Dave Dorman Announces New Mini Art Book

Dear Friends,

I am doing a follow-up to my GI Joe art book AMERICAN HERO. I had a lot of positive reaction and plenty of fans asking if I was going to do another volume. I have a lot more art from my years working with Hasbro designing the GI Joe toys, and with the demand, I have decided to produce another book.

For those who missed the first volume, this book features artwork I produced for Hasbro’s GI Joe toy figure line. The art featured the characters painted as if they existed in real life. The art was for presentation only, in-house at Hasbro and not intended for reproduction. For most of this art, this is the first time it’s been seen by the public outside the Hasbro offices. 

American Hero: Book 2

The specs of the book will be the same as the first volume of American Hero:

• Size: 6″ x 9″
• Pages: 24
• Card stock covers
• High-quality interior paper
• Limited Edition: 300 copies
• Each will be hand signed by me, Dave Dorman
• Price is $20.00 (plus $5 shipping worldwide)

You can order the book directly from me by going to this page on my website: http://www.davedorman.com/americanhero2.shtml

P.S. I still have some copies of AMERICAN HERO Book 1 if you missed it. They can be ordered on the same web page.

Dave Dorman Art Book:
G.I. Joe: American Hero

Thanks again for your support of my work! Also, a special thanks to all of you who came out to see me at Pensacon 2014 this past weekend. It was great to be home.

DAVE

Dave Dorman Art Progressives: Recreating Classic Dave Dorman G.I. Joe Art

Dear Friends,

Most of my fans know that during the mid-’80s to the early ’90s, I worked with Hasbro producing G.I. Joe artwork for their Research and Development Department. This art was done as presentation for the Board of Directors to determine whether any particular character would move forward to future production. My task was to paint the characters designed as 3 1/2″ toys to look like real fighting G.I. Joe characters. None of this work was meant for publication, however, over the years, fans and collectors have seen some of this art via the Web or fan club communications. (One of the future projects I am hoping to get off of the ground is a collection of all of this unseen artwork into a G.I. Joe/Hasbro art volume. I will keep you up to date on information as this project progresses.)

I have many fans contact me directly about the art I did during this period. Recently one of those fans asked if I’d be interested in recreating some of those pieces for his private collection. This is not something that I normally do, but this particular fan showed so much enthusiasm that I thought that it might be fun to see how I would approach these paintings almost 20 years later. I took on his commission for the three recreations and now I present to you one of them as an art progressive:

Pencil on Illustration Board Recreating the Character to Be Painted

Progressive #2:

The original landscape for this painting had a textured rock pattern that I applied with very thick gesso. I repeated that technique on this new board as well.

Progressive #3:

Here I start laying in some of the b/g colors, starting with the explosion in the mid left.

Progressive #4:

The b/g is almost complete at this point with the main figure clean so that when I add color to the figure, it will be unencumbered by underpainting.

Progressive #5:

After the b/g dries, I now lay in the underpainting for the basic colors of the figure.

Progressive #6:

Continuing similar to the previous photo, I lay in the rest of the colors for this figure.

Progressive #7:

With the basic tones being laid down in oils, I now begin the detail work with acrylics, starting with the head and moving downward.

Progressive #8:

Work continues with the acrylics, adding more detail to the body and his equipment.

Progressive #9:

At this point, I've completed some of the finer shadowing details and refinements with various shades of gray markers. You'll note final details on the ground and some color corrections for the background. The above is the finished piece.

This piece was 16″ x 20″ oil, acrylic and marker on gessoed illustration board. It is the exactly the same size as the original Hasbro artwork. If you have comments or questions about this piece, please feel free to post them here.

Many of my G.I. Joe fans have asked me about commission work or recreations. This is the first one I have ever done, and I did enjoy bringing back good memories of working with the artists and creators at Hasbro. I would certainly be happy to do more of this type of work if any of you are interested. Please feel free to email me directly at  dormanart@yahoo.com or message me via Facebook

As always, I thank you for your time and interest in my work.

Dave

Osama Bin Laden Takedown Now Available as a Dave Dorman Print

Dear Friends,

I am selling prints of my painting of Osama Bin Laden getting surprised by the Special Forces on eBay for $30, with free shipping. Here is the link: http://bitly.com/lju0aV.

