Editing Frank Frazetta

{{Short description|American illustrator and painter (1928–2010)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox artist
| name          = Frank Frazetta
| image         = Ffrazettaself.jpg
| caption       = Frazetta's self-portrait in 1962
| birth_name     = Frank A. Frazzetta
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1928|2|9}}
| birth_place    = [[Sheepshead Bay, New York]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2010|5|10|1928|2|9}}
| death_place    = [[Fort Myers, Florida]], U.S.
| field         = Illustration, painting, sculpting
| training      = [[Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts]]
| movement      =
| works         =
| patrons       =
| awards        = [[Chesley Award]] (1988, 1995, 1997)<br>Hugo Award (1966)<br>Spectrum Grand Master of Fantastic Art Award (1995) <br>[[Inkwell Awards]] Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame (2023)}}

'''Frank Frazetta''' (born '''Frank Frazzetta''' {{IPAc-en|f|r|ə|ˈ|z|ɛ|t|ə}}; February 9, 1928&nbsp;– May 10, 2010)<ref name=nytimesobit /><ref name="death">{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta 1928–2010 |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/05/10/frank-frazetta-rip/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501012227/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/05/10/frank-frazetta-rip/ |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |publisher=ComicsBeat.com}}</ref> was an American [[artist]] known for themes of [[Fantasy art|fantasy]] and [[science fiction]], noted for [[comic books]], [[mass market paperback|paperback book]] covers, paintings, posters, [[LP record]] album covers, and other media. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of fantasy art", and one of the most renowned illustrators of the 20th century. He was also the subject of a 2003 documentary ''Painting with Fire''.

Frazetta was inducted into the comic book industry's [[The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame|Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame]], the [[Jack Kirby Hall of Fame]], the [[Society of Illustrators]] Hall of Fame, the [[Museum of Pop Culture|Science Fiction Hall of Fame]], and was awarded a Life Achievement Award from the [[World Fantasy Convention]].

==Early life==
Born Frank Frazzetta in [[Sheepshead Bay, New York]], located in [[Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_E8AAAAMAAJ&q=%22Sheepshead+Bay%22 | title=American Artist | last1=Watson | first1=Ernest William | last2=Guptill | first2=Arthur Leighton | date=1976 }}</ref> Frazetta removed one "z" from his last name early in his career to make his name seem less "clumsy".<ref name="nytimesobit">{{Cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Bruce |last2=Itzkoff |first2=Dave |date=May 10, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta, Illustrator, Dies at 82; Helped Define Comic Book Heroes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/arts/artsspecial/11frazetta.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 10, 2010}}</ref> 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:
{{blockquote|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.<ref name="bocabeacon1">{{Cite news |date=April 16, 2010 |title=Part One: Frank Frazetta Profile |work=The Boca Beacon |location=Boca Grande, Florida |url=http://www.bocabeacon.com/?p=3990 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110422171137/http://www.bocabeacon.com/?p=3990 |archive-date=April 22, 2011}}</ref>}}

