As He Sees It

Frank Kelly Freas: As He Sees It; Frank Kelly Freas and Laura Brodian Freas (Paper Tiger, 2000, ISBN 1-85585-848-7, cover by Frank Kelly Freas).

This volume is an updating of two earlier volumes, both with similar content. The updating consists mostly of new commentary by Freas (biographical commentary and discussion of technique), plus some new paintings. The commentary is a lot of fun: Freas discusses painting and illustration (basic advice), research, critics, markets and more. The introduction, by Tim Powers is a lot of fun (he talks about how a Kelly Freas cover for the Laser Books line helped him meet his future wife!). There is a nice mix of illustrations, running from early in the very wide-ranging career of this multi-award-winning artist to what was the "present".

If there is any problem with the book it is that it is just too dang short. Taking a look at this site, you can see that Freas first appeared on an Astounding Science Fiction cover in October 1953 (with a painting that many a rock fan will recognize!), he was still active in the 1960's and 1970's (when I started buying Analog, as well as books from DAW and others with his work). He was active almost to the end of his life.

Freas seemed to have worked mostly with acrylics (although he did do work with other media, such as pen-and-ink for interior illustrations). I was always interested in his technique and wish I could see some of his original works. A lot of his covers almost look like they are done with pastels, not brushes. And nobody did stars or jewels or light better than Freas. Nobody. And the women! The Freas women! None better than his.

Like I said, too short. You ever see those big collections of work by Gary Larson (of his Far Side cartoons) or the similar Bill Watterson collection for Calvin & Hobbes?

Frank Kelly Freas deserves at least that treatment!