This is a piece I painted long before history was made by the Navy Seals, but the reality is close to what I had earlier imagined. This art is included in my new book, ROLLING THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN (IDW Publishing/Desperado Publishing). Here are some images of the print:

As always, thank you for checking out my art.

To follow me on Social Networks, here I am:

On Facebook, I’m Facebook.com/DaveDorman

On Twitter, I’m @DaveDorman and my hashtag is #DaveDorman

On LinkedIn, I’m LinkedIn.com/in/theDaveDorman

On iTunes, my FREE podcast is “It’s Comic Book Day”

DAVE

My Thoughts on Thanksgiving Weekend

Dear Friends,

I have so much to be thankful for this year, I don’t know where to begin. I’m thankful for those closest to me–my wife, my son, my best friend Steve Smith, my friend Charlie Athanas, my in-laws who have helped me out tremendously this past year, Colin Pritchard of Rocket No. 9, Kevin Sandstrom at Blick Art Supply, the 501st, (especially Chris Spice of top-rated Star Wars site Sandtroopers.com) the great art directors and editors I’ve worked with this past year, and also for all of you who take an interest in my art and are the reason I keep doing what I do. I am thankful for my U.S. military family, for USACares.org and  for The Dennis Miller Radio Show who has been kind enough to have me on to share my projects and my military art passion project, Project 52.

I especially thank all of you who have purchased my new art career retrospective and memoir book, ROLLING THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN, by IDW Publishing/Desperado Publishing, either for yourselves, or for a loved one as a holiday gift. Even if the book wasn’t mine, I would enjoy 4.5 pounds of art in hardcover to peruse over my mulled cider during the holidays.

Today I wanted to share another blog with you, written by my friend and fellow 501st member David Syczylo. David is the Snowtrooper who posed for me for this year’s Star Wars Celebration painting. He did an excellent job of explaining the poses, not to mention providing us all with a brilliant display he has created of my Star Wars Celebration prints:

http://www.djsyczylo.net/chronicles/DormanHoth/DormanHoth.htm

I hope you enjoy David’s blog as much as I did about how the Star Wars Celebration piece came about. The best part of this project? I have been very fortunate to get to know David over the past 6 months and he is a special person to me and my wife. You will never meet a kinder or more giving person. He drove all of the way to my home in northern Illinois from Indianapolis just to pose for me, and refused to take even  gas money. That’s the kind of guy David is. Ask him about his film career when you meet him. He has great stories.

Thanks for reading. More to come. I just did a Captain Marvel this past weekend for the very first time in my career, but I have to check with an editor first to see when I can post it.

Be safe this holiday weekend,

Dave.

P.S. I finally got to see “Walking Dead.” I’m hooked. What do you all think of it? Any of you watching? If not, check it out – let’s compare notes. My friend and fellow judge in the December 6th Chicago 10-minute horror play international competition Death Scribe 2010, Jay Bonansinga, is writing the novelization of the series and he’s an excellent writer.

Thanks for Listening to me on Dennis Miller’s Radio Show Today

Dear Friends,

On Veteran’s Day, I thank all of the brave men and women serving in all branches of the military who sacrifice SO MUCH to ensure we continue to enjoy our freedoms. As the son of USAF Lieutenant Colonel Jack Dorman, I understand how much the military and their families sacrifice. Thank you also to all of you who were listening to me on The Dennis Miller Radio Show today. Here is the link on Dennis’ site to my interview: http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/One-Of-A-Kind-For-Our-Military/-338762614549322936.html

Dennis and Christian were kind enough to let me come on and the share news about my military art project, Project 52, which helps to raise funds for military families who are financially challenged, given through USACares.org. Here is the link: http://www.indiegogo.com/Project-52.

Last year at this time we auctioned my Transformers painting, which was the first-ever illustrated cover art for GEEK Monthly magazine for their special Comic-Con issue, juxtaposing the “old school” Transformers character vs. the modern day version. I donated all of that money to USACares.org.

