A #ComicBook #Artist #Illustrator and #Marine Friend in Need: Clifford Van Meter

Dear Friends,

It’s time to rally the troops and help a fallen soldier and comic book artist friend of mine. I want to make you aware of Clifford Van Meter, a Marine friend in Michigan, who is also a comic book artist/writer and non-fiction writer, as well as a galleried wildlife artist. Clifford is losing his home and, as of Friday, has just lost his job due to his medical condition(s). Like me, he also suffers from Type II Diabetes. Clifford’s write-up below was posted before he lost his job. Denise is scrambling to help him find social services and VA help, but in the meantime, please consider giving any amount — even the smallest amount to you would mean the world to him — at this page: https://www.gofundme.com/arctostor

Here is Clifford Van Meter’s story: 

I’ve been an artist and illustrator for more than 30 years now. I’ve worked extensively on games like Battle-Tech, and GURPS, as well as a number of books and comics. I worked as a writer, artist, and production manager at Valiant comics in the ’90s, and as an artist and writer with Milestone and DC. I’ve also been a galleried wildlife artist. I have samples up on my Deviant Art Page — http://quicktiming.deviantart.com/gallery/.

These days, I live on what I make as a data technician, I was demoted from marketing manager and lost about 1/4 of my income there, I also do a few private sales and commissions. We live pretty simply, but right at the level of what I make. My wife works a factory job and we live in the house her grandfather built… the house she grew up in. The loss of our home is now inevitable.

Like many of you, I don’t have a contingency fund. Frankly, I need help, as soon as possible. Every penny will go toward keeping the bills paid and keeping my insurance in case I get laid off. Prescriptions have become an issue as well. If I lose my prescriptions I’ll be dead in a month.

So…I will be doing whatever I can to help my friend Clifford, and I hope you can help him, too.

My next major show will be IlluxCon in Reading, PA in October. I hope to see you there.

Thanks for reading!

Dave

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!

 

 

 

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.

I’ll Be at GrandCon Tomorrow Through Sunday in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dear Friends,

Please join me at the GrandCon Comics & Gaming Convention this weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan if you can – I will be there with my new book, THE WASTED LANDS OMNIBUS!  Here is the address, for your convenience:

SEPTEMBER 19TH – 21ST 2014

Crowne Plaza Hotel

Convention Center

5700 28th Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Collectors:  If you want me to bring anything specific, please ping denise@writebrainmedia.com immediately with your specific requests and I’ll do my best to bring what you need; I’ll be busy packing up for the show. I look forward to seeing you!

A New Sculpt for the Dorman Household

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I am a fan and collector, just as much as I am a participant in pop culture. To that end, I received this really fun Star Wars Obi-Wan sculpture Thursday from Sideshow Collectibles and I wanted to share it with you in case any of you collect and they’re not sold out already. I bought this piece at SDCC last year, and good things come to those that wait, but this one was 2 months overdue. However, it was worth the wait.

It comes with the Ewan McGregor-version head sculpt as well, interchangeable. I prefer the Alec Guinness version because I’m old school Star Wars.

I wanted to take this moment to thank all of you who caught my lightning fast appearances on WGN Morning News in the past couple of weeks, and especially thank all of you who showed up last night for the premiere of Cris Macht’s film, “A Force Within Us,” which granted me more than my share of on-screen time. The DVDs are $20 each and there are a few left, so get your copy now if you can. It was also nice to reconnect with Mark Voss of Post Meridian, who will be helping me out with my online classes, which will be happening sooner than later. Be sure to write to denise@writebrainmedia.com to get on the list for my first-ever public offering of online classes and portfolio reviews. Watch for my banner ads on Sandtroopers.com as well. 

Finally, my friend Brian Wyrick is very near reaching his Kickstarter goal for his graphic novel, The Henchmen. If he reaches his financial goal, I get to do the cover, which will be a really fun piece, so I look forward to it. A special thanks to Brian for making the 4-hour drive & coming out to the premiere last night, too. That link is here: 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1416077417/henchmen-an-independent-comic-book

As always, thanks for reading. 

