Hey, there sports fans, Al here with the latest:
For the last couple of weeks, I have been talking about Style and Inspiration. I have covered Wally Wood and briefly covered Al Williamson. Both of the gentlemen cover my trifecta of "W" artist.
HOWEVER, in that title above there was the mention of the word "Style".
Insert word definition here: style
/stīl/
noun
a particular kind, sort, or type, as with reference to form, appearance, or character:the baroque style; The style of the house was too austere for their liking.
An artist's style? What does that mean? I guess for me it carries the weight of being cool. Of a person, a knowledgable kinda bloke who in turn carries himself well. It shows in the swagger the art carries as well between the illustrator and the public at large.
The term “Style” as defined by my "art mom" who has been one of those people that I know and respect. She has had a long and fruitful artistic life. This was her response about style:
" Your memories and the muscles in your hands and arms is what creates your style. It's there from the start, becoming more refined with each repetitive movement. I still have pics from elementary school which you or others who know my work would recognize as mine..."
So when I looked at the list that I had scrawled on paper of the artist who have influenced me with inspiration. As a kid, I started looking at contributors on the front pages of comics I really liked. I was taking down names for the artists and inkers and started looking for their work in other comics. But there was one artist that stood out above all- Frank Frazetta!
Now, most collectors in my age bracket know exactly who Frazetta is and he is worshiped like a God. The sheer raw power (cue Iggy and the Stooges!) the dynamic tension, light, and color. And the sexuality that hits you like Thor's Hammer.
His painting are the things of Legend. Books have been based upon strictly on one image entitled "Death Dealer".
This single image captures a dark and foreboding caricature of a force rather than a man. Even the image of "the Guy" featured on the covers of Disturbed (I think) owes to Frazetta's influence. His earlier work as a comic illustrator with his pen and ink for me was some of his best work and the scope that any illustrator could ever hope to achieve. Over the years his major rise to prominence was his paintings. The fore-mentioned Death Dealer is one. The others for me that really stand out "Seven Romans" and "Mothman".
His style was one of the reasons I started to cut loose from the uber tight control that I was placing myself as an illustrator. What I mean by that is that if you think about it, he could tell an entire story, heroic or tragic or both in one singular image. I am sure that there are still books for my collection that I need to grab. But as art stands, I need to see if I can generate that kind of power for my work. His men are intensely masculine. Forget about that macho images. There is nothing soft about these men. Predominate scars adorn these figures. These would be the kind of ringleaders of Fight Club. But we don't talk about Fight Club but Frazetta we will talk about. And his depiction of the female form always grabs your attention. They are strong yet feminine all at the same time. His women are women. People who have issues with that please check yourself - it's all fantasy.
I can't say that he inspires me as the other two I mentioned but his setup for each painting makes you take notice and acknowledge that's a painting. It's a style that I would love to have or at least come close to it.
But his style is something special.
And I am outta here.