Mike Fleming

frank_frazetta_kaneonthegoldenseaFamed fantasy artist Frank Frazetta has passed away at the age of 82. The Brooklyn-born artist was a child prodigy and though he dabbled in baseball and scouted for major league teams, he became a hall of fame graphic artist. He started in comics. and drew for Standard Publishing, EC and others, and was the assistant for Al Capp on Li’l Abner. He made his greatest impression after he began painting paperback covers, where he carved out a reputation for his muscular, visceral, primal works like the one seen here. That branched into movie poster work. Frazetta’s work influenced artists, writers, musicians. A sad day, indeed.

Here is a trailer for the documentary made about his work. It conveys the essence of his distinctive work, which fetched as much as $1 million in art auctions.