father-son creative connection.

Dorman, no stranger to toy design, worked with Hasbro for seven years creating G.I. Joe character designs, and also designed the six best-selling Alien: Resurrection action figures toy line for Kenner. Both lines can be seen in Dorman’s autobiography, Rolling Thunder: The Art of Dave Dorman (IDW Publishing/Desperado Publishing).

Said Dorman, “I am honored to be working with Mark. I’ve been a fan of his toys for a long time and attended his Toy Karma exhibit at Rotofugi here in Chicago. I am equally excited to be working with my son Jack on this project, whose early passion for Domos has evolved into a fascination with Kaiju, in no small part thanks to Max Toy Company’s wonderful Japanese monster toys. This will be one of the most fun and memorable projects I’ve had the good fortune to do.”

Toy progress and teasers will be announced on http://MaxToyCo.com, and Nagata will show teasers during San Diego Comic-Con from the Rotofugi and Dragatomi booths. For more information, please visit http://maxtoyco.com or http://davedorman.com.

About Dave Dorman  

A legendary, beloved figure in the comic book industry often characterized as “one of the nicest guys in comics,” Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning artist Dave Dorman was voted the #1 Star Wars Artist of All Time by the fans ; George Lucas owns more than 90 of Dave Dorman’s original oil paintings. Dorman has created art for every major publisher and licensed character within the worlds of science fiction, fantasy and horror, including but not limited to Batman, Conan the Barbarian, Planet of the Apes, King Kong, Spiderman, Buckaroo Banzai, Captain America, G.I. Joe, Green Hornet, Green Lantern, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Lord of the Rings, Alien, Predator, Alien v. Predator, World of Warcraft, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, and many more.

Dorman has been a featured guest many times at San Diego Comic-Con where he exhibits yearly in Booth #4500 and he is exhibiting this weekend at C2E2 Table I-10. Dorman is also an exhibitor at Star Wars Celebration shows. Dorman’s own I.P., Steampunk motorcycle western The Wasted Lands, is relaunching in 2012. Dorman’s biography and career retrospective book, ROLLING THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN (IDW/Desperado Publishing) is available on Amazon. Dorman’s pencil illustration and traditional oil painting tutorials are available through Hollywood’s The Gnomon Workshop.

Dave Dorman Social Media:

• Website: http://www.davedorman.com/ and http://planetillogica.com/davedorman
• Blog: http://davedorman.wordpress.com
• Twitter: @DaveDorman
• Linkedin.com/in/thedavedorman
• Facebook.com/DaveDormanArtist

About Max Toy Company / Mark Nagata

Over the years Mark Nagata has collected thousands of toys and a fair amount of titles. The man behind San Francisco-based Max Toy Company is widely known as: Toy Collector.  Illustrator.  Magazine Founder/Publisher.  Toy Designer.  Artist.  Author.  Husband. Father.  But the one description that might fit best is an unofficial one – Kaiju Toy and Art Ambassador. 

In the Japanese-inspired art and toy area, as well as throughout the larger toy collecting community, Mark is welcomed and recognized for his personal passion and commitment to supporting artists all around the world and the unique works they create. Mark’s devotion to presenting collectors with a selection of original figures inspired by classic Japanese toys from the 1960s and ’70s as well as new versions of licensed Japanese characters is at the heart of Max Toy Company.  Named for his son, Max Toys specializes in custom and limited editions of “kaiju” (Japanese monsters) toys and artwork.

Through Max Toys, Mark, who trained at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and honed his skills as a freelance commercial illustrator, has taken great pains to widen the reach of his two passions – toys and art.  He has helped curate successful art shows throughout the U.S., as well as in Japan and Spain. His artwork and toy designs have been included in numerous books and magazines and his hand-painted custom toys have even been sold through prestigious art houses Philip De Pury and Christie’s in New York and London. The San Francisco resident and his art can also be spotted in the first volume of the “ToyPunks” DVD and the “Toys R Us” DVD, while the video for Owl City’s number one song “Fireflies” features Mark’s popular Kaiju Eyezon character.  In 2010, Mark served as guest lecturer on kaiju and the toy-making process at the Morikami Museum in Florida. While young readers still enjoy his colorful style that graces more than 40 cover paintings for R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps book series – Give Yourself Goosebumps, adults are now snatching up Mark’s toy and artwork with a collector’s zeal, helping to spread the kaiju toy movement worldwide.

