The Most Personal Dave Dorman Project I’ve Ever Done: Project 52
Dear Friends,
Today is my 52nd birthday and today I’m giving myself a gift: giving back. I’m announcing my personal project, called PROJECT 52, which gives back to the brave military men and women and their families who sacrifice on behalf of our great country, the place I call home and still believe in my heart of hearts is that shining city on the hill.
I am painting 52 military paintings to be published in a fine art book, with a portion of the proceeds from the book going to USACares.org. I am also planning a Project 52 traveling gallery art show to be held at military bases throughout the U.S. Here are 2 paintings from Project 52, inspired by photos I’ve been collecting of our conflict in the Middle East – photos from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
Depending on the dollars you donate, you will receive one of the following:
VIP Perks
Project 52 Supporter ($5 minimum) |
You or the person of your choice will be listed in the Project 52 fine art book with your donation of $5. |
0 Claimed |
Dedicated Supporter ($25 minimum) |
You may honor the special person or soldier in your life with a two-line dedication in the Project 52 fine art book with your donation of $25. |
0 Claimed |
Bronze Level Donor ($50 minimum) |
You will receive a signed copy of the Project 52 regular retail edition fine art book when you donate $50 to the project. |
1 Claimed |
Silver Level Donor ($100 minimum) |
You will receive a signed, dedicated copy of the Project 52 Limited Edition fine art book with your donation of $100. |
0 Claimed |
Gold Level Donor ($250 minimum) |
You will receive a signed, numbered copy of the Project 52 Limited Edition Lithograph on acid-free, archival paper. This can be personalized if you so choose, as well as a signed copy of the Limited Edition fine art book. |
0 Claimed |
Platinum Level Donor ($1,000 minimum) |
The first 52 people who give at the Platinum level will receive one of the actual Project 52 Paintings once the gallery tour of duty throughout the military bases is completed, plus the fine art limited edition lithograph, autographed and a signed, Limited Edition fine art hardcover book. |
0 Claimed (52 More Available) |
I am humbled at this moment in asking you all reading this for this very huge favor. I’m unaccustomed to asking for money like this. I’m new to crowd funding, but I’m told for all of us artists, it’s the “new normal.” Basically, I’m asking everyone I know to donate at least $5 to fund this project. Even $1 would be helpful. Surely, I have 52,000 fans out there worldwide. Help me spread the word.
The goal is to reach $52,000, which will pay for me to take some time off from full-time commercial work, and to get this special limited edition fine art book published and distributed as well as the lithographs printed. Everyone who donates something receives something in return.
Here is the link to contribute: http://www.indiegogo.com/Project-52
I thank you all for reading, and I hope you join me on this “Team Dave” journey. I will be keeping everyone abreast of my progress on this blog.
I also want to mention that my autograph session at Blick Art Supply in Wheaton, IL is scheduled for Saturday, October 23rd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. I will be there with a supply of ROLLING THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN books – 4.5 lbs. of my career in art and me blabbering on about my weird life. So, I hope you can all come out & keep me company there.
Thanks again for your interest in and support of my work.
Dave, the birthday boy.
This entry was posted on October 1, 2010 at 9:20 pm and is filed under DAVE DORMAN NEWS with tags Art Books, Blick Art Supply, books, crowd funding, crowd sourcing, Dave Dorman, fine art, IL, Indiegogo.com, lithograph, Military Art, military illustrations, military paintings, Project 52, Publishing, social media, USACares.org, Wheaton. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
October 1, 2010 at 9:59 pm
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Natalie , DaveDorman. DaveDorman said: The Most Personal Dave Dorman Project I've Ever Done: Project 52: http://wp.me/pB0UQ-4b […]
October 1, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Thank you for Tweeting this, Natalie.
October 1, 2010 at 10:52 pm
WOW!! Just when I thought you had amazed me as much as was possible!! I’ll be coming in at least at the $50, probably higher…
Thankyou for doing this DAVE!
October 2, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Oly, thank you so much. You’re giving me a very happy birthday weekend. I don’t know if you read my book, but my dad was a Lt. Col. in the USAF, so that had a major influence on the grown up I became. I was just telling a friend on FaceBook that we were so financially challenged, that’s why I ended up being a self taught artist – I couldn’t afford my 2 top choices – Pratt Institute or Ringling School. All’s well that ends well. I’m right where I was meant to be.
October 7, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I’ve breezed through your book but haven’t read the whole thing yet. God truely blessed you with an amazing talent, and I’m blessed to know you!! Eagerly looking forward to this project.
October 2, 2010 at 2:55 am
A wonderful project and I am more than happy to contribute. You certainly are an inspriation Dave and you’ve got me thinking about what I can do for my 51st. (Happy Birthday by the way.)
The Aussie Diggers have been having a tough time of it in Afghanistan and my best wishes go out to them and to all your blokes serving overseas. Let’s hope they can succeed in bringing peace to troubled lands and all come home safe.
Cheers!
October 2, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Thank you, Daniel. I think the point is that with the Internet, we’re all connected and together we can make a difference. My prayers are with everyone fighting in this conflict that they return home safe and that their families are well cared for. If you can get me any images of the Aussie Diggers, I’d like to include them in my paintings. Please let me know.
October 2, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Dave, a very generous offer. A terrible incident that rocked Australians as a nation was the deaths this year of two young combat engineers, Sapper Darren Smith (25) and Sapper Jacob Moerland (21). Killed also was Darren’s explosives detection dog, Herbie. If you could see your way clear to including an image of Darren and Herbie I’m sure the families would appreciate it. Here are some links to news stories and images:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/a-soldiers-dying-plea-to-his-mates-take-care-of-my-family-20100619-ynvi.html
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/two-brisbane-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan-20100608-xrgw.html
October 3, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Thank you so much for this.
October 3, 2010 at 3:06 am
Dave a link to some random photos of aussies in Afghanistan.
http://media.news.com.au/multimedia/2008/09/aussies_in_afghanistan/index.html
I’ll leave you alone now mate, don’t want to wear out my welcome 🙂
October 3, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for these, Daniel. Very helpful!
October 2, 2010 at 7:01 am
Are you planning to have challenge coins for donors? If you don’t know what a challenge coin is… http://custom.nwtmint.com/news_challengecoinhistory.php
October 2, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I will look into this.
October 2, 2010 at 11:33 am
[…] The Most Personal Dave Dorman Project I've Ever Done: Project 52 … I am also planning a Project 52 traveling gallery art show to be held at military bases throughout the U.S. Here are 2 paintings from Project 52, inspired by photos I've been collecting of our conflict in the Middle East – photos from . Basically, I'm asking everyone I know to donate at least $5 to fund this project. Even $1 would be helpful. Surely, I have fans out there worldwide. Help me spread the word. The goal is to reach $52000, which will pay for me to . […]
October 2, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Fantastic project, Dave! The first two paintings already look amazing! As a former serviceman myself (Navy) I get an extra thrill out of this! With 52 images, I see potential for a week by week calendar of sorts with an image each week, that’d be neat. I’m going to try and make it out to Wheaton in a few Saturdays if I am in town (I’m considering heading down to DC for the Jon Stewart Rally to Restore Sanity). Wish you the best on this project, and the second a poor student like me can wrangle together some cash on my credit card, you’ll see a bump from me!
October 3, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Thanks, Keith. I hope to see you in Wheaton. Any help in spreading the news about what I’m doing with your old military mates would be much appreciated.