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July - August 2004 |
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Hello Fans,
Welcome back to the original Frazetta web site. I apologize for the long
delay with updating the site but with my children out for summer vacation
and my golf businesses in full swing, I hardly find time to play golf let
alone find interesting things to write about pertaining to the Art Gallery.
Dads health is as good as to be expected and his spirits are high as he
continues to rework the Reign of Wizardry painting.
Back in June the entire family took an eight day cruise to the Bahamas which
most of us enjoyed immensely. I found it a bit boring based on the ship
ported Wednsday from New York and sailed for seven days out of the eight. I
will say the food was fabulous, especially the dinners. My father enjoyed
just sitting by the pool photographing the grand kids splash about all
afternoon. When we finally arrived in Porto Rico on Saturday, a few of us
decided to take the tour of the rain forest some 25 miles north of the city
boundries.
It was an experience that I personally will never forget. After the hour
drive north, we were all tired and physically drained from the humidity in
the small tour bus. Each of us could hardly find the strength to walk up the
mountain side adjacent to the windy mountain road. But I will say, after the
hour long walk through the rain forrest, I was rejuvenated like I was
enjected with a B-12 shot. The oxygen levels were so high your body absorbed
it like vitamins. When I came out at the bottom of the hillside, I could
have run a marathon. I was filled with energy like never before. Whether it
was mental or physical, I was a new man.
The new Came the Dawn Portfolios are selling well and I was told
publisher, Russ Cochran will be releasing a large format magazine that has
many of the Ec comic works done by my father in the late 50’s. I will keep you posted when they come available.
Other new products now coming available are the 2005 calander, 3 new color
zippo lighters, The Brain, The Death Dealer and Silver Warrior. We are now
offering a limited supply of just 50 signed Honda motor sports Posters that
are 24x40 on heavy grade artist paper. These were only distributed to the
dealers who sold the Rune motorcycle. I was told less than 1,000 were ever
printed in the U.S.A. and we have 50 available for resale. I was told there was a 100 foot billboard in Times Square new York promoting their new motorcycle.
In the main stream news, the IFN network, independent film network showed the film, Painting with Fire at to different times. Eight pm and eleven thirty. I was amazed at how many of my local clientele called me the next morning telling me how they enjoyed the film. I would have bet they would be watching a ball game or the Olympics instead of surfing the channels for more interesting things to view. Everyone’s response was the same when I had asked them about the scene with the bats flying over my head. They loved my remarks that after years of trial and error, a tennis racket was by far the ultimate choice for taking down the rabid intruders. It certainly brings back fond memories from the early 1970’s. Remember, bats were something out of horror films for a kid from Brooklyn, not something that makes it nightly visit in your living room. It was not the bite that alarmed us as much as the rumors that they dive bomb you and get entangled in your hair. Then they proceed to gnaw at your scalp until one of your family members crushes it against your scull with a heavy metal pot or pan. Over the initial few years of the remodeling of our new home in the Pocono’s, my father and I undoubtedly had an impact on the destruction of the bat population in the north eastern section of the United States. Later, to our remorse, we found out that every time we killed off one these insect eating creatures we intern let the mosquito population thrive. Now when we look into the evening skies and see these bats twisting and turning around the lake and feasting on their favorite morsel, we appreciate what a wonderful little animal this really is. Now if a bat ever finds its way into our home we no longer greet it with a Andy Roddick back hander, just simply open the front door and wait till nature gives he or she a call and it flies back into the darkness of the night.
In the next year or so I am hoping to branch off somewhat from my golf business and start promoting my fathers artwork at conventions all around the world. This would also include publishing more books and statues for the fans to see first hand. I know how hard it is for our generation to take time off or leave their family to visit the Art Gallery at any given time. I would love to bring the original artwork to them, meaning the west coast area, or possibly display the art at the San Diego convention every year. What could be more disappointing for a Frazetta fan to never actually see an original in person. The vibrant colors and the depth of the oils that cannot be seen in most reproductions. It would be a great injustice. I have a few friends also giving me the encouragement and with enough persistence it may pay off in the long run. Hello RC and Dominic. I will be attending the Chiller convention in October at the Meadow lands in New Jersey. I enjoyed myself last fall talking with the fans and listening to each personal life long story and how my fathers art impacted their decisions in life. It is an enlightening experience to hear all the positive comments and how his art inspired their career. Not until I began taking art lessons from my father in 1982, did I understand what an amazing gift he possessed. He makes it look easy! This is my thinking and the prominent reason why his is so readily imitated. He has simplified it like no one else. Detailed where they need the dramatics and power to jump out of the canvas and a simple, well, what looks so simple the ghosting out images and blending colors that looks like anyone can do it. But it is not simple!!! My father just makes it look that way because he is simply the best at doing it.. as all of us imitators need know. I can copy almost anything he has done real close to the original. But that’s nothing for me to be proud of. I don’t get any gratitude or satisfaction that I have accomplished anything by copying what he has already created from his mind or imagination. I get far more gratification from creating something original, from my own head. Drawing my little ant pictures, I love to anticipate the look on my parents faces when I unveil the new picture. To see their gut reaction to something that I am proud of. Then if it is up to what my father feels is quality work for me he will proceed to smack me in the back of my head and say what the matter with you? You can be a great artist, why don’t you continue with this career? Then I reply, not enough cash pop!
Sincerely yours ,
Frank Frazetta JR
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