Can you conceive of Super HTM man or woman? I mean, can you create a mental image of what that superhero might look like and then put it on paper? It takes a special talent to clearly conceive of an image in your head and then bring it to life on a sketchpad.
Eric Dotson, CBET, a biomed with an ISO, who works at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Georgia, can handle that assignment and much more. As a comic book collector and artist, Dotson can put ink to paper with the best of them.
The ability to draw did not come late to Dotson; he has been doing it since he was a kid.
“I would draw everything from animals to log cabins to superheroes. I continued to draw off and on throughout high school and college,” Dotson remembers.
“In college, I drew a couple of designs for some guitars that I would later make. After college, I worked as a draftsman for a structural detailing company. As far as drawing comics, I really started around 1994, when I met fellow artist Lee Jiles,” he adds. “My first comic was published in 2000. It was a four page mini comic collaboration with Lee.”
Taking it to a Bigger Audience
Dotson is co-creator of About Time Comics with Jiles. Dotson’s artwork graces titles like “Godsend,” “In Flight Services” and “Dreamer.” Beyond the titles from About Time Comics, Dotson has contributed to several other works.
These include “A Redneck’s Guide to Being a Christian” by Jeff Todd, “Fried Pickle Noir” and “Scairy Tales” by J. R. Mounts, “The Electrifying Lightning Man” by David Amorando, “A Doorknob’s Society” and “Adam Zero” by Marc Fletcher.
“About Time Comics is the result of a chance meeting between Lee Jiles and myself around 1994 at a local comic shop,” Dotson says. “We kept running into each other at various conventions throughout the year and started collaborating on a comic book. After many years, failed attempts and several company name changes, we finally decided that it was ‘about time’ we got it together and seriously started putting out comics. Thus ‘About Time Comics’ was born.”
“Currently, we are working on three titles – “Dreamer,” “Godsend,” and “In Flight Service.” These titles and other information can be found on our website www.abouttimecomics.com or on Facebook,” he says.
Dotson has worked on other comic projects; both drawing and inking. “My drawings ranged from robots for a project for autism — “Bots” by Nic Carcieri and others — to drawing a pickle detective (‘Fried Pickle Noir’ by JR. Mounts),” he says.
“But, my main passion has become inking,” Dotson explains. “Inking is where you take a person’s penciled drawing and complete it with ink, adding depth and shadow. Along with the current inking duties on my own books, I have inked numerous projects by others such as ‘The Doorknob Society’ and ‘Adam Zero’ by Marc Fletcher, ‘Pancho Villa’ by Salvador Raga and ‘A Redneck’s Guide to Being a Christian’ by Jeff Todd,” Dotson says.
The Internet has provided a bridge to many other comic artists across the U.S. and around the world, which has allowed Dotson to work with many of his fellow artists, as well as writers.
Comic book conventions are part of the gig as well.
Multi-Instrument Savvy
If the talent with the pen and ink weren’t enough, Dotson has some musical talent he inherited from his dad. He watched his dad play guitar in a country rock band, and his dad tried to teach him the instrument, but Dotson thought that drums were more his speed at the time.
“During high school, I ended up playing drums with my dad’s band for a while. Eventually, I learned to play guitar and bass. Throughout my college years, I jammed with roommates and played in a band for one gig,” Dotson recalls.
“Although I didn’t play anywhere after that, I kept practicing. It wasn’t until after I moved to Georgia that I got serious about playing. Around 1995, I started playing acoustic guitar for the Southern Hills Christian Church Praise Band.”
Dotson played with the praise band for about 15 years. He found the experience to be very fulfilling.
“It was not only a chance to play guitar, but a privilege to play for God and hopefully, through the music, be an inspiration and bring others closer to God. Currently, I am working on music for a Christian CD with Jeff Todd,” Dotson says.
Playing guitar and bass can create a real appreciation for both instruments, but building those instruments from scratch can take that appreciation to a new level. And why stop there, when you can build an instrument that isn’t seen every day.
“My major in college was Engineering Operations: Manufacturing Musical Instruments. A few of my classes involved woodworking,” Dotson says. “For my final senior project, I decided that I wanted to build a guitar that I had not seen before — a double neck solid body acoustic. After building that guitar, I went on to make an electric guitar and a bass guitar.”
That was a guitar with one hollow acoustic body and one solid body. He did a short stint with Ovation guitar before graduating.
The facility where Dotson works is a 201-bed acute care medical center. The facility serves west Georgia and east Alabama. Like most biomeds, he works on just about every type of medical equipment.
“I am a clinical engineering supervisor at Tanner Medical Center. I received my AAS in Biomedical Equipment repair in 1992. I started my job in 1993 and in 1996, I became a Certified Biomed Equipment Technician. From day one, my job duties weren’t limited to any specialty. I was given the opportunity to work on everything from thermometers to ventilators to X-ray units. This has allowed me to better understand the biomed world as a whole rather than one little aspect of it. Recently our department joined the IT department to better bridge the two worlds of biomed and IT.”
From workbench to artist easel to music stand, this HTM professional has drawn on many experiences and illustrates what can be accomplished working with your hands.