Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta | |
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Chesley Award (1988, 1995, 1997) Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame (2023)Hugo Award (1966) Spectrum Grand Master of Fantastic Art Award (1995) Inkwell Awards |
Frank Frazetta (born Frank Frazzetta
Frazetta was inducted into the comic book industry's
Early life
Born Frank Frazzetta in Brooklyn, New York City, Frazetta removed one "z" from his last name early in his career to make his name seem less "clumsy".[1] The only boy in a family with three sisters, he spent much time with his grandmother, who began encouraging him in art when he was two years old. In 2010, a month before his death, he recalled that:
When I drew something, she would be the one to say it was wonderful and would give me a penny to keep going. Sometimes I had nothing left to draw on but toilet paper. As I got older, I started drawing some pretty wild things for my age. I remember the teachers were always mesmerized by what I was doing, so it was hard to learn anything from them. So I went to art school when I was a little kid, and even there the teachers were flipping out.[3]
At age eight, Frazetta attended the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts,[4] a small art school run by instructor Michel Falanga. "[H]e didn't teach me anything, really," Frazetta said in 1994. "He'd come and see where I was working, and he might say, 'Very nice, very nice. But perhaps if you did this or that.' But that's about it. We never had any great conversations. He spoke very broken English. He kind of left you on your own. I learned more from my friends there."[5]
Career
Early work
For Dell's Famous Funnies, Frazetta did war and human interest stories for Heroic Comics, as well as one pagers extolling the virtues of prayer and the evils of drug abuse.[8] In comics like Personal Love and Movie Love, he did romance and celebrity stories.[9]
He married Massachusetts native Eleanor Kelly in New York City in November 1956.[1][10] The two had four children: Frank Jr., Billy, Holly, and Heidi.[1]
In 1961, after nine years with Al Capp, Frazetta returned to comic books. He also helped Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder on three stories of the bawdy parody strip Little Annie Fanny in Playboy magazine.[11]
Hollywood and book covers
In 1964, Frazetta's painting of Beatle Ringo Starr for a Mad magazine ad parody caught the eye of United Artists studios. He was approached to do the film poster for What's New Pussycat?, and earned the equivalent of his yearly salary in one afternoon.[12] He did several other film posters.[13]
Frazetta also produced paintings for
Primarily, these were in
An advertisement for Jōvan Musk, based on his work, was animated by Richard Williams in grease pencil and paint and shown in 1978.[15] The realism of the animation and design replicated Frazetta's artwork.[16] Frazetta and Ralph Bakshi were heavily involved in the production of the live-action sequences used for the film Fire and Ice's rotoscoped animation, from casting sessions to the final shoot.[16] The film was Frazetta's only work in animation, following its release he returned to his roots in painting and pen-and-ink illustrations.[17]
Frazetta's paintings have been used by a number of recording artists as
In 2009 Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist for Metallica, bought Frazetta's cover artwork for the paperback reissue of Robert E. Howard's "Conan the Conqueror" for $1 million.[1]
Later life and career
In the early 1980s, Frazetta created a gallery, Frazetta's Fantasy Corner, on the upper floors of a former
By 2009, Frazetta was living on a 67-acre (0.27 km2; 0.105 sq mi) estate in the Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania, with a small museum that is open to the public.[21] On July 17, 2009, his wife and business partner, Eleanor "Ellie" Frazetta, died after a year-long battle with cancer.[4] He then hired Rob Pistella and Steve Ferzoco to handle his business affairs.[1]
Shortly after Ellie Frazetta's death in December 2009, Frank Frazetta's eldest son Frank Jr. was arrested on charges of stealing $20 million in paintings from the family museum in a fight over the family fortune.[21] According to the police report, Frazetta Jr, with the help of two men, broke through the museum door using a backhoe and took about 90 paintings. According to the affidavit, Frank Jr. told the responding trooper he had permission from the owner, Frank Frazetta Sr....The trooper called the owner, who said he had not given his son permission to either be in the museum or remove paintings from it.[22] At issue was whether Frank Jr. believed he had the authority to remove the paintings from the Frazetta museum. Frazetta Sr.'s youngest son Bill Frazetta testified that the paintings belonged to a corporation called Frazetta Properties LLC, of which he shared management duties with his sisters. "I am a manager of the LLC. The art was supposed to stay in the museum", Bill Frazetta said.[23] Frank Jr. maintained that he was trying to prevent the paintings from being sold, per the wishes of his father, who he said had given him power of attorney over his estate.[24] Frank Sr. said he did not understand his son's actions.[25] The Frazetta family later issued a statement on April 23, 2010, that said, "all of the litigation surrounding his family and his art has been resolved. All of Frank's children will now be working together as a team to promote his ... collection of images....".[26]
