|
Post by G on May 11, 2010 0:05:30 GMT -5
This was a heavy hitter from the past. I first seen this story break at the following link here.....Truly did some great pics. RIP Frank Frazetta. www.newsarama.com/comics/frank-frazetta-dead-100510.htmlArtist FRANK FRAZETTA Dead at 82Creators around the Internet are reporting the same thing, and The Beat has confirmed with his agent: That legendary artist Frank Frazetta has passed away at the age of 82. Frazetta was well-known for his dynamic, rugged art on seminal comics characters ranging from Conan the Barbarian to Shining Knight to Vampirella. One of Frazetta's most iconic images -- the Death Dealer, painted in 1973 -- eventually was used in comics, novels, and even a CD. Additionally, Frazetta also hit Hollywood, most notably for the animated 1983 feature Fire and Ice. He also drew movie posters for What's New, Pussycat?, Hotel Paradiso and the Gauntlet, among many others. Yet the Frazetta family's personal life has also been tumultous at best -- recently, his son Frank Jr. was arrested for driving a backhoe into the Frazetta Art Gallery, attempting to take $20 million in paintings. Frank Jr. had said that he had the power of attorney over his father's estate -- the charges were eventually dropped. "My son is an alien," Frazetta told the Ponoco Record in March. "There's no telling what he'll do. He's been like that for, I don't know, how many years. We played baseball in the old days. He always chose the opposite side from me." While there is no word as to how Frazetta died, he had suffered from a number of health conditions in recent years, including a thyroid condition and several debilitating strokes.
|
|
|
Post by defiant1 on May 11, 2010 0:20:49 GMT -5
This was a heavy hitter from the past. I first seen this story break at the following link here.....Truly did some great pics. RIP Frank Frazetta. www.newsarama.com/comics/frank-frazetta-dead-100510.htmlArtist FRANK FRAZETTA Dead at 82Creators around the Internet are reporting the same thing, and The Beat has confirmed with his agent: That legendary artist Frank Frazetta has passed away at the age of 82. Frazetta was well-known for his dynamic, rugged art on seminal comics characters ranging from Conan the Barbarian to Shining Knight to Vampirella. One of Frazetta's most iconic images -- the Death Dealer, painted in 1973 -- eventually was used in comics, novels, and even a CD. Additionally, Frazetta also hit Hollywood, most notably for the animated 1983 feature Fire and Ice. He also drew movie posters for What's New, Pussycat?, Hotel Paradiso and the Gauntlet, among many others. Yet the Frazetta family's personal life has also been tumultous at best -- recently, his son Frank Jr. was arrested for driving a backhoe into the Frazetta Art Gallery, attempting to take $20 million in paintings. Frank Jr. had said that he had the power of attorney over his father's estate -- the charges were eventually dropped. "My son is an alien," Frazetta told the Ponoco Record in March. "There's no telling what he'll do. He's been like that for, I don't know, how many years. We played baseball in the old days. He always chose the opposite side from me." While there is no word as to how Frazetta died, he had suffered from a number of health conditions in recent years, including a thyroid condition and several debilitating strokes. I have a couple of EC's with Frazetta art. I think Molly Hatchett made Frazetta a household name by using his art on their album covers. I've always felt he was over-rated and some of his peers were better to me... namely Al Williamson. df1
|
|
|
Post by G on May 13, 2010 6:37:33 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bigw1966 on May 16, 2010 7:18:18 GMT -5
The greatest Artist of the last 100 years. There is absolutely nothing overrated about him or his work. Frazetta made Conan a household name when his artwork graced the covers and caused people to stand jaws agape at the level of power and emotion on display in those images.
His women were women. His men were not to be messed with. Even the outstandingly gifted Joe Jusko proudly bows before Frazetta.
Frank was the bigest and most enduring inspiration on me as an Artist. I spent much of my youth tracing his images and coloring over the sketches in his various books. He had an incredible eye for color and composition and has easily influenced thousands of artists in every field of creative design.
