Meet Dave Warren
Find What Feels Good
(And do it.)
Hey there. I’m Dave Warren.
I’m a cartoonist, a storyteller, and a self-described “Cartoon Carny.” I travel the country with my dog, Zeke, doing comic cons and making friends. It’s a good life. I didn’t exactly plan it this way, but I’ve learned to love the ride.
About Dave Warren
“Become a car salesman or a politician, because you’re a good bullshit artist.”
~ My Dad.
And with those prophetic words, a career and a new life were born.
I was a kid from Connecticut with dreams of being a rock star and a heart set on heading west. My father, on the other hand, feared I was on the wrong path and warned that if I continued to worship those guys on “the needle”, my life would be nothing. He urged me to become an electrician, like him, like my brother, like my grandfather.
So what does a kid with more balls than brains do with that advice? You fill your Chevy Monte Carlo with guitars, a bunch of art shit, a big bag of drugs, and move to the sun-soaked surf and skate scene of Huntington Beach, California.
As fate would have it, my very first weekend was the 1983 US Festival. I was hooked, and I never looked back.
The art and music scene back then was insane. You could be at Bogart’s in Long Beach on a Friday, checking out Sublime, and at a counter-culture art exhibit with Robert Williams in Laguna Beach on Saturday.
I grew up drawing. It was my first love. I was always a pretty good artist—and had a reputation as a kid—that and being a smart ass. If you needed a hall pass forged, I was the man to see.
My early art influences were people like Chuck Jones, Charles Schulz, Gary Larsen, Berkeley Breathed, Bill Watterson, Gary Trudeau, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, R. Crumb, and Rick Griffin. I idolized them. I wanted to be like them.
So I got serious about making art. Not just doodling for shits and giggles—really make it.
That started a journey. Designing for the surf and skate industry. Wanting to be the world’s youngest syndicated cartoonist (almost made it). Doing adult cartoons for Hustler magazine (I know). Wanting to be the next Steven Spielberg (not even close, but I did work for him).
Somehow, that led to becoming an animator. Then, a global creative director. I traveled the world, played in bands, and had kids. Lived on the beach in Malibu and the hills of El Dorado.
It’s been up, down, good, bad, this way and that. And I have loved—and am grateful for—every minute of it.
The Work
For over 30 years, that adventure has led me to some incredible places. I’ve had the surreal privilege of helping bring the worlds of The Simpsons, Pinky and the Brain, and Sons of Anarchy to life.
It’s been a masterclass in creativity and storytelling—taught through cartoon mice and grizzled bikers alike. And through it all, I’ve been humbled, kept growing, and just kept going.
Keep Chasing That Dream Until You Catch It
That rock star dream wasn’t a failure; it was a desire. A lonely, weirdo, looking to be loved.
As a performer, you connect with a room full of strangers through a song or a joke. At a comic con, I do the same thing, but with art and a story.
Getting the chance to connect with people—to entertain them, maybe even inspire them through the person I am and the work I’ve created—is an incredible gift.
I meet so many young people with aspirations of becoming artists. I think back on how small words of encouragement meant so much to me when I was starting out.
It’s an honor to be in a place where I can be that person for someone else. That means everything. I may not have caught the dream yet, but I have a pretty good idea what it looks like.
The Journey Continues
Today, that adventure looks like community. When I’m not on the road, you can find me in my Oregon studio with my kahu, my grizzly ol’ ride or die known as Zeke.
Together, we’re always looking for new adventures, new friends, and maybe even to inspire the next person chasing a crazy dream.
What Are We Doing Here?
I may be just a guy who makes cartoons, but I do believe the answer is to love yourself and others. And to be a beneficial presence on this planet.
I’ve been blessed with being a good “bullshit artist” and the ability to create. Sharing free cartoons or sending out Happy Mail are my way of using my gifts to give a little back.
Maybe I should have become an electrician, but you can’t put a price on a smile.
Glad you’re here.
— Dave
P.S. Want to follow along? Join the Free Cartoons Newsletter for a few laughs, some questionable advice, new art, and a peek at what’s next. No pressure. Just fun.