Mark Nagata’s Social Media:

• Website:  http://maxtoyco.com
• Toy Karma Blog: http://toykarma.blogspot.com/
• Twitter: @maxtoyco

MEDIA CONTACT:

Denise Dorman/WriteBrain Media

P: 630.845.4695 | M: 630.215.5623 | E: denise@writebrainmedia.com| Tw: @WriteBrainMedia

-30-

New Dave Dorman Art: See it Live Tonight at Rotofugi!

Dear Friends,

I’m finishing up the last painting for my show, opening tonight at Rotofugi. It is FREE to come to the gallery and see my art and join me at tonight’s opening. For those of you with GPS, they’re located at 2780 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614. For those who can only make it into town for C2E2, please join me next Friday, April 13th for a special C2E2 Weekend showing at 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Here’s one of a few new pieces of art I’m exhibiting tonight at the show – this piece I’ve called AHAB’s WIFE and it’s oil and acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 36″. Let me know what you think of it.

AHAB's WIFE by Dave Dorman 2012

Here’s a sneak peek of the online catalog from Rotofugi with sizes, pricing and availability of each painting: http://www.rotofugi.com/gallery/exhibits/2012-dorman/

Here is a link to my Pi a la Mode Art Catalog, signed by me: http://davedorman.com/picatalogue.shtml

I hope you can join us tonight…or next Friday night during C2E2. I am dedicating this show to my wife, Denise Dorman, whose support, promotion and enthusiasm for my work is unyielding. As always, I thank all of you for your support and interest in my art.

Dave.

New Dave Dorman Art Catalog for Sale for ROTOFUGI Show

Dear Friends,

As you know, my first-ever one-man gallery show “PI ala Mode” is opening at ROTOFUGI in Chicago, running April 6-29, 2012. This show will feature quite a few new and previously unseen canvas paintings with theme of “Octopi,” because, as you know from previous posts, I’m a believer that you can never have too many tentacles! In addition to this art, there will be a selection of other art and illustrations from my private collection, both published and unpublished. This show will be running through the weekend of C2E2 in Chicago, so if you are coming to town for the convention, make a plan to head downtown and check out Rotofugi! I plan to be at the gallery in person on Friday around 7:30 p.m., following my horror panel at C2E2.

I have assembled the Dave Dorman Gallery Show Art Catalogue, which I am pre-selling online:

• Each piece of art in in my one-man show is included, with information about each piece. This is  full-color book with the card stock full-color cover premieres my newest art and some pieces never before published
• Size is 5.5″x 8.5″
• Limited to 250 copies, signed and numbered
• Price =  $20 with $5 postage via Paypal ONLY
• This is a great companion piece to my career retrospective book Rolling Thunder: The Art of Dave Dorman
• Order it exclusively here: www.davedorman.com/picatalogue.shtml. 

Added Incentive: 

Extra Bonus! This Weekend ONLY: All orders made by Monday April 2nd will receive a copy of both, the show poster and postcard, also signed by me.

So…order yourself a slice of Pi ala Mode and treat yourself to one of life’s little indulgences!

30th Anniversary Special Edition Giclees Update: I had a slight problem with getting the embossing stamp, which delayed the prints slightly. This has been rectified and we will get back on track with shipping out the overdue prints next week. For those waiting to hear what the third print will be, I will announce that next week as well.

Thanks again my friends and fans for your continued support of my work!

Dave. 

(I’m @DaveDorman on Twitter)

3 Final Seats Just Available for THE DAVE DORMAN EXPERIENCE

Dear Friends,

Here are the eBay links to the final 3 seats in my “Lucky Six” campaign for THE DAVE DORMAN EXPERIENCE:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220988057174?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649http://www.ebay.com/itm/220988059451?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220988060014?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

This is the event I am hosting for the first time in my private residence on April 14th from 4-10 p.m. during the weekend of C2E2. We will pick up 6 lucky winners on April 14th by limo, deliver them to my private residence and studio, hang out, see my studio, dine, see my live demo, and one of six will go home with the painting I create that night. Everyone will go home with an artist’s proof print of my work (a $100 minimum value on its own).

Please bid on THE DAVE DORMAN EXPERIENCE quickly – there are just six days left to win it! If you don’t want to take a chance on competing, there’s a “Buy It Now” option to guarantee to your seat.

In other news, I did make the Spectrum 19 annual, so I am very happy to share this. I hope those of you in town for C2E2 will make my one-man gallery show in Chicago at ROTOFUGI that runs from April 6 – April 29th.

My next post will announce the artwork for my 30th Anniversary limited edition giclees, so be sure to watch for that.

See some of you on April 14th!

Dave.