Editor’s note: Voting in this contest has been extended to Wednesday, Sept. 22. The fifth paragraph has been edited to reflect this change.
Aspiring illustrator Aaron D’Errico of Friday Harbor has submitted a design in a contest to find a new logo for the Stan Lee Foundation.
And you can help him win.
The foundation was established by the Marvel Comics legend to support art, education and literacy throughout the world.
First, register to vote at Talenthouse, a sort of Facebook for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, etc. Voting starts Sept. 17.
Second, click on the logo under “Aaron’s Submissions” and vote by Sept. 22.
If you have Facebook, you can become a fan of D’Errico’s Talenthouse page by clicking on the “Support Aaron” Facebook tab to the right of his Stan Lee Foundation logo design.
D’Errico, 31, graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 1998. D’Errico is being mentored by Paul Chadwick of “Concrete” comic book fame, and is also a singer and a DJ. His desire to become an illustrator really caught fire when he met Lee at the Emerald City Comic-Con in March. In fact, he took on the disc jockey moniker “DJ Hero” in honor of Lee.
D’Errico said his goal as an illustrator is “to uplift people with my characters.”
Pat O’Day was certainly uplifted by a retro depiction of him that D’Errico did. The pioneer rock DJ hung D’Errico’s piece in his John L. Scott Real Estate office, near a large framed poster of Led Zeppelin.
“He’s got class, he’s got soul, Pat O’Day is Mr. Rock ‘n’ Roll,” the picture states.
“The kid is so dedicated, he has such a great positive attitude,” O’Day said. “I loved it. The depiction of me is a retro thing, going back to when I was 21 years old — some 23 years before Aaron was born. It’s hard to look at a depiction of yourself and be an impartial judge, but I give him high fives. The kid is good.”
In his blog entry, titled “Stan the Mensch,” (March 21, 2010) Chadwick wrote about attending the Emerald City Comic-Con with D’Errico — and witnessing his protege’s meeting with Lee.
“Aaron, bless his heart, was hyperventilating and so emotional that the gathered crowd looked a little alarmed. In fact — and this is the cherry on top! — a woman in a Catwoman outfit (and the figure to pull it off) took him in her arms and asked if he was okay, held him as he calmed down, even kissed his forehead. There’s a sweetness about this guy that has that effect on people.
“I told Aaron that at this rate, we were buying a lottery ticket …”
ONLINE: — Stan Lee Foundation.