This was a guy who above all others with few exceptions deserved the description of Legend.
His calender is on the wall next to me right now and it is glorious.
|
|
|
Post by G on May 16, 2010 11:29:35 GMT -5
The greatest Artist of the last 100 years. I certainly think he was a great artist and he had an impact on inspiring artists and fans of the genre. But I'm not quite sure I would go THAT far with it. At least not in terms of comics. You could maybe argue in terms of being a painter and even then I think he would have solid competition. But as far as comics, I'm not ready to declare him the greatest comic artist of the last 100 years. For one, there isn't a massive body of work to choose from and for two it's kind of narrow in its scope. Again, I don't want to take anything away from Frank Frazeta. May he rest in peace. He was a fantastic artist. Truly a legend of his time. I just think that "Greatest Artist of the last 100 years" is more personal and in terms of comics, I'm not ready to give him that label. But he was awesome, I will admit that.
|
|
|
Post by defiant1 on May 16, 2010 15:51:32 GMT -5
The greatest Artist of the last 100 years. There is absolutely nothing overrated about him or his work. Frazetta made Conan a household name when his artwork graced the covers and caused people to stand jaws agape at the level of power and emotion on display in those images. His women were women. His men were not to be messed with. Even the outstandingly gifted Joe Jusko proudly bows before Frazetta. Frank was the bigest and most enduring inspiration on me as an Artist. I spent much of my youth tracing his images and coloring over the sketches in his various books. He had an incredible eye for color and composition and has easily influenced thousands of artists in every field of creative design. This was a guy who above all others with few exceptions deserved the description of Legend. His calender is on the wall next to me right now and it is glorious. You crack me up. The greatest artist of the last 100 years?! What do you even base this on? Is he great because he can imagine fantasy color arrangements that will never be found in nature? Is he great because he can do really accurate photo-realistic paintings of men with unrealistic, yet idealized, muscle masses? Is it because he draws short women with big butts and very little clothing? Is it because he draws dark foreboding characters like they've just stopped in for a portrait at Sears? I think Frazetta was a very talented guy. He has a nice eye for color contrasts and evoking mood in his pieces. Greatest artist of the last 100 years? I'd save that tag for someone who changed the world. It definitely would not go to someone who drew fantasy paintings of a dark, desolate, and miserable setting. I would be more inclined to give that ranking of "greatest artist" to Theodor Geisel. df1
|
|
|
Post by bigw1966 on May 16, 2010 18:28:34 GMT -5
Geisel was a good Artist. so was Norman rockwell. And many others that I could fill this post up with. Frazetta is a Legend not just because I think so, but because MILLIONS of people think so. His impact on comics goes further than his own contemporaries like Walley Wood and yes, Al Williamson.
He has done paintings in many genres outside of fantasy. He has done Film posters and Illustrations and numerous other works over the decades that he worked. He was accepted to one of the most exclusive art schools when he was only eight years old.
While still alive, his originals were fetching millions of dollars at auctions. No other Living Artist could claim that. His style and his technique were very reminicent of the great renissance masters yet he created his own colors to bring the worlds he painted to life.
His woman reflected the woman of his time period and actually also fit the type of woman that are featured wihin the vast majority of classic paintings. In reality no one draws or paints woman that look like the drawings in current comic books. In fact, it was his mastery of the Sequential art that allowed him to Create paintings that felt alive. And sorry, but his anatomy is acvtually very accurate to reality. Just look through the paintings in this very thread and look at how the people look. Like in the Chariots painting. There was no subject matter that the man could not do beyond most other Artists.
Honestly I have no Interest in whether you agree with me or not defient. Its my opinion that I expressed anyway. Just like you. But hell, just reading your last post to me sums up your actual knowledge of Art. Especially after you compare him to a Sears portrait studio person.
