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.

Dave Dorman's Project 52, Painting #1

Dave Dorman's Project 52, Painting #2

Depending on the dollars you donate, you will receive one of the following:

VIP Perks

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

A Special Thanks to Dennis Miller & Christian Bladt

For those of you who listened to my Dennis Miller Radio Show interview yesterday, thank you for tuning in. For those who haven’t heard it yet, the link is as follows: http://multimedia.play.it/m/audio/26472417/dave-dorman-interview.htm Let me know what you think. It was great fun reminiscing about my father, USAF Lieutenant Colonel Jack Dorman. I speak for my entire family when I say we really miss Dad and my mother, Phyllis, who lost her battle to breast cancer.

I forgot to mention to Dennis that while I lived in Hawaii, they filmed “Tora! Tora! Tora!” The day those Japanese planes flew low over our house re-enacting the bombing in Pearl Harbor, that was beyond eerie. I’ll never forget it. Someone emailed me after hearing my radio appearance yesterday who also lived at Hickham AFB the same time I did, and he recalled the Tora filming as well. That was so cool to hear from him.

In case any of you ever wondered what Dennis Miller is really like in person, Dennis Miller is one of the coolest cats in person I’ve had the pleasure to meet. I look forward to “breaking bread” with him in San Diego. My wife tells me I’m the only person she knows who “gets” every single obscure reference and metaphor Dennis utters. What can I say? Dennis & I have similar interests. Also a cool cat: Christian Bladt. I was just as interested in meeting Christian, since I have listened to their radio show forever and feel like I know of him just as much. A special thanks to WriteBrain Media for setting up that interview yesterday – my wife’s great PR, marketing & brand management firm. Christian is now the proud owner of a The Devil’s Candy Store t-shirt, my wife’s other company with Charlie Athanas, who is @charlie_athanas on Twitter. Also, a special thanks to WIND Radio, 560 AM in Chicagoland for hosting us yesterday.

Be sure to bid on the painting I donated to USACares.org – it was the first ever painted cover for GEEK Monthly magazine, and it is of old school and modern day Optimus Prime, so if you’re a Transformers fan, you should OWN it!

For those of you who can have visited me today for my painting demo at the Make a Wish Foundation event in Wheaton, IL, thank you so much for stopping by.

Thanks for reading, everyone,

Dave