Dave Dorman Convention Season Schedule & Live Painting on Facebook Live!

Hi Everybody,

I hope to see many of you this weekend at C2E2 in Chicago; I’ll be at Table E-1 in Artists Alley!

Before I forget to mention this, if you’re not already watching HAP & LEONARD on the Sundance Channel (Season 1 is on Netflix), please check it out. My author friend Joe R. Lansdale wrote this really fun, pulpy series of books, all of which I’ve read, and he is executive producer on the show. It’s pure genius in its acting, casting and execution. I hope it never ends. (Joe’s steampunk series is really fun, too. Can you tell I’m his biggest fan?)

If you haven’t heard already, I’ve been doing live paintings on Facebook Live. I plan to expand this to Twitter’s Periscope and YouTube eventually, but here is a link to my most popular one so far, of me painting Darth Maul. According to Facebook, it has gotten 56,633 cumulative views so far! The visitor stamp you see at the bottom is how many folks were watching it when I actually did it live. I am honored by your time and attention. (If only I had 50 cents for everyone who watched it!)

DAVE DORMAN CONVENTION SEASON SCHEDULE

I wanted to let you know my schedule, booked thus far, for what I affectionately call “Convention Season.” I will add updates as more shows get added, but here’s what I know now:

April 21 – 23: C2E2, Chicago, IL — Artists Alley, Table E-1

April 27 – April 30:  Calgary Expo, Calgary, Canada — Table # TBD

************************************************************************

May 19 – 21:  MotorCity Con, Novi, MI — Table # TBD

May 26 – 28: Alamo City Con, San Antonio, TX — Table # TBD

************************************************************************

June 3, 2017: Star Wars Day, Joliet, IL (World’s Largest Star Wars Public Library Show)

June 16 – 18:  HeroesCon, Charlotte, NC — Table # TBD

************************************************************************

July 19 – 23: San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego, CA–Booth #4500 (End cap booth facing the lobby, first row in, between Doors F & G, closer to Door F.)

************************************************************************

October 5 – 8: New York Comic Con, NYC, NY — Table # TBD

October 18 – 22: IlluxCon, Reading, PA — Table # TBD

************************************************************************

SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDBACK: With social media, I’m always listening. Sometimes the feedback is rather unpleasant, like this exchange below. That being said, if I’ve ever come across as unpleasant to any of you, I want to take this opportunity to apologize to you, as I did to these gentlemen. From what I gather from their latter remarks, these two gents haven’t ever actually personally interacted with me, but if this is the current zeitgeist on me, I’d like to nip it in the bud. Shows are exhausting and physically taxing, and you may see my occasional grimace, especially with my current sciatica and neuropathy issues, but I don’t ever want any of you to feel like I don’t want you to approach me or that I don’t value your friendship, feedback and encounters, because I do. Without your feedback, good or bad, my work doesn’t feel complete. You all help me to “close the loop.”

Some disgruntled observers.

Dave Dorman Reveals Peek at New ALIENS Art and His Fall Schedule

Dear Friends,

Here’s a peek at my new ALIENS art, launching at New York Comic Con in October, my fall appearance schedule–hyperlinked for your convenience–and a brief interview for the folks attending my free Mathnasium of Whitefish Bay, WI event, where I’m appearing on October 2nd to teach art. Without further adieu, here’s the scoop:

September 17-18, 2016 – Panama City Creative Con, Panama City, FL

October 1, 2016 – Discovery World Museum, Milwaukee, WI

October 2, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Mathnasium, Whitefish Bay, Whitefish Bay, WI

October 6 – 9, 2016 – New York Comic Con, Javits Convention Center, NYC

Want to book me at your convention or event? Please contact denise@writebrainmedia.com

ALIENS 30th Anniversary commemorative art work-in-progress painting by Dave Dorman for NYCC 2016 Launch

Rohita Shah Interviews #1 Star Wars Artist Dave Dorman:

RS: Can you share with our readers your connection to Mathnasium Whitefish Bay?