Dave

 

Announcing My First Ever 24/7 Dave Dorman Online Store

Dear Friends of the Page,

I typically post a temporary page if I’m having a sale on my prints for a special occasion, but I’ve been thinking it would be wise to have a full-time online store, so here is the link to my new online store:

http://davedorman.bigcartel.com

Please feel free to share the link with your social networks. It would be an enormous favor to me.

Additionally, I have some fun new interviews posted on our podcast, http://itscomicbookday.com, and as always, I invite and encourage you to join me on my Facebook Fan Page, http://Facebook.com/DaveDormanFanPage and on Linked In where I’m an open networker at http://linkedin.com/in/thedavedorman.

As always, I thank you for your support and interest in my work. I’m hard at work on getting my new online school launched, and I will be posting news here as I’m able to start accepting students. If you are interested in being on the early invite list, please email denise@writebrainmedia.com.

I should also mention, I’m in a Star Wars documentary called “The Force Within Us”  by my friend Cris Macht. I will be attending the premiere at the Arcada Theater in  St. Charles, IL on Friday, March 22nd, so if you are in Northern Illinois, I welcome you to join us there.

Have a good one, everybody,

Dave

I Need Your Opinion – Dave Dorman Experience 2013?

Dear Friends,

I’ve gotten more than a few Facebook messages on this matter, and I’d like to check in with you who follow my blog. I’m considering doing another “Dave Dorman Experience” this year during C2E2, but I want to make sure there’s still interest. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this tiny event, here’s what it entails:

• A limousine picks you up at a designated location at C2E2 and drives you to my house.
• A private chef prepares a gourmet dinner, served to you, my guests.
• I give a brief studio tour and my various collections & paintings.
• I create a fresh piece of art for my guests, starting with the preliminary and going through to the final painting. (Last year I did a Boba Fett piece.)
• We draw straws to see who goes home with either one. 
• I offer access to my private vault of prints, prelims and available paintings for sale. (This is great for collectors.)
• This year, I hope to have customized shirts for everyone as a keepsake.
• The limousine returns you to your hotel in Chicago.

Let me know if this is something you’d like to see me do again this year. We had a lot of fun with the fans who joined us last year! Please email my wife & publicist at denise@writebrainmedia.com if you’d like additional information.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Dave 

 

My San Diego Comic-Con Update, Map of My Location

Dear Friends,

Here’s  a map of where you can find me this year at San Diego Comic-Con. For those who come back every year, it’s my “normal” location. Sharing my booth this year will be Blackwatch Comics (artist Christopher Shy and writer Michael Easton) so please be sure to check out their goth fantasy SOUL STEALER: The Collector’s Edition and NORTH END OF THE WORLD books as well.

DAVE DORMAN #SDCC BOOTH #4500

DAVE DORMAN #SDCC 2012 SIGNING SCHEDULE:

Thursday, July 12th, Noon – Booth #2913E– During the “Frak Out” Battlestar Galactica event, I will be in the ANOVOS Booth at the Lucasfilm Pavilion for the unveiling of my first-ever Battlestar Galactica (2004 series) fine art painting. I believe this is happening at noon.

Friday, July 13th, 11 a.m. – Noon, Booth #2615–I will be at the Dark Horse Comics Booth #2615 for a Star Wars Crimson Empire signing with Mike Richardson, Randy Stradley, John Jackson Miller, Tom Taylor and Doug Wheatley.

Friday, July 13th, 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Room #8 —I will be on a panel moderated by MTV Geek’s Bradley Hatfield, celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Heavy Metal, the first publisher to print one of my pieces of cover art. Here’s a description: 

The panel will give fans a chance to peek behind the curtain for an incredible hour of conversation with Kevin Eastman as he and many of the iconic artists reflect on the history of ground-breaking storytelling as well as letting the audience in on plans for the future. Guests include: Kevin Eastman (Heavy Metal, Co Creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Michael Mendheim (Mutant League Football, Creator of Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Dave Elliott (Sponge Bob, Heavy Metal, Ninja Gaiden), Lorenzo Sperlonga (Heavy Metal, Steampunk Dolls, Poison Apples), Dave Dorman (Heavy Metal, Star Wars, Rolling Thunder), and Joe Pearson (Director of War of the Worlds: Goliath, Epoch Ink Animation).