At age eight, Frazetta attended the [[Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts]],<ref name="pocono-obit">{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Howard |date=May 11, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta, Master of Fantasy Art, Dead at 82 |work=[[Pocono Record]] |publisher=[[Gannett Publishing]] |location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100511/NEWS/5110316 |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131130517/http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100511/NEWS/5110316 |archive-date=January 31, 2013}} Includes sidebar: "Frank Frazetta Timeline: A Life Lived for Art".</ref> a small [[art school]] run by Italian instructor Michele 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."<ref name="tcj">{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta Interview |url=http://www.tcj.com/interviews/frank-frazetta-interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514153647/http://www.tcj.com/interviews/frank-frazetta-interview |archive-date=May 14, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Comics Journal]]}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early work===
[[File:FamousFunniesNo214.jpg|thumb|[[Buck Rogers]] cover for ''[[Famous Funnies]]'' number 214 (December 1953).]]In 1944, at age 16, Frazetta, who had "always had this urge to be doing [[comic books]]",<ref name=tcj /> began working in comics artist [[Bernard Baily]]'s studio doing pencil clean-ups.<ref name=pocono-obit /> His first comic-book work was [[inker|inking]] the eight-page story "Snowman", [[penciler|penciled]] by [[John Giunta]], in the [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] ''Tally-Ho Comics'' (Dec. 1944), published by Swappers Quarterly and Almanac/Baily Publishing Company.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/213374/#385508 ''Tally-Ho Comics''] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]. Retrieved on December 14, 2017. [https://archive.today/20120728141535/http://www.comics.org/issue/213374/%23385508 Archived] from the original on July 28, 2012.</ref> It was not standard practice in comic books during this period to provide complete credits, so a comprehensive listing of Frazetta's work is difficult to ascertain. His next confirmed comics works are two signed penciled-and-inked pieces in [[Prize Comics]]' ''Treasure Comics'' #7 (July 1946): the four-page "Know your America" is Frank Frazetta's first "solo" work, and the single page "Ahoy! Enemy Ship!", featuring his character Capt. Kidd Jr.<ref name="gcd">[http://www.comics.org/credit/name/Frank%20Frazetta/sort/chrono/ Frank Frazetta] at the Grand Comics Database</ref> In a 1991 interview in ''[[The Comics Journal]]'', Frazetta credited [[Graham Ingels]] as the first one in the comic book industry to recognize his talent, and to give him jobs at [[Standard Comics]] in 1947.<ref name=tcj />

For [[Dell Publishing|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/frank-mcgees-true-heroics-in-comics/ |title=Frank McGee's True Heroics in Comics |last=Giacomo |first=Michael San |date=February 19, 2009 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=February 2, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202194058/https://www.cbr.com/frank-mcgees-true-heroics-in-comics/ |archive-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref> In comics like ''[[Personal Love]]'' and ''[[Movie Love]]'', he did romance and celebrity stories.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nolan |first=Michelle |date=2008 |title=Love on the Racks: A History of American Romance Comics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BtF7BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA165 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |page=165 |isbn=978-0-7864-3519-7}}</ref>

From 1952 to 1953 he drew the newspaper comic strip "Johnny Comet" for the McNaught Syndicate; despite a name change to "Ace McCoy" in the middle of its run the strip was canceled after a year. In 1954 Frazetta was hired as a member of [[Al Capp|Al Capp's]] studio; his primary job was to pencil the "L'il Abner" Sunday page, but he also drew a variety of advertising and editorial art featuring L'il Abner's characters.

He married [[Massachusetts]] native Eleanor Kelly in New York City in November 1956.<ref name=nytimesobit/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/rip-ellie-frazetta/ |title=RIP: Ellie Frazetta |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=July 17, 2009 |website=Comics Beat |access-date=May 31, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306115223/https://www.comicsbeat.com/rip-ellie-frazetta/ |archive-date=March 6, 2021}}</ref> The two had four children: Frank Jr., Billy, Holly, and Heidi.<ref name=nytimesobit/>

In 1961, after seven years with [[Al Capp]], Frazetta tried to return to comic books but was unsuccessful. He was given some inking work by his friend George Evans before deciding to pursue a career in illustration (though he briefly helped [[Harvey Kurtzman]] and [[Will Elder]] on three stories of the bawdy parody strip ''[[Little Annie Fanny]]'' in ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine). <ref>{{cite book |title=The Origins of Little Annie Fanny (Overview and Annotations to Playboy's Little Annie Fanny: Volume 1: 1962–1970) |last=Kitchen |first=Denis |author-link=Denis Kitchen |year=2000 |publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]] |location=Milwaukie, OR |page=4 |isbn=978-1-56971-519-2}}</ref>