Frank Frazetta died of a stroke on May 10, 2010, in a hospital near his residence in Florida.[1][2]
Accolades
Frazetta was inducted into the comic book industry's
Legacy
Frazetta has influenced many artists within the genres of fantasy and science fiction. Filmmaker and creator of Star Wars, George Lucas mentions Frazetta's work in a 1979 article by Alan Arnold stating "I'm a fan of comic art. I collect it. ...There are quite a few [contemporary] illustrators in the science-fiction and science-fantasy modes I like very much. I like them because their designs and imaginations are so vivid. Illustrators like Frazetta, Druillet, and Moebius are quite sophisticated in their style".[33] In 2018, Los Angeles' Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which is scheduled to complete construction in late 2021, announced it would display four Frazetta originals from Lucas' personal Frazetta collection.[34][35]
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro said in a 2010 Los Angeles Times article that Frazetta was nothing less than "an Olympian artist that defined fantasy art for the 20th century." Del Toro went on to say "He gave the world a new pantheon of heroes,.... He somehow created a second narrative layer for every book he ever illustrated."[36]
Fantasy artist and musician Joseph Vargo cites Frazetta as a primary influence, and his art calendars since 1998 mark Frazetta's birthday.[37] Chris Perna, art director at Epic Games, stated in an interview in 2011 that Frazetta was one of his influences.[38] Other artists influenced by Frazetta include comics artist such as Marc Silvestri[39] and Shelby Robertson.[40]
Photographer Mark Seliger credits Frazetta for the inspiration of his 2000 portrait photo of Jennifer Lopez.[41]
The face and body paint of professional wrestler Kamala was copied by artist and wrestler Jerry Lawler from a character in a Frazetta painting.[42]
In early 2012, filmmaker
Reopened solely by Frank Jr in 2013, the Frazetta Art Museum in
As of 2013, Holly Frazetta's collection was traveling throughout the U.S. with public showings at comics conventions. She also co-founded Frazetta Girls alongside daughter Sara Frazetta in 2014.
Frazetta's painting Egyptian Queen sold for $5.4 million (£4.2m) on May 16, 2019, at a public auction of vintage comic books and comic art held by Heritage Auctions in Chicago, Illinois, which set a new world record for comic art.[54] On June 27, 2023, Frazetta's Dark Kingdom (1976) was sold for 6 million U.S. dollars through Heritage Auctions, setting a new record for a Frazetta painting and for any fantasy art.[55]
List of works
Selected paintings
Year and date painted[56]
- Carson of Venus – 1963
- Tales from the Crypt – 1964[57]
- Lost City – 1964
- Land of Terror – 1964
- Reassembled Man – 1964
- Wolfman – 1965
- Conan the Barbarian – 1966
- Conan the Adventurer – 1966
- King Kong – 1966
- Sea Monster – 1966
- Spider Man – 1966
- The Sorcerer – 1966
- Swords of Mars – 1966
- Winged Terror – 1966
- The Brain – 1967
- Bran Mak Morn – 1967
- Cat Girl – 1967
- Conan the Conqueror – 1967
- Conan the Usurper – 1967
- Night Winds – 1967
- Sea Witch – 1967
- Snow Giants – 1967
- Conan the Avenger – 1968
- Rogue Roman – 1968
- Swamp Ogre – 1968
- Egyptian Queen – 1969
- Mongol Tyrant – 1969
- Primitive Beauty / La of Opar – 1969
- Savage World / Young World – 1969
- Vampirella – 1969
- A Princess of Mars – 1970
- Downward to the Earth – 1970
- Eternal Champion – 1970
- The Godmakers – 1970
- Nightstalker – 1970
- Pony Tail – 1970
- The Return of Jongor – 1970
- Sun Goddess – 1970
- Tyrannosaurus Rex – 1970
- Woman with a Scythe – 1970
- Desperation – 1971
- John Carter and the Savage Apes of Mars – 1971
- At the Earth's Core – 1972
- Birdman – 1972
- Creatures of the Night – 1972
- The Silver Warrior – 1972
- Thuvia, Maid of Mars – 1972
- A Fighting Man of Mars – 1973
- Atlantis – 1973
- Black Emperor – 1973
- Black Panther – 1973
- Black Star – 1973
- Conan of Aquilonia – 1973
- The Death Dealer I – 1973
- Flash for Freedom – 1973
- Flying Reptiles – 1973
- Ghoul Queen – 1973
- Gollum – 1973
- The Mammoth – 1973
- Monster Out of Time – 1973
- The Moon Maid – 1973