Okay, that’s everything I know about at the moment. Please feel free to email or comment on Facebook.com/DaveDormanFanPage if there’s anything you need.  Any journalists/bloggers/reporters trying to reach me, please contact my publicist Denise@WriteBrainMedia.com or call her at 630.215.5623.

I raise a toast for an entertaining, fun, safe SDCC for everyone this year! Let the games begin!

Dave. (Twitter hashtag #DaveDorman)

A Toy Design First: Dave Dorman and Son Collaborating with Max Toy Company on Monster Toy Design

San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL– April 11, 2012—Max Toy Company CEO Mark Nagata is pleased to announce his first-ever collaboration with Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning artist Dave Dorman, and Dave Dorman’s seven-year-old son Jack Dorman. This also marks the first time Max Toy Co. has collaborated with a father-and-son team, but according to Nagata, “Dave’s son Jack has already exhibited some uncanny art chops, so this unique team will make for a way cool monster design. Add Dave’s passion for Japanese monsters and his design sense to the mix, and I know this toy will be a best seller.” Nagata, who named his own company after his own son, understands the power of the father-son creative connection.

Dorman, no stranger to toy design, worked with Hasbro for seven years creating G.I. Joe character designs, and also designed the six best-selling Alien: Resurrection action figures toy line for Kenner. Both lines can be seen in Dorman’s autobiography, Rolling Thunder: The Art of Dave Dorman (IDW Publishing/Desperado Publishing).

Said Dorman, “I am honored to be working with Mark. I’ve been a fan of his toys for a long time and attended his Toy Karma exhibit at Rotofugi here in Chicago. I am equally excited to be working with my son Jack on this project, whose early passion for Domos has evolved into a fascination with Kaiju, in no small part thanks to Max Toy Company’s wonderful Japanese monster toys. This will be one of the most fun and memorable projects I’ve had the good fortune to do.”

Toy progress and teasers will be announced on http://MaxToyCo.com, and Nagata will show teasers during San Diego Comic-Con from the Rotofugi and Dragatomi booths. For more information, please visit http://maxtoyco.com or http://davedorman.com.

About Dave Dorman  

A legendary, beloved figure in the comic book industry often characterized as “one of the nicest guys in comics,” Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning artist Dave Dorman was voted the #1 Star Wars Artist of All Time by the fans ; George Lucas owns more than 90 of Dave Dorman’s original oil paintings. Dorman has created art for every major publisher and licensed character within the worlds of science fiction, fantasy and horror, including but not limited to Batman, Conan the Barbarian, Planet of the Apes, King Kong, Spiderman, Buckaroo Banzai, Captain America, G.I. Joe, Green Hornet, Green Lantern, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Lord of the Rings, Alien, Predator, Alien v. Predator, World of Warcraft, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, and many more.

Dorman has been a featured guest many times at San Diego Comic-Con where he exhibits yearly in Booth #4500 and he is exhibiting this weekend at C2E2 Table I-10. Dorman is also an exhibitor at Star Wars Celebration shows. Dorman’s own I.P., Steampunk motorcycle western The Wasted Lands, is relaunching in 2012. Dorman’s biography and career retrospective book, ROLLING THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN (IDW/Desperado Publishing) is available on Amazon. Dorman’s pencil illustration and traditional oil painting tutorials are available through Hollywood’s The Gnomon Workshop.

Dave Dorman Social Media:

• Website: http://www.davedorman.com/ and http://planetillogica.com/davedorman
• Blog: https://davedorman.wordpress.com
• Twitter: @DaveDorman
• Linkedin.com/in/thedavedorman
• Facebook.com/DaveDormanArtist

About Max Toy Company / Mark Nagata

Over the years Mark Nagata has collected thousands of toys and a fair amount of titles. The man behind San Francisco-based Max Toy Company is widely known as: Toy Collector.  Illustrator.  Magazine Founder/Publisher.  Toy Designer.  Artist.  Author.  Husband. Father.  But the one description that might fit best is an unofficial one – Kaiju Toy and Art Ambassador. 