 

 

Dave Dorman and Dennis Miller with Dave's Transformers Painting We Auctioned for USACares.org

Today, I’m asking you to help me spread the word about Project 52. Please post it on your FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn accounts, and anywhere you connect with your social networks. On Twitter or Cinchcast, the hashtag reference is #Project 52. Please tell your military friends and your family about Project 52. For just $5, you or the person you designate will be mentioned in my Project 52 book, which I’m self publishing. For $1,000, you can own a Dave Dorman original oil military painting. There are tons of contribution opportunities and options between the $5 and the $1,000 range, but please contribute whatever is comfortable for you, even if it’s just words of support. The initial $52,000 we are raising will cover expenses for publishing the book, art materials, printing the limited edition signed and numbered lithographs and helping to defray costs for me taking time off of commercial work to focus on this project. Fifty percent of all earnings from the books and lithos will go to USACares.org. The remaining 50% of book and lithograph sales will go to the Make a Wish Foundation in honor of Katie Johnson (501st founder Albin Johnson’s late daughter) on behalf of the 501st Organization, for which I’m honored to be an honorary member. For those of you reading who are unfamiliar with the 501st, these are the great men and women worldwide who donate their time, wearing Star Wars costumes and marching in parades, visiting children’s hospitals and continuing to be good will ambassadors of Lucasfilm.

I thank you all for your kind words and moral support. I’m very passionate about doing Project 52 and ensuring it is done to perfection.

We are still in the throes of unpacking from our big move, and the other day I discovered the old reel-to-reel audio tape recordings of my father, from when he was serving on behalf of the United States Air Force in Viet Nam. We didn’t see my dad for an entire year, so we communicated with him solely by letters and tapes.  I’m getting these recordings made into CDs for my sister and brother, but if you  know of a military museum out there who might want some of these recordings, please let me know.

As always, I thank you for reading and following my work.

Dave

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.

0 Claimed

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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.

0 Claimed

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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.

1 Claimed

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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.

0 Claimed

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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.

0 Claimed

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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.

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.

A Press Release Regarding A New Member of My Team

Dear Friends,

I ‘ve recently hired Young Social Media from Hollywood, California to handle my online reputation management, social media and branding. I am embedding that press release below, just to make it official here on my blog.  My wife will still be handling my media relations work supplemental to the work Jacob is doing for us. For the record, my wife wrote this release, so please don’t think that I’m this full of myself. Okay, here’s the release:

Comic Book Legend Dave Dorman Names Hollywood’s

Jacob Young Social Media His Agency of Record

Chicago, IL and Hollywood, CA – September 26, 2010 – Dave Dorman, the Eisner Award-winning artist voted the #1 Star Wars Artist of All Time by the fans and world renowned for his dynamic cover art for Indiana Jones, Batman, G.I. Joe and every licensed character in pop culture, is pleased to name Hollywood, California-based Jacob Young Social Media as his social media and branding agency of record.

“Young Social Media has a proven track record of online reputation management and SEO strategy that aligns with my business needs,” Dorman explained. “My team is very excited to apply the energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas from Jacob to our business success.”  Said Jacob K. Young, “Dave Dorman is more than an award-winning artist, more than one of the founding fathers of modern pop culture. He is the very definition of an American Icon. You’d be a fool to say no if asked to work with him.  If you love what you’ve seen him do so far, then get ready to fall in love all over again.”

Dorman’s 2010 string of successes have ranged from being named a VIP guest at San Diego Comic-Con and winning the prestigious Inkpot Award to launching his critically acclaimed new book, ROLLING THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN (IDW Publishing/Desperado Publishing), now available in book retailers nationwide. During the August 2010 Star Wars Celebration 5, Dark Horse Comics named Dorman the cover artist for the final chapter in their Star Wars “Crimson Empire” series, which was news long awaited by the fans. Dorman is also being heavily courted by numerous publishers and videogame developers over his own intellectual property, a motorcycle western action adventure called The Wasted Lands.

Dorman is equally excited about his new charitable art project “52,” which he discussed on a recent episode of The Dennis Miller Radio Show. Dorman is painting 52 individual military pieces of art honoring the men and women in uniform who defend our country. These paintings will be published in a new book with proceeds going to USACares.org. Said Dorman, “I grew up in a military family, so it is my honor and privilege to give something back to our military families.”

For more information on Dorman, please visit DaveDorman.com, WastedLands.com, his blog https://davedorman.wordpress.com and his podcast on pop culture and the comics industry, http://www.itscomicbookday.com.

Media Contact:
Jacob K. Young
Phone: (512) 522-6230
Email: Jacob@davedorman.com

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