there are a great many artists I respect - but my all time favorite is Frank Frazetta. Believe me - this was absolutely not an opinion that was greeted favorably in art school. (Please note that NOTHING in the world is quite so counterproductive to fostering a deep and meaningful relationship to the arts --- as actually heeding the advice of an average art professor - they are ridiculously smug and tend to look quite unfavorably on commercial art).
You see - the FINE ARTS are what you are supposed to focus on. Your Botticellis and Tintorettos --- your Dutch Masters and Fauves
Your half naked chicks with Sabretooth tigers need not apply
but forget 'em - Frank and I don't need 'em!
On the one hand I can see their point. A true painterly masterpiece can transcend reality, modify your mood, change your relationship in regards to value --- and just plain cause you to embrace beauty...
but Frazetta could make you embrace your inner Conan
...or your inner clown with a chainsaw riding a rhino.
I believe these are the only illustrations in my collection that are outright copies of Frazetta masterpieces ... the rest, an argument can be made, are just a thousand non-outright copies.