===Hollywood and book covers===
[[File:Frazetta studio.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Frazetta in his studio]]
In 1964, Frazetta's painting of [[The Beatles|Beatle]] [[Ringo Starr]] for a ''[[Mad (magazine)|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.<ref name="Bio, 1960s">{{Cite web |last=Frazetta Art Museum |title=Bio, 1960s |url=http://frazettaartmuseum.com/ff/bio/1960/1960.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611063556/http://frazettaartmuseum.com/ff/bio/1960/1960.html |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 28, 2014}}</ref> He did several other film posters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holland |first=Steve |date=May 13, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/may/13/frank-frazetta-obituary |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=May 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914193400/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/may/13/frank-frazetta-obituary |archive-date=September 14, 2013}}</ref>

Frazetta also produced paintings for [[mass market paperback]] editions of adventure books. His interpretation of [[Robert E. Howard]]'s [[Conan the Barbarian]] visually redefined the [[genre]] of [[sword and sorcery]], and had an enormous influence on succeeding generations of artists.<ref name="Bio, 1960s" /> His cover art only coincidentally matched the storylines inside the books, as Frazetta once explained: "I didn't read any of it... I drew him my way. It was really rugged. And it caught on. I didn't care about what people thought. People who bought the books never complained about it. They probably didn't read them."<ref name="spectrum">{{Cite journal |date=November 14, 2009 |title=Frazetta Painting Sells for $1 Million |url=http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/full_content.php?article_id=1084&full=yes&pbr=1 |url-status=usurped |journal=Spectrum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717021333/http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/full_content.php?article_id=1084&full=yes&pbr=1 |archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref>

Primarily, these were in [[oil paint|oil]], but he also worked in [[watercolor]], ink, and pencil alone.<ref name="Bio, 1960s" /> Frazetta's work in comics during this time were cover paintings and a few comic stories in [[black-and-white]] for the [[Warren Publishing]] horror and war magazines ''[[Creepy (magazine)|Creepy]]'', ''[[Eerie (magazine)|Eerie]]'', ''[[Blazing Combat]]'', and ''[[Vampirella]]''.<ref name="Bio, 1960s" />

An advertisement for [[Jōvan Musk]], based on his work, was animated by Richard Williams in [[grease pencil]] and paint and shown in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jerry |first=Beck |date=May 10, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta (1928–2010) |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/illustration/frank-frazetta-1928-2010-23224.html |access-date=June 22, 2010 |publisher=[[Cartoon Brew]]}}</ref> The realism of the animation and design replicated Frazetta's artwork.<ref name="Gibson-McDonnell-192" /> Frazetta and [[Ralph Bakshi]] were heavily involved in the production of the live-action sequences used for the film ''[[Fire and Ice (1983 film)|Fire and Ice]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[rotoscoping|rotoscoped]] animation, from casting sessions to the final shoot.<ref name="Gibson-McDonnell-192">{{Cite book |last1=Gibson |first1=Jon M. |title=Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi |last2=McDonnell |first2=Chris |publisher=Universe Publishing |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7893-1684-4 |pages=192; 196 |chapter=''Fire and Ice''}}</ref> The film was Frazetta's only work in animation, following its release he returned to his roots in painting and pen-and-ink illustrations.<ref name="bailsprojects" />

Frazetta's paintings have been used by a number of recording artists as [[cover art]] for their albums. The [[U.S. Army]] [[III Corps (United States)|III Corps]] adopted "The Death Dealer" as its mascot.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heckman |first=Michael |date=June 10, 2010 |title=III Corps symbol manifests in bronze outside III Corps HQ |work=[[Fort Hood]] Sentinel |location=Fort Hood, Texas |url=http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/story.php?id=4062 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226002506/http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/news/iii-corps-symbol-manifests-in-bronze-outside-iii-corps-hq/article_17d9981a-ee33-5ac8-adc0-b7157adc27aa.html |archive-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref>

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&nbsp;million.<ref name=nytimesobit/>