- Serpent – 1973
- Tanar of Pellucidar – 1973
- Tarzan and the Ant Men – 1973
- Tree of Death – 1973
- Barbarian – 1974
- Flashman on the Charge – 1974
- Invaders – 1974
- Madame Derringer – 1974
- The Mucker – 1974
- Paradox – 1975
- Dark Kingdom – 1976
- Bloodstone – 1975
- Darkness at Times Edge – 1976
- The Eighth Wonder / King Kong and Snake – 1976
- Fire Demon – 1976
- Queen Kong – 1976
- Golden Girl – 1977
- Castle of Sin / Arthur Rex – 1978
- The Cave Demon – 1978
- Kane on the Golden Sea – 1978
- Sound – 1979
- Witherwing – 1979
- The Sacrifice – 1980
- Las Vegas – 1980
- Seven Romans – 1980
- Fire and Ice – 1982
- Geisha – 1983
- The Disagreement – 1986
- Victorious – 1986
- Predators – 1987
- The Death Dealer II – 1987
- The Death Dealer III – 1987
- The Death Dealer IV – 1987
- The Death Dealer V – 1989
- Cat Girl II – 1990
- The Countess and the Greenman – 1991
- Dawn Attack – 1991
- The Moons Rapture / Catwalk – 1994
- Beauty and the Beast – 1995
- Shi – 1995
- The Sorceress – 1995
- The Death Dealer VI – 1996
- From Dusk till Dawn – 1996
Album covers
Source unless otherwise noted:[17]
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Movie posters
Source unless otherwise noted:[59]
- What's New Pussycat? (1965)
- The Secret of My Success (1965)
- After the Fox (1966)
- Hotel Paradiso (1966)
- The Busy Body (1967)
- The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
- Fitzwilly (1967)
- Mad Monster Party(1967)
- The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968)
- Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)
- Mrs. Pollifax-Spy (1971)
- Luana (1973)
- Mixed Company (1974)
- The Gauntlet (1977)
- Fire and Ice (1983)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Weber, Bruce; Itzkoff, Dave (May 10, 2010). "Frank Frazetta, Illustrator, Dies at 82; Helped Define Comic Book Heroes". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ^ a b "Frank Frazetta 1928–2010". ComicsBeat.com. May 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011.
- ^ "Part One: Frank Frazetta Profile". The Boca Beacon. Boca Grande, Florida. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on April 22, 2011.
- ^ Gannett Publishing. Archivedfrom the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2017. Includes sidebar: "Frank Frazetta Timeline: A Life Lived for Art".
- ^ a b c "Frank Frazetta Interview". The Comics Journal. May 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010.
- ^ Tally-Ho Comics at the Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on December 14, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012.
- ^ Frank Frazetta at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Giacomo, Michael San (February 19, 2009). "Frank McGee's True Heroics in Comics". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3519-7.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (July 17, 2009). "RIP: Ellie Frazetta". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-56971-519-2.
- ^ a b c d Frazetta Art Museum. "Bio, 1960s". Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
- ^ Holland, Steve (May 13, 2010). "Frank Frazetta obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ^ "Frazetta Painting Sells for $1 Million". Spectrum. November 14, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
- ^ Jerry, Beck (May 10, 2010). "Frank Frazetta (1928–2010)". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7893-1684-4.
- ^ a b Bails, Jerry. "FRAZETTA, FRANK". Bails Projects. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- Fort Hood Sentinel. Fort Hood, Texas. Archived from the originalon February 26, 2017.
- ^ Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated at the Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on December 14, 2017. Archived on December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Frazetta: Painting with Fire (2003)". PopMatters. May 5, 2003. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ a b "Frazetta Son Arrested in $20M Burglary from Family Art museum". Pocono Record. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Gannett Publishing. December 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ Frank, Howard (December 11, 2009). "Feud over Frazetta family fortune leads to criminal charges (with video)". Pocono Record. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Gannett Publishing. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020.
- ^ Frank, Howard (February 25, 2010). "Frazetta Jr. will head to trial in art heist case". Pocono Record. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Gannett Publishing. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020.
- ^ Kidwell, David (December 16, 2009). "Frazetta son in court for preliminary hearing". Pocono Record. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Gannett Publishing. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017.
