Gatekeeper to the Frazetta Legacy
As an attorney, I deal with many family members who handle a loved one’s affairs when that family member passes away. These experience many times diminishes the legacy of the decedent. Frank Frazetta was one of my favorite artists whose Death Dealer work inspires me every day. I had hoped that talking with a family member would not remove the pleasant association I have for the Frazetta name. Five minutes into the interview I felt that Frazetta magic, but this time it was from his granddaughter Sara.
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Sara Frazetta never said it to this reporter, but everything she does to preserve the legacy of Frank Frazetta is a labor of love. I repeatedly tried to shine the spotlight on her and yet every time she artfully shifted focus to her grandfather. Sara never intended to go into the Frazetta business, but I realized this is what destiny had envisioned for her. Sara Frazetta found her place in life as one of the owners of FRAZETTAGIRLS.COM along with her mother Holly Frazetta. She works there with her long-time boyfriend and the person Frank Frazetta liked even more than Sara, Joe Weber. A small operation in nature, Sara stresses quality over quantity with their product line. In addition, she announced that their collection of Frank Frazetta items is expanding with more of the family becoming involved with what art is used at the store. As repeated over and over during our conversation, anything that involves Frank Frazetta deserves to be nothing but the best and is a family affair.
Soon I started to realize that Sara Frazetta is the Gatekeeper to the Frank Frazetta legacy and she does everything in her power to preserve and protect his name. Her passion for her grandfather was as evident as his dedication was to his art and family. She is a force of nature. I was honored when she granted entrance to you, the GoCollect reader, on some insights that will bring you a greater appreciation for the man…the artist…the legend that is Frank Frazetta.
A Famous Cover in a new light
Frank loved to take pictures of his family and most served as references for his art. He was a gifted genius but he did put in the work and studying these photographs as references it only enhanced his technique. You can see his sister Adele’s eyes and his wife Eleanor’s stomach in many of his works. The person he used the most for his references was the humble artist himself.
He was a quiet man during the daytime playing with his children, but it was under the cover of darkness that he would ply his talents. At night he would draw himself in his art as the heroic character appearing on the canvas. Through his work, he could be reborn as the hero of his artistic visions fighting the darkness to preserve the light. So now when you look at the incredible line work and detail of that cover carefully look at that the face of the hero and you too will see Frank Frazetta.
Frazetta on Facebook
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Sara revealed that Frank never cared for money when it came to his art. The job worrying about the money belonged to her grandmother. Instead, Frank Frazetta painted and drew what he loved when he wanted. He never regretted turning down a job at Disney because his career had taken off. He never regretted not doing a Kiss album cover because he was happy with his current projects. Eventually, his nephew Ken Kelly drew the cover to much commercial and critical success. Even in the later years when a stroke forced him to learn how to work left-handed, he focused on drawings of his grandchildren like Sara running as a child with Popeye and Mickey Mouse running to his house. He appreciated doing what he loved and knowing the fans appreciated his work.
Towards the end of his life, Sara revealed they set up a Facebook page for him and how Frank was shocked that anyone would want to friend him or talk about his work. Sara had difficulty telling the Facebook story because of the raw emotions it brought back but I believe that it is those emotions that will keep her protecting the Frank Frazetta legacy.
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Shhhh… Breaking Frazetta News!!!!!!!!
As gatekeeper to the Frazetta legacy, Sara has had to endure battles that make a Frazetta Fantasy drawing look like a walk in the park painting. In preserving the name of Frank Frazetta and wanting to maintain the integrity of the man it has been difficult to attach projects with the Frazetta name. Keeping true to his vision is often a difficult road to follow even for this strong-willed Frazetta. That being said Sara did let me in on a few projects that you may like to know that have not even been announced.
In the first quarter, a line of statues will be released using Frank Frazetta’s artwork as a reference. Finally, the biggest news coming from Sara about Frank Frazetta is that in……… I AM SORRY. I SO WANT TO TELL YOU, THE READERS, BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW NOT ONE BUT TWO PIECES OF EXCITING NEWS COMING OUT ABOUT A FRANK FRAZETTA PRODUCT PLEASE FOLLOW FRAZETTAGIRLS.COM and this website for more revelations. I wish I could tell you because this is major news to Frazetta fans but it should be worth the wait.
What I can tell you is that it was close to the end of this interview after I had just been given three breaking news items about Frank Frazetta that I was told an incredible tale. It involves Frazetta, a literary icon, the San Diego ComicCon, and what could have been.
That story will be told in Part II of Frazetta on Frank Frazetta. Make sure to look for it, coming out tomorrow!