===Later life and career===
In the early 1980s, Frazetta created a gallery, Frazetta's Fantasy Corner, on the upper floors of a former [[Masonic]] building at the corner of South Courtland and Washington streets in [[East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania]]. The building also housed a Frazetta art museum that displayed both his own work and, in a separate gallery, that of other artists.<ref name=pocono-obit /> From 1998 to 1999, Quantum Cat Entertainment published the magazine ''Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated'', with cover art and some illustrations by Frazetta.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/7152/ ''Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated''] at the Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on December 14, 2017. [https://archive.today/20171214202751/https://www.comics.org/series/7152/ Archived] on December 14, 2017.</ref> In his later life, Frazetta was plagued by a variety of health problems, including a [[thyroid]] condition that went untreated for many years. A series of strokes left his right arm almost completely paralyzed. He taught himself to paint and draw with his left hand. He was the subject of the 2003 [[feature film]] documentary ''Frank Frazetta: Painting With Fire''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2003 |title=Frazetta: Painting with Fire (2003) |url=https://www.popmatters.com/frazetta-2496240921.html |access-date=July 22, 2020 |website=PopMatters |language=en}}</ref>

By 2009, Frazetta was living on a {{convert|adj=on|67|acre|km2 sqmi}} estate in the [[Pocono Mountains]] in [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]], with a small museum that is open to the public.<ref name="poconorecord-SonArrested">{{Cite news |date=December 10, 2009 |title=Frazetta Son Arrested in $20M Burglary from Family Art museum |work=Pocono Record |publisher=Gannett Publishing |location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20091210/news/912109991 |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171214195316/http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20091210/news/912109991 |archive-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> On July 17, 2009, his wife and business partner, Eleanor "Ellie" Frazetta, died after a year-long battle with cancer.<ref name=pocono-obit /> He then hired Rob Pistella and Steve Ferzoco to handle his business affairs.<ref name=nytimesobit />

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.<ref name=poconorecord-SonArrested /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Howard |date=December 11, 2009 |title=Feud over Frazetta family fortune leads to criminal charges (with video) |work=Pocono Record |publisher=Gannett Publishing |location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20091211/NEWS/912110357 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200724225708/https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20091211/NEWS/912110357 |archive-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Howard |date=February 25, 2010 |title=Frazetta Jr. will head to trial in art heist case |work=Pocono Record |publisher=Gannett Publishing |location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100225/News/2250328 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200724230519/https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100225/News/2250328 |archive-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kidwell |first=David |date=December 16, 2009 |title=Frazetta son in court for preliminary hearing |work=Pocono Record |publisher=Gannett Publishing |location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20091216/MULTIMEDIA01/912169984 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171214203008/http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20091216/MULTIMEDIA01/912169984 |archive-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> Frank Sr. said he did not understand his son's actions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Howard |date=March 26, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta Sr.: My son's 'gone haywire' |work=Pocono Record |publisher=Gannett Publishing |location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100326/NEWS/3260361 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205190304/http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100326/NEWS/3260361 |archive-date=December 5, 2015}}</ref> 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....".<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Frazetta siblings resolve dispute over fantasy art |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g49Cej09DTh09WUJogtPg-33FMDgD9F8TUJ00 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430050721/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g49Cej09DTh09WUJogtPg-33FMDgD9F8TUJ00 |archive-date=April 30, 2010 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Frank Frazetta died of a stroke on May 10, 2010, in a hospital near his residence in Florida.<ref name=nytimesobit/><ref name=death/>

