As the title of today’s post so coyly suggests, this Friday Favorite is a combination of something old (a few of my previous favorite Friday Favorites artists) with something new (wonderful new items from said artists that have mysteriously fallen into my possession).
Okay, I guess it isn’t so mysterious. Having a comic shop within spitting distance of the house is the reason. The only mystery is why they continue to let me hang out there every Wednesday!
So, come along with me and enjoy some new pieces from a couple of great artists that you may or may not have read about previously on my site and, if you stick with it until the end, you will be able to witness how artfully (pun intended) I tie these artists into the latest R.I.P. II Challenge giveaway!
The first revisted Friday Favorite is the only artist to share space in my Artisan Series with Lisa Snellings-Clark. The true master of fantasy art: Frank Frazetta. I posted several lengthy, art filled posts concerning the man and his incredible gift back in 2006:
The Artisan Series: Frank Frazetta, part one
Painting With Fire….or Frank Frazetta, part two
and
Frank Frazetta, Part Three: Influence and Conclusion
(The Silver Warrior)
These posts generate from a time when I was in many ways posting for myself as, outside of a handful of people (do Jeff and I make a handful?), there was little activity for these posts. No matter, I love me some Frank Frazetta and it has been way too long since I have said so. The reason for his inclusion in today’s post is the release of a new book by two of my favorite artist editors, Cathy and Arnie Fenner.
This book is for true Frank Frazetta fanatics and those who love to see the genesis of a work of art only. The book is called Frank Frazetta: Rough Work and is just that: painted, pencilled, and inked roughs of many of Frazetta’s most well known works.
Included are some more fleshed out concept art for a Dracula animated film that never happened (see…here’s me trying to tie this in to the October R.I.P. theme!).
(Mina Harker)
This is a wonderfully constructed book with an interesting, puffy cover, an introductory biographical chapter by Arnie Fenner, and page after page of the amazing creative beginnings of Frazetta creations. Being a fan, I was positively giddy to have this glimpse into Frank Frazetta’s creative process.
(Cover to the Cave Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs…and, interestingly enough, the inspiration for the Neil Gaiman short story The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch)
Without going into too much detail (as you can read that in the above linked posts I did about Frazetta), his work is dynamic and full of life and movement and depth. It is art that is positively breathtaking to me and over the years I’ve collected a great deal of Frazetta books, prints, cards, etc. It is safe to say that Frank Frazetta is right at the top of my list of favorite illustrators.
In addition to this book, another Frank Frazetta book:
The Comic Art of Frank Frazetta will be coming out in November of this year.
And for the real collector, the above picture statue of Frank Frazetta’s painting, Egyptian Queen, one of my favorites, will be released in a limited edition in January 2008. In the neighborhood of $300 is out of my price range, but it looks pretty cool. Shown here is the actual painting:
And, I must confess, I picked up another recent book mostly because of the Frazetta cover, the rerelease of Spectrum number 3!
The Fenners put together some of the most amazing art books around. They are simply stunning.
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(click picture for a larger image)
Another artist who gets much more play on this site on a regular basis is James Jean. Scattered throughout book reviews, comic reviews, etc. you will see the art of James Jean. He is, without a doubt, one of the most uniquely incredible illustrators working today. His newest art book is Process Recess Two.
(Fall into Reading…click picture for a larger image…isn’t this amazing. Makes me want to drop everything and pick up a book and set off on an adventure.)
The first Project Recess book was okay, it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. It was a small book containing some of Jean’s more bizarre work, stuff that is okay, but is not as good, in my opinion, as his cover work for various novels and for the Fables comic series.
(Click picture for a larger version)
Project Recess Two is the art book James Jean fans were looking for. First off, it is HUGE!
Secondly, most of the art featured in the book includes several roughs followed by a full size, full color illustration. These things are so good they are suitable for framing. It is tempting to get a second one just to use for that.
(Click picture for a larger version)
James Jean’s work has such an interesting texture to it. There is a softness about it, and ethereal quality, particularly in his early pencilled roughs.
(Click picture for a larger version)
You’ll probably recognize the below image as the cover art for Annette Curtis Klause’s book Freaks which I reviewed awhile back. An amazing book made all the more amazing by this fantastic cover. I think this is one of my very favorite James Jean pieces.
(Click picture to see a larger version)
Yes, James Jean’s work is truly magical. Here are a few more of samples of the many great images in this book:
(Click picture for a larger version)
and
(Click picture for a larger version)
So there you have it. But how does all this tie into the spirit of the R.I.P. II Challenge? I am glad you asked! The reason it ties in is because I have some great Jean and Frazetta items awaiting one lucky winner:
-Your very own unread copy of the book Freaks
-a copy of a very creepy little novella called Among the Dolls by William Sleator
-a copy of the most recent issue of Hi Fructose, featuring the art of James Jean, among others
-a random set of trading cards with Frank Frazetta images
-your very own R.I.P. II bookmark
And what must you do to win said prize? Simply include the phrase “Freak me out!” in your comment today. The winner will be drawn from all qualifying comments received before 11:59 p.m. this Sunday, October 14th and the prize will be shipped Monday morning in the hopes that you may be able to get and read one or both of these books for the R.I.P Challenge!
Happy Friday everyone!!!
O.K., I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a clever way to work “Freak me out!” into my comment here. But I realized I’m wasting a lot of time waiting for creativity to strike. So that will have to suffice.
