STAR WARS FANS: Join Me for the World’s Largest Library STAR WARS DAY at the JOLIET PUBLIC LIBRARY This Saturday!

Friends, this is the world’s largest STAR WARS LIBRARY EVENT in Joliet, IL! I’ve done this event since its inception, with a special shout-out & thanks to Jody McQuarters, who initially got me involved. It’s great fun for the whole family, my son Jack loves it, and it offers great photo opps for everyone who loves STAR WARS. As always, autographs are always free, so come see me, get your stuff signed, and if you feel like it, buy some STAR WARS art from me and the other amazing artists you will see at this event–Steve Palenica, James Tampa, Jamie Snell & Mikey Babinski! And check out my friend Cris Macht, who has done an amazing job with his documentaries establishing HOW & WHY STAR WARS matters to the fandom. Authors John Jackson Miller and Keith Ryan Kappel will be with us, too! And let’s not forget, my beloved 501st, the world’s largest COSPLAY organization–of which I’m an honorary member–that is also a fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation. Joining me will be ComicBookWife.com blogger, WriteBrain Media’s very own Denise McDonald Dorman!

Here are the event details for this Saturday in Joliet, Illinois (my fellow Blues Brothers fans will know where Joliet is…😉

Your Jedi Passport to Big STAR WARS fun!

 

Page 2 of the STAR WARS Jedi Passport for Joliet STAR WARS Day!

 

 

 

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

The New Star Wars Poster: I Agree With Blogger Greg Aronowitz Completely

Dear Friends,

First, let me say that I will be attending the midnight showing of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS on Thursday night, and–spoiler alert–if you’d like my immediate, personal impressions of the film, our “videographer” son Jack will be interviewing me immediately afterward and posting my interview to his YouTube Channel. Here is a link to his YouTube Channel:

https://youtube.com/the_surfmonkey

I am a subject matter expert on film–all genres–as well as the STAR WARS universe, so I hope I bring a level of gravitas to the review that will give you information you can use and appreciate.

I found an article online by blogger Greg Aronowitz that expressed my feelings about the STAR WARS movie poster topic far more eloquently and insightfully than I could write it myself. While I cannot judge the movie yet (as I have not seen it)…I can judge what has been offered to the public in its name. I hope I am not let let down by the film the way I have been by the movie poster. Thank you, Greg Aronowitz, for writing this.

http://barnyardfx.blogspot.com/2015/10/you-disappoint-me-disney.html

From Greg Aronowitz’s blog – showcasing the BEAUTIFUL DREW STRUZAN art.

I’m at Denver Comic-Con This Weekend – Come See Me!

Dear Friends,

I am here at Denver Comic-Con this weekend (show ends Monday), so please come see me if you’re in the ‘hood. I’m at the very end of “Aisle I” in Artists Alley. If I’m not there, I’m in the BattleKasters Booth, which is in the “game room.” I did the art for their mobile app game, which is being released this weekend, but I can share it here.

Artwork for BattleKasters mobile app game by Artifact Technologies, based on book series “Legends of Orkney” by Alane Adams

 

And another piece:

 

Also, a dear fan created this for me on Facebook (this is a photo taken of me this weekend at Denver Comic-Con) and I promised him I would post it, so here it is:

Created by a Fan

Happy Father’s Day & Other Dave Dorman News

Dear Friends,

Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads out there. For me, being a dad is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and if you’re waffling about doing it and you’re a responsible human, I highly recommend it. Here’s a recent photo of Jack and me from Pensacon, taken by our photographer friend Fred Turnbow:

A fan at Indy PopCon came up to my booth a couple of weekends ago wearing this tee:

Dave Dorman Artwork on New T-Shirt Being Sold by Disney

…and he was kind enough to send me one. It’s in Disney stores and the t-shirt maker is a company called Mad Engine. This art is a segment of my Star Wars Celebration V (5) art, from a painting called “A Slight Disturbance in the Force.”  Here is the original for your recollection:

Dave Dorman Star Wars Celebration 5 Art: “A Slight Disturbance in the Force”

A special thanks to everyone who came out to see me at Star Wars Library Day in Joliet, Illinois – the world’s largest Star Wars Library event, now in its 5th year. It was a lot of fun and gratifying to see my Midwestern Star Wars family.

Next up on my convention schedule is Capital City Con in Austin, TX July 11, 12 and 13. I hope to reconnect with our friends who are like family –the Nick & Michele Iozzo family, and cousins Dan and Sue Bailey in Austin as well as Bernie Wrightson. You can count on my wife to do her level best to “Keep Austin Weird.”