==Accolades==
Frazetta received the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist in 1966; he was inducted into the comic book industry's [[The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame|Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame]] and was presented with the first Spectrum Grand Master Award, both in 1995, the [[Jack Kirby Hall of Fame]] in 1999.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Frank Frazetta |url=https://www.mopop.org/exhibitions-plus-events/exhibitions/science-fiction-and-fantasy-hall-of-fame/sffhof-members/frank-frazetta/ |access-date=July 24, 2020 |publisher=Museum of Pop Culture |language=en}}</ref> and [[Society of Illustrators|The Society of Illustrators]] Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Frazetta |url=https://www.societyillustrators.org/frank-frazetta |access-date=July 24, 2020 |publisher=[[Society of Illustrators]]}}</ref> In 2001, he was awarded a Life Achievement Award from the [[World Fantasy Convention]].<ref name=":1" /> And in 2014, Frazetta was inducted into the [[Museum of Pop Culture|Science Fiction Hall of Fame]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=SF Site News " Frank Frazetta |url=https://www.sfsite.com/news/tag/frank-frazetta/ |access-date=July 24, 2020 |publisher=Science Fiction Site |language=en-US}}</ref> and in 2016 into the Album Cover Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Frazetta |url=https://albumcoverhalloffame.wordpress.com/tag/frank-frazetta/ |access-date=July 24, 2020 |publisher=Album Cover Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, Frazetta was inducted into the [[Inkwell Awards]] Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame.<ref name=majorspoilers2023>{{Cite web|url=https://majorspoilers.com/2023/03/15/frazetta-and-shores-announced-as-inkwell-awards-2023-lifetime-achievement/|title=Frazetta and Shores announced as Inkwell Awards' 2023 Lifetime Achievement — Major Spoilers — Comic Book Reviews, News, Previews, and Podcasts|website=Majorspoilers.com|date=March 15, 2023|access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name=fcn2023>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/inkwell-awards-2023-lifetime-achievement-winners-announced/|title=INKWELL AWARDS' 2023 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WINNERS ANNOUNCED|first=Bob|last=Almond|website=Firstcomicsnews.com|date=March 13, 2023|access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:4.11.15FrazettaGirlsByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|Frazetta's granddaughters (l–r) Brittney Frazetta, Daniele Frazetta and Sara Frazetta Taylor at the 2015 [[East Coast Comicon]] in [[Secaucus, New Jersey]]]]
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 [[Jean Giraud|Moebius]] are quite sophisticated in their style".<ref>[[George Lucas|Lucas, George]], in {{Cite book |last=Arnold |first=Alan |title=Once Upon A Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of 'The Empire Strikes Back' |publisher=[[Ballantine Books]] |year=1980 |isbn=978-0345290755 |page=223}} As quoted in {{cite book |url=https://www.legacybookspress.com/Books/The%20Secret%20History%20of%20Star%20Wars%20-%20Free%20Sample.pdf |title=The Secret History of Star Wars |publisher=Legacy Books Press (self-published)|isbn=9780978465230|first= Michael|last=Kaminski|year=2008|page=12|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614052050/http://www.legacybookspress.com/Books/The%20Secret%20History%20of%20Star%20Wars%20-%20Free%20Sample.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Los Angeles' [[Lucas Museum of Narrative Art]], which is scheduled to complete construction in 2026, announced it would display four Frazetta originals from Lucas' personal Frazetta collection.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strauss |first=Bob |date=March 14, 2018 |title=The Force was strong in LA as 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas launched his Narrative Art museum |work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]] |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2018/03/14/the-force-is-strong-in-la-today-as-star-wars-creator-george-lucas-dream-museum-breaks-ground/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122053808/https://www.dailynews.com/2018/03/14/the-force-is-strong-in-la-today-as-star-wars-creator-george-lucas-dream-museum-breaks-ground/ |archive-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Cascone |first=Sarah |date=October 30, 2019 |title=George Lucas's Museum of Narrative Art Hires the Met's Education Department Whiz as Its New Director |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/lucas-museum-sandra-jackson-dumont-1693045 |url-status=live |magazine=Artnet News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105063356/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/lucas-museum-sandra-jackson-dumont-1693045 |archive-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2010 |title=Frank Frazetta dies at 82; renowned fantasy illustrator |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-11-la-me-frank-frazetta-20100511-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