I have to admit this post wasn’t just fun, but it was educational for me. I really hope one of the local bookstores has that James Jean book…I would definitely love to see more of his work! I remember falling in love with the cover of Freaks when you first posted your review of it.
I’ve been lurking for a while and I decided to come out and play today just so I can say “Freak Me Out!” I found you thru Pat (DesLily). I love sci/fi and fantasy and have enjoyed your site.
Does anyone ever do any great contests that YOU can win?
I won’t enter this one since I am in some of your other ones, but I will say that I have a copy of Mouse guard coming thanks to a previous Friday Favorites.
Also, my Dad had an old Frazetta art album and I used to love looking at the paintings. he’s the man.
Oh, spectrum 3 rerelase is out. Yay! Since I don’t have it the first time around, I was planning on collecting some of the back issues… and, well, I sort of get paid today. hm, I must stay off Amazon. Anyways, I love the prize pack for this. Since I haven’t had time to enter any of the other contests, I really should enter. Winning would freak me out, but not winning will just mean that Amazon wins out and I wind up there ordering some more the artsy books I have in my wish list. I think your Friday Favourites are bad influences. π
Love that picture of the Egyptian Princess!
James Jean is one of my favorite artists and I had no idea that he did the cover of Freaks! Talk about freak me out π Seriously though, I didn’t know that it was him, but it’s quite obvious now that you pointed that out. I love his art. Like you said, it’s that softness that makes it so appealing.
The Frazetta painting of Mina Harker is amazing! Love it! I haven’t seen much of his work…at least I don’t think I have, but it’s very cool. That statue rocks!
How cool that he did artwork for Fables! I really like the images you share, especially “fall into reading”. Artwork so beautiful it could almost freak me out π
(Okay, how lame is that? My apologizes π )
my goodness Carl.. you are a never-ending contest! lol one right after another!
I will not enter this one though..I have many of Frazetta’s original paperback books plus numerous calendars by him… sooooooo I will stay out, this giving a little better chance for all the others that enter to win!
I probably have as much of Boris’ books and calendars too lol .. sheesh, you’d think I liked fantasy !.. ya think? lol
Chris- Frazetta and James Jean are amazing artists.The James Jean Process Recess II is incredible. It has multiple fold out pages and the rough sketchs are a wonderful insight. Also the Fenner’s have put together multiple Frazetta art books of the highest quality. I would recommend checking for some on Amazon to see the interior pages. Carl and I just love his work.
Carl – As for you hanging out at the shop it is for our benefit. First off you shower on a regular basis so you’re like a nice air freshner. :0 As for us being a handful I believe our wives would attest to that. π
ΓΒ’Γ’βˆ βFreak me out!ΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬ΓΒ Minimalism be damned! I want to put my hands on these awesome works!!!!! Many of the girls in these pictures are superbly doll-like. I intend to look for and buy Project Recess Two – art that is right up my alley.
haha, Jeff, I love the shower comment, but it is sooo true. I’m sorry, no offense to anyone, but there is something about comic stores and people that avoid showers! My boyfriend spends a fair amount of time in them, and that is one thing that I have noticed. And card shops, they seem to be the same…
My books I’ve been reading for the challenge really FREAK ME OUT! But it’s worth it. Everyone likes to be scared from time to time.
Mmm, James Jean art is preeeetty. π
I miss getting to come by here every day…but I’ll try and come by, when school doesn’t *ahem* freak me out too much. π
(Seriously – miss you, guys!)
I do love James Jean’s stuff, especially his Fables stuff.
Maybe it is the fact that I’ve just seen Black Sheep but I want to say “Freak me out” in a New Zealand/Australian type accent π
Do I have to be creative in my usage of Freak me out? Because it sounds like it won’t matter what we put because you are going to draw our names out of a hat anyway. But anyway, This artwork looks amazing! It would be so cool to peruse the whole book!
It’s been awhile since I’ve landed in stainlesssteeldroppings which is my loss completely. Sunday morning, first cup o coffee.. I get here and you have two fantastic artists and their work posted. Freak me out! What a great way to start the day!
Carl, if I managed to win that prize pack,it would freak me out. π Its a lovely collection of artwork. I’m not as familiar with the works of Frank Frazetta and James Jean, but from the examples of their work you posted, I’d be very excited to win.
Carl, you have the ability to freak me out on a weekly basis. I’ve loved Frank Frazetta ever since you loaned me the books and tape of his art. I especially like his drawings because of the emphasis he puts on muscular structure. I don’t remember seeing a blog on James Jean, but I love their work because it reminds me of some of the art from the 40″s.
Ack! It “freaks Me out” that I missed this giveaway!! So much for being gone for most of the weekend!!
The art work is fantastic!! Having just read Fragile Things, I love the picture that was the basis for Miss Finch!! How cool is that??
I keep seeing Freaks at the bookstore. One of these days, I must pick it up!
Wow! I love that Fall Into Reading picture. These are all great.
Great to see some old faces and a lurker in here! Welcome and welcome back!
Stephanie, it really is cool to see that picture to associate it with the Gaiman story. I owned a copy of the book with that cover and Jeff gave me a puzzle with that image on it for Christmas a few years ago, so the first time I read Finch I immediately knew which picture he was referring to, which made visualizing the story very fun.