King of Illustration: Frank Frazetta

Frank Frazetta

King of Illustration: Frank Frazetta

“I was born with a pencil in my hand. Most artists reach a certain age, and then their eyes open and they start doing art. I was drawing as far back as I can remember. I had unusual talent right then and there, in that I saw things differently. I saw them more accurately. Some people to this day criticize me by saying I exaggerate; that people don’t look like that. But they look like that to me. The truth is from the very beginning, instinctively, I drew what I thought I saw.

Frank and Ellie Frazetta in 1988 at the Writers of the Future IV release

“I try to give people what I think should be. I’ve had many, many people look at one of my paintings, and say ‘Yeah! That’s the way it should be!’ Basically, that’s my whole approach.” –Frank Frazetta, from an essay he wrote on the subject of illustration entitled “The Difference.”

Referred to as the “King of Illustration” by L. Ron Hubbard, Frank Frazetta’s stellar career bears this out. And as such, Frank was commissioned to create art for Ron’s Battlefield Earth, Mission Earth and Final Blackout.

“I love illustrating action and adventure stories and no one wrote them better than L. Ron Hubbard.” –Frank Frazetta

Writers of the Future Cover Art

As a founding judge for the Illustrators of the Future Contest, he remained resolute in his support of the aspiring artist through the Contest, noting, “The Illustrators of the Future Contest is one of the best opportunities a young artist will ever get. You have nothing to lose and a lot to win.” Frank remained a judge for the Illustrators of the Future contest until his passing in 2010 and provided art for several anthology covers.