Frank Frazetta Passes

A legend has passed on. Frank Frazetta passed away this afternoon in Fort Meyers, Florida due to a stroke.


Conan Illustration (1967)

To say that Frank Frazetta was a master of illustration is an understatement. Frazetta could take a simple story concept and make it breathtaking-- more often than not, the books he illustrated were never as satisfying as the images that graced their covers. Frazetta was a true renaissance man, combining so many well-honed talents that it's hard to keep track of the ways he expressed himself. He redefined the art of illustration and reintroduced concepts and themes of classicism to what had been deemed "commercial" or "low" art. Each assignment he turned out from his studio did more than fit the commission he was charged to fill-- it broke the mold and swept away the pieces. Frazetta inspired a generation of young artists who learned that just because a piece was commissioned by a client as a commercial product didn't mean that it had to be anything less than a true work of art.

More than just an artist, Frazetta was a loving and generous husband and father who would have done anything to keep his family safe and happy. His love affair with his life and his family is a true inspiration to young men who desire to be the best they can be for the ones they love.

In his later years, Frazetta endured a series of strokes that rendered his right hand incapable of holding a brush to paint. As always, Frazetta refused to be defeated and taught himself to paint with his left hand. Frazetta was a fighter from early on, and his failing body wasn't going to stop him from creating while he drew breath.


Self Portrait (1962)

Frank Frazetta was many different things to many different people, but he'll always be an inspiration to me to never give up on my own creativity and to love my family like there is no tomorrow.

Goodbye, Mr. Frazetta... may you enjoy the rest you have deserved after your long journey.

You left your family with so much... they will never hunger or thirst, and they will never forget what you gave them.

You left your fans with so much as well... we will always strive to make work of which you would approve.

For more on Frank Frazetta, be sure to check out Painting With Fire, one of the best documentaries about an artist I have ever seen. I highly recommend it.

Leapin' Lizards!

Here's a better view of that Lizardman drawing I posted a while back. You never know how much you need your scanner until you don't have one!

Some older things...

I'm feeling kinda yucky today, so I figured I'd share some old drawings and such.

First up: some old sketches from the sketchbook:








A drawing for an online calender:



Several pieces that were in art shows:




And a few I did just because I felt like doing them!

Godzilla vs. The Sickness Monster

So I've been pretty darn sick. Every year around this time I usually get sick, so it's no real shocker. My mom picked up some medicine for me today because I can't even go outside. On the way back she stopped by the local thrift store and grabbed me this Godzilla kiddie book for 25 cents. It's goofy as heck, but the illustrations are pretty nice (I have no idea who the Motown Animation crew are, but they do nice work!). It really made my day and brightened my spirits. Moms are awesome!

I figured I'd share it with everyone (click on the pics to see them bigger):



















Pretty violent for a kiddie book! I love it!
Hope you guys enjoy it!

The Walking Read

In October of 2003 a black and white comic book with a small print run called The Walking Dead was published by Image Comics. The writer, Robert Kirkman, had a simple idea behind the series: he wanted to know what happened to the survivors of a zombie movie after the movie was over. The series quickly became a hit, and it is currently up to issue #66.

The story follows a small band of survivors of a zombie apocalypse. The group, led by police officer Rick Grimes, transform from scared victims to hardened survivalists to brutalized victims again and again. The horror element of the zombies, as present as it is in the story, is just a backdrop for the human drama that is all too real. We see that the scariest monster of them all is humanity unhindered by conventional morality or societal consequences. It is NOT a kid’s comic book—it is dark and humorless and deeply moving at times.

I’ve been reading The Walking Dead since the summer of 2005 when I picked up volume 1 of the collected series on sale. Since that time I have read 9 volumes of the books, usually picking them up as soon as they were published. The latest volume, volume 10, came in the mail Saturday. I was not prepared.



Volume 10 is hardcore. It is NOT for the weak-willed. There has been some rough stuff in the book up until this point, but this one is as bleak as the book has ever been. The survivors have been trimmed down to a skeletal shadow of their former group. They are weak, scared, and ultimately abandoned in a world of danger. While the wicked human element is still a forceful presence, it takes a back seat this time to the undead. Kirkman reminds us very suddenly why we fear death. When the big event in the book happens you’ll gasp. I know I did. It takes a good bit for me to get worked up over a comic book, but this one did it. I have been waiting since day one of this book for the zombies to make their debut as the true monsters of the book, and boy do they do it in this volume.

I hope I’m being cryptic enough to not give anything specific away. The Walking Dead is the kind of book you love to share. It’s a great book that demands you read it all at once—no stopping with this one! Once you start reading a volume, you have to read it until the end. One part of the fun of sharing the book with others is not spoiling any surprises for them. That’s one of the main reasons I don’t have any links in this blog to information about the series—almost every source reveals too much to potential readers who are coming to this fresh.

If you think the book would be your kind of thing, I suggest checking out at least volume 1. You can find it at a great price here:

The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone By (Paperback) at Overstock.com

It’s only $7.94 there and shipping costs $1.00. That’s 9 bucks for a collection of 6 issues of an awesome series you won’t regret reading if you dig gritty horror and extremes of human drama. It’s not for the squeamish, and it’s not for kids, but it’s great for adults who appreciate a good scare!