DD: You (owners Kal and Rohita Shah) are like family to us, and our sons have been best friends since kindergarten. In fact, Kal and I coached their football team together, which remains a very happy memory for me. I’d never been to Whitefish Bay until you moved there, and in a perfect world, outside of my home in Florida, I’d be living in Whitefish Bay. I like that it’s a community where you can walk to everything you need, and nearby Milwaukee is a great city with a great art museum.

RS: What will attendees of the Mathnasium Whitefish Bay event on October 2nd, 2016 experience?

DD: I’m going to teach drawing geometric shapes and how they can be easily transformed into your favorite STAR WARS characters. I will be doing two classes–one at 11 a.m. and one at 2 p.m. Additionally, I’ll have my prints for sale–Star Wars, Batman, Alien, you name it– and I’ll sign anything anyone brings for me to autograph. Autographs are always free.

RS: What projects have you done lately or are working on now?

DD: I’m working on STAR WARS comic book covers for Marvel Comics, superhero trading cards for Upper Deck, and a commemorative ALIENS print for the 30th anniversary of the 2nd  ALIENS film. This piece premieres at New York Comic Con on October 6th. I’m also taking in requests and doing a lot of commissioned art for fans worldwide.

RS: What advice would you give young artists?

DD: The main advice I’d give them is to draw as much as they can. The more you draw, the better you get. Draw everything, not just what you like to draw. A good artist should be able to easily draw whatever they’re being asked to draw by an art director or client.

RS: Do you recommend any art schools?

DD: That’s such a personal choice, depending on your particular focus. I’d spend time evaluating each program to find the one best fitting your direction. I had a false start at St. Mary’s College in Maryland, where I majored in art and they had me doing these large, contemporary art gallery pieces, which was not at all my interest. I switched schools my sophomore year and attended the Joe Kubert School in Dover, NJ. That school taught me comic book illustration, which is what I thought I wanted, but then I realized, I was geared more towards telling a whole story with one single illustration, which led me to doing cover art. It was only the Kubert School’s second year in operation, so Joe Kubert advised me to graduate early (he said they’d already taught me everything they could) and he encouraged me to go on my own to learn color illustration. My color work is self taught, but it all boils down to the amount time I spent in front of my drawing board. It took me until I was 25 to sell my first piece, the Heavy Metal magazine cover I did. 

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens — New Artwork By Dave Dorman

#MTFBWY!!!

The excitement runs high in our house as my son Jack and I get ready to go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens tonight! Oh…did you not know there was a new Star Wars movie coming out this weekend? It’s true!!! And we hope the force is strong with J.J. Abrams and company. Tomorrow, Friday the 18th, I will be doing a video review for my son’s YouTube channel. It will be fun, and I PROMISE that it will be spoiler free!

Here is a link to a recent interview I did with Jamie and Justin at  Geek Dad regarding my Star Wars art career: http://geekdad.com/2015/12/gbbp-42-dave-dorman/

Quite a number of you have asked if I was going to be painting any art for the new Star Wars film or maybe even doing a fan movie poster piece. While I have not produced any licensed work for the film, obviously the imagery screams for me to do something. I would love to do a movie poster style piece but I felt I could not do the film justice until I had seen it. So now that I am about to experience it tonight, don’t be surprised if you see a poster-type piece done in the near future.

Rey and BB8 Pencil Prelim Star Wars Art by Dave Dorman

However, I have been trying to work on two pieces these past couple of months. Unfortunately, I could not find time to finish them in time for the movie premiere. I will continue working on these over the holidays and will share them with you when they are complete. The first is a portrait of Rey and BB8 on the planet of Jakku. The second piece I am having fun with. It is taken from the very famous line in the first movie (the fourth, for you completists) Star Wars: A New Hope. The title of this piece: “Is This the Droid We are Looking For?” Hope you like the sneak peek of this fun, upcoming art:

New Dave Dorman STAR WARS Artwork Inspired By THE FORCE AWAKENS

I hope that you all enjoy The Force Awakens and have a great Holiday season! Follow me on social media here:

https://facebook.com/davedormansstudio

and

https://facebook.com/davedormanswastedlands

and

https://twitter.com/davedorman

#MTFBWY,

Dave

Dave Dorman’s Lantern City Variant Cover Named One of the Top Covers for May 2015

Dear Friends,

Denise found that Behind the Panels had mentioned my Lantern City variant cover for Boom! Studios as one of the Top Covers for May 2015, so I am sharing that with you here. If you haven’t heard of Lantern City, do check it out – it’s Bruce Boxleitner’s very cool, gorgeously rendered world – a Steampunk action adventure tale. Here is the variant cover art for you. Let me know what you think of it.