Fantasy artist and musician [[Nox Arcana|Joseph Vargo]] cites Frazetta as a primary influence, and his art calendars since 1998 mark Frazetta's birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://josephvargo.com/bio.html |title=Artist Biography |website=Joseph Vargo |access-date=September 24, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924171441/https://josephvargo.com/bio.html |archive-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> Chris Perna, art director at [[Epic Games]], stated in an interview in 2011 that Frazetta was one of his influences.<ref name="EpicGames">{{youTube|CIx0P1KDkVk&|deviantART visits Epic Games – Gears of War 3}}</ref> Other artists influenced by Frazetta include comics artist such as [[Marc Silvestri]]<ref name="ThirdDegree">"The Third Degree: Marc Silvestri". ''Point of Impact''. Image Comics. October 2012. Page 27.</ref> and [[Shelby Robertson]].<ref name="CreatingGN">{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2009 |title=Creating a Graphic Novel : Art – Food – Photography: Shelby Robertson |url=http://www.sigmatestudio.com/2009/10/shelby-robertson/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901071219/http://sigmatestudio.com/2009/10/shelby-robertson/ |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref>

Photographer [[Mark Seliger]] credits Frazetta for the inspiration of his 2000 portrait photo of [[Jennifer Lopez]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The Surprising Stories Behind These Amazing Photos of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and J.Lo |url=https://people.com/movies/the-surprising-stories-behind-these-amazing-photos-of-leonardo-dicaprio-brad-pitt-and-j-lo/ |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |language=EN |access-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref>

The face and body paint of professional wrestler [[Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala]] was copied by artist and wrestler [[Jerry Lawler]] from a character in a Frazetta painting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2267803-from-wrestling-legend-to-double-amputee-kamala-keeps-fighting |title=From Wrestling Legend to Double Amputee, Kamala Keeps Fighting |last=King |first=Jason |date=November 19, 2014 |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=October 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031072929/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2267803-from-wrestling-legend-to-double-amputee-kamala-keeps-fighting?hpt=hp_t4 |archive-date=October 31, 2017}}</ref>

