Earlier this month the we sadly lost one of the foremost and talented Fantasy
& Sci-Fi Illustrator/Artists of all time, America’s Frank Frazetta who
passed away on the 10th of May aged 82. Franks career spanned an almost
unbelievable 60+ year’s when he started working in the comic book industry aged
just 15, initially providing pencil clean-ups he soon progressed to drawing
comics an by the 50’s was producing work spanning a raft of genres including
Western, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Historical Drama. Later a spoof Illustration of Ringo Starr for MAD
Magazine would bring Frazetta to Hollywood’s attention and he was soon producing
Poster artwork, the first of which for the 1964 feature “What’s New
Pussycat?” earning him $4,000 – then a years salary for an afternoons worth
of work!
Frank’s commercial work was primarily rendered in oils, but he also worked in
watercolours, Ink’s and Pencils – examples of which I’ve included above – a
style which incorporates brooding compositions of ultra-defined muscular heroes
and heroines, always poised for or in mid-action. Other telling trait’s include
tattered flailing clothing, powerful ornate armour and weaponry, all beautifully
lit beneath apocalyptic skies…
Read more about Frank: his obituary at The Gaurdian.co.uk http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/13/frank-frazetta-obituary
or
at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Frazetta
–
Here’s the notes on Sci-Fi-O-Rama’s visual tribute to Frank and his supreme
talent, vision and influence…
Top: “The Silver Warrior” – One of Frazetta’s most famous works. Image via
Flickr user mtkup
2nd top: “Death Dealer” (1973) Probably Frank’s most Iconic and recognisable
image, originally painted in 1973 the used by for rock group Molly Hathcet for the self
titled 1978 album.
3rd top: (1966) Not sure of the title here (please post if you know) image is
via net-cafe.hu
4th top: (1977) Movie poster for the Clint Eastwood 70’s action flick “The
Gauntlet” (not part of Dirty Harry series). Staring Clint Eastwood and then
partner Sondra Locke, this is one of my favourite movie posters of all time!
(movie’s not bad)
5th & 6th top : Samples of Frazetta’s Comic book / Black and White
work…
Bottom: A portrait of Frank taken in 1984 at the Frank Frazetta Museum, prior
to opening. image via Flickr user: StevieB44
–
Recommended further reading & viewing:
Frank teamed up with Director Ralph Bakshi to create the 1983 animated
feature film “Fire and Ice”
check the trailer at youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r75CZPk8uPs
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