Lantern City Cover Art

My Berwyn Appearance Tomorrow: REEL ART in Berwyn, IL

Dear Friends,

If you’re in Chicagoland and you’re a #comics fan, join us tomorrow at REEL ART in Berwyn, IL–one of the most gi-normous emporiums of comics and pop culture collectibles you’ll find (where Denise Dorman bought me my “Big Wednesday” film poster last year, as seen below):

One of my favorite surf movies…BIG WEDNESDAY

 

Please join me and a few of my comic book artist and illustrator friends tomorrow from 1 – 3 p.m. – I’ll have original art, prints and autographs are ALWAYS free:

Chicago #Comics Fans: Come on by tomorrow!

Dave Dorman Original Art Sale

Dear Friends,

I have a number of pencil pieces of art I am selling this time around. I did these pieces for myself to do more pencil work and practice texture and  detailing. These are all listed on this webpage with the sizes and prices. There is a Paypal button for each as well. These are one-of-a-kind pieces of art, so if you see something you like, don’t hesitate too long– it may be gone when you return. Thanks so much for looking and for your continued support of my work. Thank you also, to those of you who have sent your condolences on the passing of my wife Denise’s dad.

Link to Art Sale: http://www.davedorman.com/originalartsale020815.shtml

Dr. Who original pencil illustration by Dave Dorman, 11″ x 17″

Luke Skywalker Original Pencil Illustration by Dave Dorman

Willis G.I. Joe Cover: Original Pencil Illustration by Dave Dorman

The Baroness G.I. Joe Cover, original pencil illustration by Dave Dorman

ScarJo original pencil illustration by Dave Dorman

Dave Dorman 2015 Schedule and More

Dear Friends,

My Star Wars Marvel Comics variant cover for M&M Comics came in the mail today, so here’s my first look at it:

My New Star Wars variant cover for Marvel/retailer M&M Comics

If you’re not one of the 5k people already following me on my personal Facebook page, you might enjoy seeing my new “Art Director” as Denise calls her – our newest addition to the family, Jonesy the Cat. Yes, she is a Sphinx/Hairless Cat, to accommodate the allergy sufferers in our household (not me).

Me and my new “Art Director.”

And speaking of science fiction-related stuff, I’ve been chatting with Facebook friends about how excited I am to see Philip K. Dick’s “The Man in the High Castle,” which is available online now, I believe, for free. It imagines what life would be like if the Nazis had been successful in overtaking the U.S. After I read it, I was unhappy with the book cover because it didn’t really represent what the book was about, so back in the 1980s, I painted this one:

My 1980s painting inspired by Philip K. Dick

Dave Dorman Official 2015 Appearance Schedule (So Far):

January 29 – 31 = Salt Lake City Con

February 21 – 22 = I’m teaching a class at the International School of  Comics in Chicago

February 27 – March 1st = Pensacon, Pensacola, FL

March 21 – 22 = SC Comic-Con in Greenville, SC

April 16 – 19 = Big Wow Con in San Jose, CA

April 24 – 26 = C2E2 in Chicago, IL

May 22 – 24 = Spectrum Fantastic Art Live in Kansas City, KS

July 9 – 12 = San Diego Comic-Con International

September 11 – 13 = Alamo City Con, San Antonio, TX

Here’s where you can find me on social media:

http://twitter.com/davedorman

http://facebook.com/davedormansstudio

http://facebook.com/davedormanwastedlands

http://linkedin/com/in/thedavedorman

Also, I should mention that Denise and I are mentioned (with some of my art) in the new issue of Imagine F/X magazine for January 2015, if you happen to pick it up. And here is a link to pick up my WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS, published by Magnetic Press, if you are interested in dystopian action adventure in another world similar to ours – it’s my creator-owned I.P. and my favorite thing I’ve ever worked on, which is saying a lot!