In the Japanese-inspired art and toy area, as well as throughout the larger toy collecting community, Mark is welcomed and recognized for his personal passion and commitment to supporting artists all around the world and the unique works they create. Mark’s devotion to presenting collectors with a selection of original figures inspired by classic Japanese toys from the 1960s and ’70s as well as new versions of licensed Japanese characters is at the heart of Max Toy Company.  Named for his son, Max Toys specializes in custom and limited editions of “kaiju” (Japanese monsters) toys and artwork.

Through Max Toys, Mark, who trained at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and honed his skills as a freelance commercial illustrator, has taken great pains to widen the reach of his two passions – toys and art.  He has helped curate successful art shows throughout the U.S., as well as in Japan and Spain. His artwork and toy designs have been included in numerous books and magazines and his hand-painted custom toys have even been sold through prestigious art houses Philip De Pury and Christie’s in New York and London. The San Francisco resident and his art can also be spotted in the first volume of the “ToyPunks” DVD and the “Toys R Us” DVD, while the video for Owl City’s number one song “Fireflies” features Mark’s popular Kaiju Eyezon character.  In 2010, Mark served as guest lecturer on kaiju and the toy-making process at the Morikami Museum in Florida. While young readers still enjoy his colorful style that graces more than 40 cover paintings for R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps book series – Give Yourself Goosebumps, adults are now snatching up Mark’s toy and artwork with a collector’s zeal, helping to spread the kaiju toy movement worldwide.

Mark Nagata’s Social Media:

• Website:  http://maxtoyco.com
• Toy Karma Blog: http://toykarma.blogspot.com/
• Twitter: @maxtoyco

MEDIA CONTACT:

Denise Dorman/WriteBrain Media

P: 630.845.4695 | M: 630.215.5623 | E: denise@writebrainmedia.com| Tw: @WriteBrainMedia

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The Rumors Are True. I’m Doing DARTH MAUL Covers and…2 More Seats Left for #TheDaveDormanExperience

Dear Friends,

Since StarWars.com has posted the news and I’m no longer under a gag order, I’m pleased to announce that yes, I am doing the Darth Maul covers for the new Dark Horse series Tom Taylor is writing. He’s a great writer, so you’re sure to be entertained, and as you can see, I’m having a total blast painting these covers! This picture was taken at Acme Design this past Saturday by my friend Thomas James Spanos (a 501st Midwest Garrison member who poses a lot for my Star Wars art):

Me with my new Darth Maul cover for Dark Horse Comics - series written by Tom Taylor.

We are in the final couple of days for bidding on “THE DAVE DORMAN EXPERIENCE” so if you’re in town for C2E2, please bid on #TheDaveDormanExperience if you would enjoy:

• Taking a limo from McCormick Place to my private residence & studio on Saturday, April 14th at 4 p.m. and hanging w/me until 10 p.m.
• Joining me for home-cooked meal by my talented friend Chef Julie
• Seeing me live demo painting a new piece of art
• Having a one-in-six chance of WINNING the painting I create on Saturday night in your presence.
• Receiving an artist’s proof of one of my limited edition prints from my private vault.
• Shopping from my private vault for additional artist’s proofs to fill out your collection of my work.

To my knowledge, this is the first time a comic book artist has ever done such an event, so you’re also making pop culture history by joining in on the fun!

Here are the links to bid on the eBay auction – daylight is burning, so bid today or miss out! http://bit.ly/HuK92P and http://bit.ly/I8ylqm. So far, the winners are coming in from California, Iowa, Texas and Michigan. Join us!

Since many of you are coming into town for C2E2, Rotofugi has graciously offered to host a second “Opening Night” of my Pi Ala Mode one-man gallery show at their gallery in Chicago. I will be there at Rotofugi on Friday, April 13th from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. if you would like a personalized tour of my one-man show. It’s about a $25 cab ride from McCormick Place, but you can ALSO shop in Rotofugi –  the world’s coolest designer toy store while you’re checking out my gallery show, so that’s an added bonus!

I have a major announcement that I’m personally very excited about for C2E2 with limited edition, Japanese kaiju/monster designer toy company MaxToyCo owner Mark Nagata, so once Denise has the press release done, I will post it here.

Look for me in Artist’s Alley at C2E2. I will be posting my Table # shortly via Twitter and Facebook. I’m @DaveDorman on Twitter.

Thanks, as always, for your interest and support of my work.

Dave.