We found some old photos I took in the 1970s of Bernie Wrightson and his contemporaries, including Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Barry Windsor-Smith, Walt Simonson and more. I think you’ll enjoy seeing them as I scan them in and post them here.

Also in July, you will see me at San Diego Comic-Con, Booth #4500 July 23 – 27. I am especially excited this year to launch my new WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS book by Magnetic Press and Mike Kennedy. Click here to pre-order: http://www.magnetic-press.com/wasted-lands-omnibus/

WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS: by Magnetic Press, Launching at SDCC 2014

We will have books to sell and sign at our booth as well as the Magnetic Press Booth. I don’t have a Booth # for Magnetic Press yet, but they are located in Publisher’s Row between Taschen and Last Gasp, behind Random House.

Joining me will be my WASTED LANDS rep and producer Scott Faye, and a portion of the booth will be shared by Stephen D. Smith, who did the wonderfully successfully Kickstarter campaign for the very first English translation of the book, The Leaning Girl, and we will have one of my favorite artists, Francois Schuiten and writer Benoit Peeters in our booth.  Here is the cover art for that book:

The Leaning Girl by Alaxis Press/Stephen D. Smith, Publisher – 1st English Translation

If you are on social media, please join me here and please connect with me here & spread the word:

http://facebook.com/davedormansstudio

http://facebook.com/davedormanwastedlands

http://linkedin/com/in/thedavedorman

http://twitter.com/davedorman

I am also on Reddit and if any of you want me to do a live Q & A there or a Tweet Chat on Twitter, just let me know and I’ll get it set up.

Also, you may want to check out my wife Denise Dorman’s blog, for a rare peek behind the curtain of life in the Dorman Household: http://comicbookwife.com. She is making me homemade potato salad for Father’s Day, which is a treat for me.

Thanks for reading & have a great day!

Dave.

My Newest Addition for the Library: The Art of Craig Elliott

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, for me, Wednesday is Comic Book Day. I was very excited to find my friend Craig’s new book today at Dreamland Comics in Schaumburg.

The Art of Craig Elliott, The Newest Edition to My Art Book Collection

Craig is a longtime friend and a gifted artist. I would characterize his style as organic, ethereal and imaginative. His glass jewelry is also beautiful. Many of you will recognize his name from the high-profile visual development work and animation art he’s done for DreamWorks, Pixar and Disney, on films like Enchanted, The Princess and the Frog, Shark Tale, Bee Movie, Mulan, Hercules, etc. To say he’s talented is an understatement. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, I recommend you check out his portfolio at http://craigelliottgallery.com or his IMDB Listing.

As always, thanks for reading,

Dave.

Remembering My Friend Dave Stevens

Every once in a while, you think you’re over your sadness from the death of a friend, and then you read something that catches you unaware and that lump in your throat returns unexpectedly. Today I was reading Ken Tucker’s review of my friend Dave Stevens’s graphic novel in Entertainment Weekly. In a few short words, Ken did a great job of explaining Dave Stevens to those who may not have known of this quality person and brilliant illustrator.

Apparently they’ve reissued his book “The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures” by Dave Stevens. You see, Dave was the creator of “Rocketeer.” I have the limited edition collector’s version of this book. If you don’t already have a copy, run out and get one, and be sure to get it from art book dealer Bud Plant – they are the best. You’ll be so glad this is part of your art collection. Dave was also a famed storyboard artist in L.A., doing everything from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. When I win the lottery someday, I will pay to have those storyboards in my collection.

Dave Stevens and I became friends back in 1987. We were always together at San Diego Comic-Con, we hung out together and we shared painting techniques. In 1989, Dave sent me his sketch for “Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #2” for me to paint. (Now I wish I’d kept the sketch, but I sent it back with the artwork.) It was an honor to be involved in his project. I painted that cover and when you see it in the book, those of you who really know my style will recognize that it’s me. After that, Dave, whose medium of choice was acrylic, would hang out with me and I would help him understand how to paint with oils and create the look and feel he wanted to achieve. Again, it was an honor to be in the same constellation with this shining star.

There was a palpable pall over San Diego Comic-Con in 2008 for those of us who knew Dave Stevens. That was the year he died from leukemia.

One of the greatest disappointments for all of us illustrator’s was watching the evolution of Dave’s relationship with Disney. That which held such promise resulted in such colossal waste and disappointment. Dave never recovered from it. He even wrote about it in his book (another one you must add to your collection) “Brush With Passion: The Art and Life of Dave Stevens” by Underwood Books.

When I start my podcast (be patient, folks, it’s coming…), I will share some of my memories of Dave Stevens and interview those who shared those fond memories with me.

Thanks for reading,

Dave.