As always, thanks for reading!

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

Read Any Good BLOGS Lately?!?

Dear Friends,

 

Me at Discovery Museum Last Year Lecturing On How I Create STAR WARS Art

This next weekend on Saturday October 4th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., I will be appearing at the Discovery World Museum in Milwaukee for STAR WARS DAY. Last year it was an amazing event supported by the 501st Legion of Star Wars Cosplayers (of which Denise and I are honorary members) and I know it will be again this year. I will be doing two presentations, explaining my approach to creating my STAR WARS art in the theater there, and I hope you can attend one if you’re there. (No, Denise will not be with me this year – she has client obligations in Northwest Florida).

I want to thank all of you out there who stepped up and supported Denise and me this past week during the whole crazy online controversy. You who respectfully spoke up mean a lot to us both. A lot of good came out of this controversy. It ignited back channel conversations between me and my colleagues, me and Con organizers, and of course, the meaningful viewpoints from you, the fans. If you’re scratching your heads with no idea what I’m referencing, here’s a link to Denise’s interview with Comic Vine journalist Mat Elfring, which ended up on Yahoo! News: 

 

http://bit.ly/DD_on_YahooNews

Only a few writers showed true journalistic integrity and research this past week, and I applaud those who did. Rob Salkowitz of iCv2, Mat Elfring of Comic Vine and Heidi McDonald of The Beat are three that come to mind. I also appreciated the talented Gail Simone’s professionalism in her mea culpa, and her willingness to revisit the real story. In the end, I worry for the future of social media, the future of  journalism, and I worry for the future of many readers out there who seem blinded to critical thinking. As our close friend, sometimes business partner and fellow artist Charlie Athanas said, “Oh, hive mind. We should all watch Forbidden Planet and learn that this collective id thing can be really dangerous. Then shut down our computers and go have a drink with some friends.” Well said, Charlie. Denise plans to share the best ideas and suggestions she’s received about how we as creatives and exhibitors can improve sales and our Con experiences from the many who commented on her blog, ComicBookWife.com, so watch for that.

On Wednesday Denise and I will be guests of Chicago comics advocate and podcaster Wendi Freeman and her podcast Double Page Spread. I will post a link here when it’s up, but here’s a link to Wendi’s past podcasts – check them out: 

http://bitly.com/DoublePageSpreadPodcast

Many of you know I’m a big #MMO #SWTOR gamer. I did a really fun Ootinicast Twitch TV interview this week about my Star Wars: The Old Republic gaming and my STAR WARS art with co-host Ander (aka Redna), so here is a link to that interview for you:

 

http://bitly.com/DD_on_TwitchTV

I hope to see everyone soon. As always, thanks for reading,

Dave.

Dave Dorman’s WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS Limited Edition Package

Well, it’s finally here!! I have received my shipment of Dave Dorman’s WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS! The book will be in stores either this week or next week (Sept. 10th or 17th). But because I am friends with the publisher (LOL) I have gotten some books pre-release. I know a lot of you have been asking where to get the books. I would say support your local comics shop or brick-and-mortar book store. However, if you would like a special deal direct from the creator, Dave Dorman (that would be me!) then hold onto your hat!

The Covers and the Limited Edition Print in the WLO Ltd. Edition Package

Inside the WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS Ltd. Edition Offer

I am offering you this special deal for a LIMITED TIME. Order directly from me today and you will get this Limited Edition Special Package:

The WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS Book and extras!

#1. First off is the WASTEDLANDS OMNIBUS. This 152-page hardcover graphic novels contains the beginnings of my WASTED LANDS world starting with a fully recolored, re-lettered, and artistically revised version of “RAIL: Broken Things”. This is the first in my GN series RAIL. Following that are additional comics stories and short Illustrated text pieces giving you additional adventures of the main characters introduced in RAIL. All wrapped up in a gorgeous hardbound book with a cutout card stock book cover.

#2. As a special bonus with your order, you will receive a copy of the Artist’s Preview Edition of RED TIDE, a new miniseries coming this winter. This is the first 12 pages rendered in pencil by me and written by my writing collaborator, Mike Bawden. Limited to 250 copies, this was only available at the San Diego ComicCon 2014.

