It is with a large measure of sadness that I am here to let you know that I just found out about the passing last month of James Dorrance, artist and illustrator extrodinaire. Those folks on this Forum who have been around long enough to remember my newsletter, Tales & Trails, the Teardrop Times, will surely remember his quirky and whimsical cartoons that were featured in (and scattered throughout) each issue, and those who have been around for the last couple of years may remember the artwork he did for one side of the 20th Dam Gathering T-shirts:
Jim was a good friend of mine ... though we never got the chance to actually meet in person ... and he was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Teardropping in general and the newsletter specifically, with his contributions to T&T beginning with the first volume in 1994. His talents and passions were many, and I remember long conversations (by phone and letter) about wooden boats, classic trucks, vintage trailers & teardrops, and airplanes ... to name just a few. His artistic talents put him right up there with famed street/hot rod illustrator Dave Bell (though I have to admit a personal bias towards Jim's work, even though I've been around Dave's for a lot longer), but he only seems to have had much notoriety in-and-around his home state of South Dakota, and of course through the pages of T&T.
He "retired" from illustrating about the same time I put Tales & Trails to bed, and only came out of retirement when I asked him to do the artwork for the 20th DG (which he did as a personal favor to me!) ... then, realizing how much he had missed expressing himself and his thoughts through his art, he continued with his pen-and-ink creations, apparently right up until he passed. Shortly after he sent me the drawing for the 20th, I remember him telling me of an idea he had for a single piece of art that was 18" high by 25 FEET! long ... and I was pleased to hear that he had actually completed it shortly before he died ... his son, Justin, says they are making it into a full-size banner to be displayed (along with a lot of his other work) at his upcoming Memorial, and will be sending me pictures.
I will miss James Dorrance ... the person, the artist, the humorist, the collector, and his enthusiastic support of our beloved lifestyle ... his family will miss that and much more, the Man himself. I truly wish we had met, and had the chance to break bread & drink together. RIP, Jim ... Godspeed to you ... keep 'em smiling where ever you are!
