Frank Frazetta tribute entry

Gallery Provocateur has had an open call for submissions that ends today. It was to create a tribute piece to Frank Frazetta.

This from their Facebook page:
"Create a piece that is evocative of Frank's work but not a carbon copy or literal rendition of it. It must convey the essence of his distinctive work. Frank's compositions were strong and based on classical principles, masterpieces of energy and color. Epic and powerful. Images must be more than just a repaint of a reference image. Size is unlimited as well as medium."

I first came upon the open call through Jon Schindehette's blog. He is the Creative Art Director for Dungeons & Dragons® - Wizards of the Coast - and also a judge in the Gallery show.

When I set about to create a piece I wanted it to be something with a vintage flavour. I figured most entries would be of barbarians and damsels - a lot of what Frazetta is famous for. You can see them all here. So, I went a down another route in hopes that it would be different enough to set me apart from the rest. I settled on a travel poster to the place Frazetta was born.

The graffiti is of the Death Dealer, one of Frazetta's more popular characters. You can't tell from this image, but a closer look would reveal that he has a single tear (red paint drip) in memory of Frazetta who passed earlier this year. And I put a large lizard atop the Brooklyn Bridge. There are a number of Frazetta paintings that include large lizards stalking their human prey.

At any rate, it was completely worth it to create an image in honour of Frank Frazetta. I used to do a lot more fantasy artwork in which Frazetta was a huge influence. I hope to get back to it someday, but for now I'll stick with the retro/vintage route.