#3. The last bonus is a signed Limited Edition Art print of the full cover (that is underneath the cutout on the hardback). This print is only available through direct orders through the publisher, or directly through me.

But WAIT!!! There’s more!!…

#4. Signed & remarqued! When you order directly thru me I will SIGN your books personally (and add a personalization in the book if you like). AND… I will add a DRAWING of one of my WASTED LANDS characters in the book as well!

You will never get a better deal than this one today. The hardback OMNIBUS, the Limited Edition comic, the print, AND a one-of-a-kind, personalized drawing!

Price:  $50 with shipping free in the US. (Additional shipping of $20 for orders outside the US.) If you would like to order multiple copies that is fine, just do that during the Paypal checkout.

TO order: Go to this page on my website http://www.davedorman.com/WLOsale.shtml  and use the Paypal buttons there to place your order.

Thanks so much for your support of this very personal project! There is much more to come!!

Dave

Happy Independence Day! Updates on Dave Dorman Appearances and our Heavy Metal Revisited Documentary

Hi Everybody,

Happy Independence Day!

For those of you in the U.S. who are following me, I hope you’re having a Happy Independence Day! We are celebrating with friends tonight and looking forward to taking a few hours off (yes, we solopreneurs are both working today). I will always believe the United States is exceptional and the greatest nation on this planet, despite many citizens and politicians’ very best attempts to collapse our system from within. I am hoping that those who reproduce and vote every four years are awakened, paying very close attention, and will vote in future politicians who genuinely value our U.S. Constitution, our freedom, and our liberty. I also encourage you to do whatever you can to help our Wounded Warriors and our military families, who suffer from the uninformed, unwitting whims of a highly military unfriendly government. What has gone down in the Veterans’ Administration over the past several decades is unforgivable and that guilt is on both sides of the political aisle. I mourn for every single military family who has lost a loved one due to the greed and stupidity of those in charge at the V.A.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, here is a link to my interview on Chicago’s WTTW last week regarding the new Lucasfilm Museum of Narrative Arts that Chicago was awarded by George Lucas. http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/tags/dave-dorman (just click on the photo of my art).

We are looking forward to the new museum and I personally am eager to see George’s massive collection of my favorite illustrators from the 20th Century. Somehow, people think Norman Rockwell is the only one George collects. I guess they are just unaware that there are other illustration giants out there.

HEAVY METAL REVISITED Documentary News

In other news, our HEAVY METAL REVISITED documentary with Evan Beloff and Frederic Bohbot of Bunbury Films is in production, and I hope to grab some footage in Austin, TX next week of Harry Knowles and Bernie Wrightson (and if we get very lucky, Robert Rodriguez). Here’s a an older video trailer to give you a feel for what we’ve been working on over the past several years. http://vimeo.com/11669127

Last Friday Mark Voss and our production team did a really fun interview with Sammy Hagar, who co-wrote the theme song HEAVY METAL with Jim Peterik, and Sammy had some surprising things to say.

Taping Sammy Hagar Singing “Heavy Metal” last Friday night, Joliet, IL

Photography by Mark Voss

Sammy with his “Sammy’s Beach Bar Red Head Macadamia Nut Flavored Rum”

As I mentioned, next week I will be in Austin, TX for Capital City Con, so I look forward to seeing my Texas friends there. I will have plenty of art for everyone to buy, but I tend to sell out quickly, so please be sure to hit me up on Day 1.

In the next few months you’ll see some changes to my website as I transfer over to a new fan management system with StageBloc.com – they have a terrific all-in-one solution of eCommerce, blogging, social media outreach and fan club management that will better serve you, my fans, and help me make more informed decisions on which products you want to see more of, and where you’d like me to appear for shows.

For those of you who are interested in what goes on behind the scenes here at the Dorman household, check out my wife’s blog at http://comicbookwife.com

Please connect with me & share me out on social media as well:

http://facebook.com/davedormansstudio

http://facebook.com/davedormanwastedlands

http://twitter.com/davedorman

http://linkedin.com/in/thedavedorman

Thanks for reading, everybody,

Dave