Daily Inspiration: Meet Dave Wheeler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Wheeler.

Hi Dave, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As far back as I remember, I’ve always loved creating, whether it be a story, drawing, toy, or any number of other random things. I was very lucky to have a family that was encouraging of my passions though wary of how lucrative a career following such paths could be. Thankfully when it came time I was accepted and attended Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia earning my BFA in Sequential Art. What followed graduation was a whirlwind of moving around the country working in a variety of fields including graphic design, publishing, advertising, illustration, and Sequential Art. Outside the creative fields, I held what feels like hundreds of other jobs when making ends meet. It’s always funny to me when folks think how horrible it must be having had to work so many jobs outside my field and are shocked to find out that some of those jobs rank among my favorite memories and garnered some of my closest friends! In my adventures, I’ve been able to be a part of so many things I’m proud of. Having worked with so many of comic companies, I aspired to be part of growing up and even starting one of my own! That would be me being of the co-founders of the kid-friendly comic company MIND WAVE COMICS which focuses on doing our part to bring back fun to comics! Starting the company over a decade ago with one of my closest friends Samir Barrett that I got to know while attending SCAD has been one of my all-time favorites! Other adventures outside of the comics realm I’ve also had the opportunity to work as a toy designer for Boss Fight Studios and I even stream regularly about my love of toys on my Youtube channel: Youtube.com/davewonder stop by and join the conversation sometime if you’d like! Outside of comics and toys, I also have worked as a graphics, gear, and merch designer in the professional wrestling industry, having my work seen on AEW, ROH, and WWE! When I’m not in the studio though I do enjoys long walks on the beach, creating whatever I can and professional wrestling!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There are always struggles. If there are not, I feel like you’re doing it wrong. Seeing the light through the trees as it were is sometimes difficult. Growing up I always loved finishing jobs. Whether it was fixing a sink with my Grandpa or building a model with my Dad. The sense of accomplishment was always something that made me buzz a bit. Taking that into the creative realm I learned pretty quickly that it takes time to reach that point in your career where it IS your career and not a passion project. As mentioned before, I worked so many random jobs to make it to this point and while sometimes it was a struggle to make it through the day of those day jobs and gigs, the light at the end of the day was going home and hanging out with my partner for a bit before burning the midnight oil on my creative endeavors. The struggle is what makes you realize how awesome things can be when you finally get past them.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to consider myself a Creative Content Creator, that title has come a loooooooong way from my original intent as a six-year-old wanting to grow up to be a “comic book drawer guy.” I suppose I specialize in comics mostly. What sets me apart is my diverse background when it comes to all things in print and digital media. Creating followings in several different fields that vary from the comics realm as mentioned before, to the collectibles and toy realm for creating a place for positive conversations about the hobby. I like having fun with what I’m doing and trying to do as much as I can to help the folks in the field I’m focusing on as well as the folks that enjoy said field from the outside.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Flexibility. Things won’t always go your way and when they don’t, you have to be flexible enough to figure out how to make it through. Adapting to a new workflow has been something I’ve done countless times to make things work out or to hit deadlines. It’s part of being in the creative fields I feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davewonder.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedavewheeler/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedavewonder
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davewheeler
• Youtube: youtube.com/davewonder
• Other: twitch.tv/davewonder

Image Credits
Profile photo courtesy of Emanuel Suárez