Next time you are walking around a comics show, walk up to whoever your favorite Artist there is and ask them what their opinion of Frazetta is. Then tell them yours and see how long the conversation lasts.
|
|
|
Post by G on May 16, 2010 19:16:50 GMT -5
Can we just all agree that he meant different things to different people? Some more than others? I don't think anyone will deny he was a gifted artist and to some, he may even be the best. But I think the word best always is an opinion and it's really a "to each his own" reality. Who's to really say?
Some people will agree with you and some won't. It really doesn't matter. We all seem to have at least an appreciation for his work and even though it may not affect us personally, we all probably feel at least a little bit saddened by his loss. It means no matter what, there will never be anything new by Frazetta and that's a shame.
That's really all that matters. Yes I'm guilty for taking a side just like others have. But really, it's all opinions at this point.
|
|
|
Post by defiant1 on May 16, 2010 22:18:07 GMT -5
I said he was a talented artist. I actually own some comics he drew... originals. I just can't say he's the most important or even the best. Dr. Suess has likely reached more people than Frazetta will ever reach, Suess crossed all media barriers. He started doing advertising art. He went on to do political cartoons during WWII. He did childrens books, TV shows... movies were even released after he died. Frazetta is good no doubt, but to say he's the best or most important from the past century, I strongly disagree. Last major convention I went to only had a half dozen artist I was even interested in seeing. Why would I care what they think? I have no interest in Sword & Sorcery or Fantasy, so I consider Frazetta's talent wasted. I much prefer the Shock Suspenstories issue I own. You have a right to your opinion, we just disagree again. Check this out... www.mollyhatchet.com/There is a reason why people remember Death Dealer more than anything else he's done. Molly Hatchet sold at least 4 million records between '79 and '81 and everyone who sat with headphones on listening to their albums memorized that classic signature. Again, he's a talented guy, but there are a lot of talented artists out there. df1
|
|
|
Post by bigw1966 on May 17, 2010 8:26:18 GMT -5
I hear you, but I think you are trying to limit him to just comics work because you are not a fan of sword and sorcery. The thing is he did pulp style comics and even MAD Magazine style comics. The guy could draw anything out of his nead. Anything.
You mention Molly Hatchet. Thats great, except that Frazetta had already been dropping jaws for over a decade before they hired him. Hell it was his artwork that ignited the whole Van Art craze of the 60's - 70's He single handedly brought Conan back from the abyss and made him a viable fictional character again. All on the power of his covers. Covers that were so strong that they alone are the reason why Marvel moved forward thanks to Roy thomas on making a Conan comic. It was Frazetta's paintings that were used as direct referance when making the Conan films back in the 80's as well as almost every other sword and sorcery epic that came out before LOTR. Hell he and Ralf Bashki did Fire and Ice in Rotoscope Animation. It was a cool fantasy pic that was like one of his paintings come to life.
The reason I call him the greatest of the last century, is all to do with impact. His Impact is up there with Jack Kirby. Dali inspired many Impressionist painters. Giorgia O'Keefe inspired many also. Even Geisel crossed peoples perceptions. But none of them, even all of them combined ever had the impact on the wold of commercial Illustration AND fine Art like Frazetta. Every Generation he inspires thousands upon thousands of Artists to take a chance. To stretch their Imaginations.
Its Impact that sets him apart. This guy was the 500 Megaton Bomb of the commercial Art world. His presence will still be felt decades from now.
As far as the Death Dealer goes, yes Molley Hatchet can be thanked for getting that character noticed more, but did you ever think that maybe the imagry is just so powerful that it sticks with the viewer long after they have viewed it? Or the fact that He did 5 paintings with the character or that he brought him to battle Axe swinging life in the Fire and Ice cartoon?
Rockwell and Frazetta were both Illustrators who also happenedto be masters of the medium and great maniulators of Oil paint. Rockwell who is one of my top five personal favorites was not even considered a fine Artist until just a couple of years ago.
Frazetta was recognized by his contemporaries almost immediately for being beyond so many when it came to his skill.
I stick with feeling that he very much deserved to be called a true legend.
|
|