In early 2012, filmmaker [[Robert Rodriguez]] announced plans to remake Bakshi and Frazetta's film ''[[Fire and Ice (1983 film)|Fire and Ice]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Todd |date=April 24, 2012 |title='Machete Kills' Director Robert Rodriguez Lines Up 'Fire and Ice' After 'Sin City 2' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/machete-kills-robert-rodriguez-fire-and-ice-frank-frazetta-sin-city-dame-to-kill-for-315731 |access-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> [[Sony Pictures]] acquired the project in late 2014, with Rodriguez set to direct.<ref name="fire and ice deadline-hollywood">{{Cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=December 18, 2014 |title=Sony Pictures Acquires Robert Rodriguez & His Frank Frazetta Homage 'Fire And Ice' |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] (Penske Business Media, LLC) |url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/robert-rodriguez-frank-frazetta-fire-and-ice-at-sony-pictures-1201330095/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929065209/http://deadline.com/2014/12/robert-rodriguez-frank-frazetta-fire-and-ice-at-sony-pictures-1201330095/ |archive-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref> In 2013, Robert Rodriguez displayed Frank Frazetta's original artworks, on loan from the collections of Holly, Heidi, and Bill Frazetta at the [[Wizard World Comic Con]] in Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2013 |title=Robert Rodriguez at the Frank Frazetta Museum |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYjk02JE7wk  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/KYjk02JE7wk |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=May 7, 2020 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Robert Rodriguez continued his Frazetta artwork tour by showcasing them at the [[SXSW]] event in [[Austin, Texas]], in both 2014 and 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whittaker |first=Richard |title=Frazetta Up Close |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2015-03-13/frazetta-up-close/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524141039/https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2015-03-13/frazetta-up-close/ |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |location=Austin, Texas |newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Reopened solely by Frank Jr in 2013, the Frazetta Art Museum in [[East Stroudsburg]] houses roughly 37 original oils, as well as other pencil, pen and ink, and watercolor works.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum |url=http://frazettamuseum.com/MUS.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121230504/http://frazettamuseum.com/MUS.html |archive-date=January 21, 2020 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |publisher=Frazetta Art Museum}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whittaker |first=Richard |date=November 29, 2013 |title=Robert Rodriguez: Future Sins, Fiery Projects |work=The Austin Chronicle |location=Austin, Texas |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2013-11-29/robert-rodriguez-future-plans-future-projects/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140227205309/http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2013-11-29/robert-rodriguez-future-plans-future-projects/ |archive-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> The Frazetta Girls company operates as a web store for official Frank Frazetta merchandise, and has a large social media presence for daily postings of Frazetta's work.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2023/01/27/art-titan-frank-frazettas-legacy-keeps-growing-with-new-projects-and-a-massive-retrospective/?sh=7585d754a346 |title=Art Titan Frank Frazetta's Legacy Keeps Growing With New Projects And A Massive Retrospective |last=Salkowitz |first=Rob |date=January 27, 2023 |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=January 27, 2023}}</ref> Since 2014, Frazetta Girls has also collaborated with modern influential brands such as [[Primitive Skateboarding]], [[Kid Robot]], HUF Worldwide, and [[Mezco Toyz]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=HUF Releases Heavy Metal-Inspired Capsule Honoring Artist Frank Frazetta |url=https://hypebeast.com/2019/7/huf-frank-frazetta-capsule-collection-release |website=HYPEBEAST|date=July 30, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Tyler |date=January 22, 2020 |title=Conan the Barbarian Arrives with New Figure from Mezco Toyz |url=https://bleedingcool.com/collectibles/conan-the-barbarian-figure-mezco-toyz/ |access-date=May 7, 2020 |publisher=Bleedingcool.com}}</ref> In March 2020, Holly Frazetta announced the reopening of the Frazetta Art Museum location in [[Boca Grande, Florida]], by appointment only, featuring original [[Conan the Barbarian]] and Death Dealer works.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2020 |title=The Frank Frazetta Art Museum |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGaMmE9mWkA&t=1s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GGaMmE9mWkA |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=May 7, 2020 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In February 2022 in collaboration with Incendium Online's Opus Publishing arm, the Frazetta Girls announced "Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer" comic series would return, with Issue #1 released worldwide May 10, 2022, spawning the beginning of the FrazettaVerse.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/frank-frazetta-death-dealer-comic-series-art-first-look/ | title=Frank Frazetta's Iconic Death Dealer Painting Inspires New Comic Series (Exclusive Preview) | date=February 9, 2022 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="recordauc">{{Cite web |title=Egyptian Queen by Frank Frazetta Sets $5.4 Million World Record at Heritage Auctions |date = May 17, 2019|url=https://downthetubes.net/?p=107230 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |publisher=DownTheTubes.net}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Boucher |first=Brian |date=June 28, 2023 |url=https://news.artnet.com/market/frank-frazetta-record-comic-book-fantasy-art-2329104 |title=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 |publisher=[[Artnet]] |access-date=July 2, 2023 }}</ref>

==List of works==
===Selected paintings===
Year and date painted<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bond |first=James A. |title=The Definitive Frazetta Reference |date=October 2008 |publisher=Vanguard |isbn=978-1-934331-09-5 |page=208}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''Carson of Venus'' – 1963
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' – 1964<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaines |first=William |date=December 14, 1964 |title=Tales from the Crypt |url=https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Crypt-Ballantine-William-Gaines/dp/B001B7VZAU |access-date=December 14, 2017 |publisher=Ballantine |via=Amazon}}</ref>
* ''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
* ''[[Death Dealer (painting)|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
{{Div col end}}

===Album covers===
Source unless otherwise noted:<ref name="bailsprojects">{{cite web |url=http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=FRAZETTA%2C+FRANK |title=FRAZETTA, FRANK |last=Bails |first=Jerry |author-link=Jerry Bails |website=Bails Projects |access-date=October 10, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010030409/http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=FRAZETTA%2C+FRANK |archive-date=October 10, 2015}}</ref>