- ^ Frank, Howard (March 26, 2010). "Frank Frazetta Sr.: My son's 'gone haywire'". Pocono Record. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Gannett Publishing. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Frazetta siblings resolve dispute over fantasy art". Associated Press. April 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "Frank Frazetta". Museum of Pop Culture. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Frank Frazetta". Society of Illustrators. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "SF Site News " Frank Frazetta". Science Fiction Site. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Frank Frazetta". Album Cover Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Frazetta and Shores announced as Inkwell Awards' 2023 Lifetime Achievement — Major Spoilers — Comic Book Reviews, News, Previews, and Podcasts". Majorspoilers.com. March 15, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Almond, Bob (March 13, 2023). "INKWELL AWARDS' 2023 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WINNERS ANNOUNCED". Firstcomicsnews.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ISBN 9780978465230. Archived(PDF) from the original on June 14, 2020.
- ^ Strauss, Bob (March 14, 2018). "The Force was strong in LA as 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas launched his Narrative Art museum". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2019.
- ^ Cascone, Sarah (October 30, 2019). "George Lucas's Museum of Narrative Art Hires the Met's Education Department Whiz as Its New Director". Artnet News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019.
- ^ "Frank Frazetta dies at 82; renowned fantasy illustrator". Los Angeles Times. May 11, 2010.
- ^ "Artist Biography". Joseph Vargo. Archived from the original on September 24, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- YouTube
- ^ "The Third Degree: Marc Silvestri". Point of Impact. Image Comics. October 2012. Page 27.
- ^ "Creating a Graphic Novel : Art – Food – Photography: Shelby Robertson". October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ "The Surprising Stories Behind These Amazing Photos of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and J.Lo". People. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ King, Jason (November 19, 2014). "From Wrestling Legend to Double Amputee, Kamala Keeps Fighting". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ Gilchrist, Todd (April 24, 2012). "'Machete Kills' Director Robert Rodriguez Lines Up 'Fire and Ice' After 'Sin City 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 18, 2014). "Sony Pictures Acquires Robert Rodriguez & His Frank Frazetta Homage 'Fire And Ice'". Deadline Hollywood (Penske Business Media, LLC). Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
- ^ "Robert Rodriguez at the Frank Frazetta Museum". YouTube. December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Whittaker, Richard. "Frazetta Up Close". The Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020.
- ^ "Museum". Frazetta Art Museum. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ Whittaker, Richard (November 29, 2013). "Robert Rodriguez: Future Sins, Fiery Projects". The Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ Salkowitz, Rob (January 27, 2023). "Art Titan Frank Frazetta's Legacy Keeps Growing With New Projects And A Massive Retrospective". Forbes. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ "HUF Releases Heavy Metal-Inspired Capsule Honoring Artist Frank Frazetta". HYPEBEAST. July 30, 2019.
- ^ Roberts, Tyler (January 22, 2020). "Conan the Barbarian Arrives with New Figure from Mezco Toyz". Bleedingcool.com. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ "The Frank Frazetta Art Museum". YouTube. April 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ "Frank Frazetta's Iconic Death Dealer Painting Inspires New Comic Series (Exclusive Preview)". February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Egyptian Queen by Frank Frazetta Sets $5.4 Million World Record at Heritage Auctions". DownTheTubes.net. May 17, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ Boucher, Brian (June 28, 2023). "A Frank Frazetta Painting of a Brawny Warrior Sold for $6 Million, Making It the World's Highest-Priced Work of Comic Book or Fantasy Art Ever". Artnet. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-934331-09-5.
- ^ Gaines, William (December 14, 1964). "Tales from the Crypt". Ballantine. Retrieved December 14, 2017 – via Amazon.
- ^ "Welcome to the LBJ Ranch!" (Back cover). Capitol Records. 1965.
- ^ a b Friedman, Drew (January 8, 2012). "The Movie Comedy Poster Art of Frank Frazetta". Drew Friedman official blog. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
Sources
- Frazetta, Jr., Frank (2013). Herman, Daniel (ed.). Frank Frazetta: Art and Remembrances. New Castle, Pennsylvania: ISBN 978-1-61345-055-0.
Further reading
- Book: Testament: The Life and Art of Frank Frazetta, ISBN 1-887424-62-8
- Movie: Frank Frazetta: Painting with Fire
- Magazine article: "Mr. Fantasy", Circus, November 14, 1978
External links
- Frank Frazetta at IMDb
- Frank Frazetta at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Frank Frazetta discography at Discogs
- Frazetta Art Museum
- Frazetta Girls Corp