International Illustrators of the Future Contest Pays Homage to 'The King of Illustrators' - Frank Frazetta 1928 - 2010

LOS ANGELES, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Frazetta was born in 1928 in Brooklyn New York and began drawing at a very early age. In fact, when interviewed he stated "I don't even remember when I didn't draw." At the age of eight, he was enrolled in the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts, and as he relayed the amusing story, "my Grandmother insisted to the instructors that I should be enrolled immediately, and that I was a genius. They didn't believe her until the instructor, frustrated at grandma's relentless insistence, finally asked me to draw a duck. When I drew the duck, that was the end of it. I was instantly enrolled." At Abraham Lincoln High School, his teacher, Paul Grubman heavily influenced him, and fought to win him recognition in scholastic competitions. He never forgot the paying forward of Mr. Grubman.

It is not surprising then, that Frank became a judge in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future contest in 1988, one year after the contest started and remained so to the end of his life. The illustrator contest is the companion contest to the Writers of the Future contest, which itself was started in 1984.

L. Ron Hubbard had called Frazetta "The King of Illustrators" when referencing his work in the field of science fiction and fantasy illustration in the early '80s.

Frazetta's legacy is not only the hundreds of incredible and legendary art pieces but thousands of inspired artists around the world, who wanted to emulate, at least in some form of art, something from Frazetta's shining example.

Illustrators of the Future Contest Director Joni Labaqui recounts Frazetta's appearance in a room full of illustrators: "When Frank Frazetta first walked into the Illustrators of the Future workshop room in Cape Canaveral Florida where the 12 winners of the annual international contest were being instructed in 1997, Tim Powers (Writers of the Future contest judge and author of On Stranger Tides) turned to me and whispered 'Joni, it's like Moses just walked into the room.' I concurred. I'd never seen so many gaping jaws and wide eyes in one room at the same time in my life. Nobody moved or spoke for what seemed like an eternity and Frank saw what was happening. He broke the ice and instantly made them feel at ease with a witty comment."

"I spoke to Japanese artist Shun Kijima in the early 1990's and showed him a Frazetta painting that had been commissioned by Author Services," said Labaqui. "He looked at it and said 'Frank Frazetta is responsible for my becoming an artist. My mother took me to an art show in the Ginza District of Tokyo when I was a boy and I saw a Frazetta piece. I told my mother, I want to do that!'"

We asked contest winners and contestants of both the writer and illustrator contest to pay homage to Frazetta and here are just a few.

"I've always loved his art. It opened up science fiction and fantasy vistas for me as I grew up. His visions therefore helped shape my own in a very real sense. I used to spend hours gazing at them, imagining stories that might connect to the images. He was truly a giant."

"Frank was one of the great fantasy illustrators of our time. I've had several of his books ever since high school, and I often try to emulate his exaggerated male and female body styles in my own art...."

"Frank Frazetta was one of the amazing visionaries of Fantasy illustration! His art symbolizes the very BEST of human imagination, and has touched millions of human hearts and minds across many decades! His passing brings a close to an era of great art, an era he helped shape...."

The above are a sampling but mirror the feelings of thousands. Thank you Frank, not only for the brilliant images you shared with the world but for your love and care for young artists everywhere.

SOURCE Illustrators of the Future Contest