It is once again Friday, but this time it’s the first one of 2017. So I thought I should pull out something special for the first Fabulous Find of 2017, so I ventured down into the comic book vault, to the Frank Frazetta annex, which has it’s own separate alcove and I have brought to the light of day the 1993 Frazetta Portfolio and the 1994 Frazetta Pillow Book, both of which were published by Kitchen Sink Press.
First up is the 1993 portfolio, it sold for $24.95 and contained six (6) full color plates by the legendary artist, Frank Frazetta. It was billed as a “unique collection of previously unpublished erotic illustrations”. The six prints were drawn from the upcoming, (at the time) planned Frank Frazetta Pillow Book. Which was eventually published the following year, in 1994.
I guess, for the money, it’s okay, but not really a great portfolio. The six prints/plates are housed in a simple card stock folder with a single page introduction. The plates measured 8 1/2 by 11 and the folder measures 9 by 12. Here is the front cover:
And the back cover, as well:
As you can see by the back cover of the folder, the portfolio was also published by Tundra Publishing Ltd., as well as, the aforementioned Kitchen Sink Press. An for your enjoyment, here is plate one:
Hopefully, my readers will not be offended by the nudity of Frazetta’s art presented here. I’ve tried to select art that is tasteful and not too graphic. The other five prints/plates are of similar topics. Say what you will, but Frazetta women are very well drawn.
The portfolio appeared in 1993, and the following year, 1994, The Pillow Book was published. It included all the art from the portfolio plus lots more. The book measured 9 by 11 and was printed on nice cardstock for the covers and the pages on quality paper. It also featured an introduction by Frank’s wife, Ellie. She explained that the art within was work that Frank had done for her and for other family members.
It also included forwards by artist Kevin Eastman and Frazetta family friend and art collector, Dr. David Winiewicz. The art in the Pillow Book is Frazetta’s watercolor work, so it definitely is different from his oil painting work, which most of us are familiar with.
Here is the cover to the 1994 Frazetta Pillow Book:
The back cover is blank, so I do not have an image to show you of that, but I do want to show one on the illustrations from the interior of the book, so here’s a nice one:
The soft cover book sold for only $ 13.95, which made it a very nice bargain, compared to the Frazetta Portfolio the year before. You get a lot more gorgeous Frazetta art for slightly more than half the price of the portfolio. And even today, if you don’t need to own both the Portfolio and the Pillow Book, I would recommend you get the book, rather than the portfolio.
I consider Frank Frazetta one of the great modern day painters, though I suppose he’ll never be considered as a master, just because of his subject matter.
Well, I guess that wraps up things for this Fabulous Find, but please come back next Friday for a new RETRO REVIEW and again in two weeks for a new Find. Til then … be seeing you .