Peter's Gallery :: World War II - Commissions, Sketches, and Other Unpublished Art

"War" by Dorian Cleavenger

Artist: Dorian Cleavenger (Painter)

7 Comments - 137 Views - 11 Likes

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Additional Images:

Back of painting

The Weary Warrior photo

Photo

Newspaper article about his death

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Artwork Details

Title:	"War" by Dorian Cleavenger
Artist:	Dorian Cleavenger (Painter)
Media Type:	Paint - Watercolor
Art Type:	Illustration
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	137
Likes on CAF:	11 12
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	5/31/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Cleavenger painted this unpublished piece in art school or shortly thereafter, probably in the 1990s, based on information from the artist. He likely did the painting in the style of a classic men's magazine cover, based on what he wrote on the back.

He was probably experimenting with watercolors; his published paintings are in oil or acrylic. It's also one of his few, if only, paintings about World War II.

The Marine looking over his shoulder is based on an iconic World War II photo, "The Weary Warrior," that a Life magazine photographer snapped on the last day of the battle for Saipan, July 8, 1944.

"The Weary Warrior" is Private First Class Thomas Ellis Underwood, 4th Marine Division, from St. Petersburg, Florida, who was killed in action about eight months later in March 1945 on Iwo Jima. See https://1-24thmarines.com/research/the-weary-warrior/#read.

The painting is 12.25" x 17.5"

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About the Owner

	Peter Roe ( 1 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	February 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Comments on this Artwork

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Kavi H
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 5/31/2025

This is absolutely cover worthy! the watercolors are really nice. cool piece Peter, congrats!

Rick W
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 5/31/2025

Amazing work!

Tom McDonald
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 5/31/2025

Someday, some convention or college should pay you do do a presentation on history through comic art.

Peter Roe
Member Since 2009

Posted on 6/1/2025

Tom McDonald wrote:

Someday, some convention or college should pay you do do a presentation on history through comic art.

That's an interesting, cool idea. I would love to do that. Thanks, Tom!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 6/1/2025

Great iconic imagery! While war comics weren't in vogue during the 90's, war movies certainly were. A range of them from Spielberg to Michael Bay brought home the most realistic sequences put to film yet.

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 6/1/2025

Since the piece is unpublished, it's great that you at least got the image of the photo reference Cleavenger used. It really DOES look very much like a Men's Adventure Magazine cover. Very nice!

Michael Reyes
Member Since 2014

1 - Posted on 6/1/2025

Love war stuff.

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