The Susan Van Camp Biography, such as it is.

Hi, I am Susan Van Camp. Most of my friends just call me Sue. I am an Artist, Game Designer, Comic Creator, Writer, Daughter, Wife and anything else I can fit into my schedule.

I am happiest when I can jump from one project to a totally different project the next day. Having so many parallel interests makes it difficult to make a sensible Biography, so I thought I would just tear it into pieces and give you a “tour” of the different parts.

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The Artist:
From my earliest days in school I drew. Instead of studying boring school stuff I would find my pencil and paper and “doodle”. Ultimately it was great training. Most of my time of an artist is spent trying to create the ideas which get to a painting, or other art project. I made my way through High school and went to Sienna Heights for the art program. I learned a lot from my time there, but I never really felt comfortable. I wanted to draw Dragons, Pixies, Unicorns, and cats. They were aiming for the “Fine Arts” feel.

My first commercial artwork was done in the gaming field. I did work in Steve Jackson’s Car Wars series and for Tunnels and Trolls from the fine people at Flying Buffalo. Next I got an opportunity to work in comics with Tales from the Anniverse and Varcel’s Vixens; I have never gotten comics out of my blood. Around the same time I discovered the art shows that are held at Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions. This is when I began my painting career. I attended conventions and put my paintings up for bidding by the public. I met a lot of wonderful people and received valuable advice. The next step was to start creating prints of my work and selling those at tables in dealers rooms at Game, Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions.

I was now making a living by painting and selling artwork. I began doing commissioned paintings for patrons. Some of these would also become prints for me to sell. In the summer of 1994 I was at my table at GenCon selling art when Jespor Myfors from Wizard’s of the Coast approached me. He asked if I wanted to do artwork for there new game called Magic the Gathering. I walked the Con I saw kids sitting on the floor and playing the game. I got myself a copy and tried it. It was fun, so I said yes. Over the next three to four years I did a huge amount of card art for Magic, Jyhad, Cuthulu, Middle Earth and a dozen more games. I learned to produce good work in a hurry.

After this “era” I began doing art for my own game, Dragon Storm. I began to experiment with selling my art on-line and eventually through places like e-bay as well. This has allowed me to trim my convention schedule. It gives me more time to do the art I want to do, and hopefully the art people want me to do.

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The Game Designer:
I enjoy gaming and the company of gamers. I like to play a bit of Red Empire, Nuclear War, Colonial Zulu’s, Warhammer, Diablo II, Lineage I and many more, but my real passion in gaming is table top fantasy role-playing.

I started with Tunnels and Trolls far too long ago to discuss, and as my first RPG it will always hold a special meaning for me. From there I flirted a bit with D&D. Then I ran into Runequest. My friends and I played Runequest off and on for years, but it unfortuantely the game eventually disappeared.

I decided in late 1994 to resurrect my old campaign and started laying it out in D&D. I quickly realized that this was going to take more time than I had. I looked for another game, but nothing really fit my needs. That was when I designed Dragon Storm. I needed a game with the flexibility to fit in my schedule, and since no one was making one, I did.

In May of 1996 we began selling Dragon Storm and we continue to expand that universe right up to today. We are currently working on several additional backgrounds which will work with the DS engine. I don’t know when the time will appear to actually finish any of them, but I will.

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The Comics Career:

As a youngster I bought and drooled over many a comic. I think the X-Men were my favorite. As I grew older I realized that it was not just the art, but also the stories that got my attention. If a book had great art and a poor story, I found myself losing interest quickly and moving on. If it had so-so art and a good story it kept me longer. I grew to appreciate both the art and the story telling. A comic just wasn’t complete without both.

I got an opportunity early in my career to collaborate on Varcel’s Vixens from Arrow Comics with Randy Zimmerman. It was a black and white comic with a “furry” cast. The book made it a half a dozen issues--not bad for an independent comic in those days. Next I got a chance to do a follow up mini-series called Varcel’s Vixens with Caliber comics. I loved doing these projects, but they consumed me for a couple of years and they just did not provide enough money to live on. I reluctantly moved on.

Now I am always trying to figure out a way to get comic projects going. I have a Dragon Storm comic and Shadow Fire comic I am working on, but they just get squeezed out, so It may be a some time before they get to print.


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The Family:
I grew up in Flint Michigan. My father was a factory worker and my mother a homemaker. My parents worked very diligently to get all of their kids an education and prepare us for the real world. It was my Mother who pushed me to create a work ethic that would get me a job and a career.

I also have three brothers and three sisters. Growing up with six other kids demanding attention taught me a thing or two. Fortunately none of the lessons were permanent and I talk to all of them and we get along well.

I try to make time every week to spend a few hours with my parents, because we all need family.

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Home Life:
Back in my early gaming days I shopped at a local hobby shop for my 25 mm figures, paints and role-playing games. The guy who ran the game department, Mark, invited me to one of his Runequest games. I said yes, not realizing that he had an ulterior motive. I met the “guys” and thoroughly enjoyed the game so it became a weekly ritual. Somewhere along the line Mark asked me out on a real date. This too became part of my life. It only seemed natural that we should move in together and combine our miniatures collections.

We are now married, live in a cozy house with a cat and two dogs. As for the rest of the guys in that original game group, well, they will be over Sunday night for our weekly game.

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Well, that's it. I hope that it has given you a decent look into my life and the history that has brought me to where I am today.

Thanks for your Patronage!

Sue