If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

19 JUN 1938/Moorhead, Minnesota
14 OCT 2008/Vista California
by Darrell Mayabb

A tribute to my friend and fellow artist and motorhead Dave “BIG” Deal.

I first became aware of Dave’s art in the early ‘70’s. What interested me most was how organic his cartoons of cars were. I was trying to get my art published in the car magazines at that time. At a meeting I had at one of the magazines I was told he had been there earlier that day.

I asked for his telephone number and gave him a call. He agreed to meet me and I drove to his home. I have a theory about meeting new people. I believe we all have a number of “Tuning Forks” (metaphorically speaking). When you meet someone and your tuning fork and theirs are in harmony, you more times than not, make a friend.

That is what happened with Dave and I.

Dave Deal illo from '73

Some time passed, we stayed in touch, and he asked if the next time I came to L.A. we could
meet again. At our next meeting he asked if I would mind some advice as to my cartooning. I was all for it and he shared his theory of ‘toonin’ the automobile. It changed my way of thinking about automotive ‘ toons.

In a very short period of time my automotive cartooning vastly improved.

Many have written the general outline of Dave’s life. If you are interested in Dave’s art you have probably read most of the high points. I am not going to go back over the general information about the man. This is my way of saying good by to a very important person in my life. He inspired and taught me a “great deal” and was a good friend.

One last thing about Dave, he talked at great length about his efforts to find Noah’s Ark. He wrote a book titled “Discovery of Ancient America”, and I think about four others. Now When I tell people about him I say his day job was a “Automotive Cartoonist” and his hobbies were Discovering Ancient America and finding Noah’s Ark.

I think people with wide horizons in their lives are interesting people to be around.

Dave was at the top of my list in that regard.

Rest in peace Dave Deal.

Please join us as we take a cruise through Dave’s impressive career, and look at some art you may have seen, some you may not have… and some truly dynamic pieces exclusive to Motorburg.com