{|
|-
|valign="top"|
*''[["Welcome to the LBJ Ranch!"]]'', 1965 comedy album by Earle Doud and Alen Robin<ref>{{Cite AV media |title="Welcome to the LBJ Ranch!" |date=1965 |type=Back cover |publisher=[[Capitol Records]] |number=W-2423}}</ref>
*[[Roy Orbison]] - ''[[The Fastest Guitar Alive (soundtrack)|The Fastest Guitar Alive]]'' soundtrack album (1967)
*[[Herman's Hermits]] – ''[[Both Sides of Herman's Hermits]]'' (1966) Front cover watercolor painting, back cover pen-and-ink drawing. Name is misspelled "Frizzeta" in liner notes.
*[[Dust (band)|Dust]] – ''[[Hard Attack (Dust album)|Hard Attack]]'' (1972)
*''[[Waterhole No. 3]]'' soundtrack album by [[Roger Miller]] (1973)<ref name="friedmanFrazettaMovieComedy" />
*[[Nazareth (band)|Nazareth]] – ''[[Expect No Mercy]]'' (1977)<ref name=nytimesobit />
*[[Molly Hatchet]] – ''[[Molly Hatchet (album)|Molly Hatchet]]'' (1978)
*[[Molly Hatchet]] – ''[[Flirtin' with Disaster]]'' (1979)<ref name=nytimesobit />
*[[Molly Hatchet]] – ''[[Beatin' the Odds (Molly Hatchet album)|Beatin' the Odds]]'' (1980)
*[[Yngwie Malmsteen]] – ''[[War to End All Wars (album)|War to End All Wars]]'' (2001)
*[[Wolfmother]] – ''[[Wolfmother (album)|Wolfmother]]'' (2006)
|}

===Movie posters===
Source unless otherwise noted:<ref name="friedmanFrazettaMovieComedy">{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Drew |author-link=Drew Friedman (cartoonist) |title=The Movie Comedy Poster Art of Frank Frazetta |date=January 8, 2012 |url=http://drewfriedman.blogspot.com/2012/01/comedy-film-poster-art-of-frank.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028083724/http://drewfriedman.blogspot.com/2012/01/comedy-film-poster-art-of-frank.html |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |publisher=Drew Friedman official blog}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[[What's New Pussycat?]]'' (1965)
*''[[The Secret of My Success (1965 film)|The Secret of My Success]]'' (1965)
*''[[After the Fox]]'' (1966)
*''[[Hotel Paradiso (film)|Hotel Paradiso]]'' (1966)
*''[[The Busy Body (film)|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 film)|Yours, Mine and Ours]]'' (1968)
*''[[Mrs. Pollifax-Spy]]'' (1971)
*''Luana'' (1973)
*''[[Mixed Company]]'' (1974)
*''[[The Gauntlet (film)|The Gauntlet]]'' (1977)
*''[[Fire and Ice (1983 film)|Fire and Ice]]'' (1983)
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Frazetta, Jr. |first=Frank |editor-last=Herman |editor-first=Daniel |date=2013 |title=Frank Frazetta: Art and Remembrances |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CUIsmwEACAAJ |location=New Castle, Pennsylvania |publisher=[[Hermes Press]] |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 (magazine)|Circus]]'', November 14, 1978

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikisource author}}
* {{IMDb name|0292547}}
* {{isfdb name}}
* {{Discogs artist|Frank Frazetta}}
* [http://frazettamuseum.com/ Frazetta Art Museum]
* [http://FrazettaGirls.com/ Frazetta Girls Corp]

{{eccontribs}}
{{World Fantasy Award Best Artist}}
{{World Fantasy Award Life Achievement}}
{{Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frazetta, Frank}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American painters]]
[[Category:American album-cover and concert-poster artists]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:American illustrators]]
[[Category:American male painters]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Artists from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:EC Comics]]
[[Category:American fantasy artists]]
[[Category:American horror artists]]
[[Category:American science fiction artists]]
[[Category:Film poster artists]]
[[Category:Golden Age comics creators]]
[[Category:Hugo Award–winning artists]]
[[Category:Painters from New York City]]
[[Category:Painters from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American role-playing game artists]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:World Fantasy Award–winning artists]]
[[Category:Frank Frazetta| ]]