Thank you so much for this opportunity! We're on the same page regarding a love for the media! I've had a lifetime love for comics and it's great to meet folks who are like-minded. The comic community on Instagram is amazing and I'm proud to call myself part of it.
2. You are obviously inspired by comics in your work but is there a specific artist who you particularly love and who inspires you to do such detail in your work?
Growing up, I was always drawn to artists who used clean lines and/or incredible detail. Although he's known as an inker, Joe Sinnott is one of my favourites for his ability to embellish so many artists and maintain a consistent Marvel house style. I loved the work of George Perez, especially his early work at Marvel. Brian Bolland's incredible line work amazes me to this day. All of Dave Stevens' work appeals to me because you can see the love he puts into every piece. Bernie Wrightson makes light and shadow dance in a way that he makes look effortless. And the best part of doing these comic cover recreations is getting up close and intimate with the work of artists that I may not be as familiar with. It's opened up a whole new world of talented artists from the Golden Age to the present.
I'm currently not collecting or reading any modern comic titles. My passion is for the books of my youth. I'm a huge fan of Bronze Age comics and I love the nostalgia I feel when I look upon the iconic covers of my past that have been burned into my brain. The largest portion of my comic collection is my Fantastic Four run. I'm currently down to only needing four more issues to complete the entire run! I'm running out of room in my nerd cave/art studio due to far too many boxes of comics I've purchased over the years. I enjoy spending time before bed by winding down with a vintage comic and seeing if the story and art has held up over the years.
4. I think most stories are still very relevant or more so even today! it's good to hear you still read your old issues! The smell of them is so comforting is it? Let's get back to your art though... Looking at your videos it’s easy to see that you are very skilled in recreating detail, down to the fingertip it seems. Which medium do you find gives you the most satisfaction to work with and the discipline you need for such fine lines?
I work in acrylic paint on canvas. I enjoy how fast the medium dries so I can quickly add additional layers and make adjustments as needed. Out of respect for the original artists of the comic covers I recreate, I make every effort to capture every detail of the black & white artwork. It makes my brain feel good to get into a flow state and really get intimate with every bit of detail and every brush stroke. I do take some creative liberties with the colour and shading, but I think it's important to maintain as much accuracy as possible with the line art. The work can be tedious and time-consuming, but I love every second of it and seeing the finished work at a large scale makes it all worth the effort.
5. You can defintley tell how much work you put into getting those lines right! I’d assume with how brilliant your artwork is that you do this professionally but it is obviously a much-loved hobby rather than just commissions...
Thank you for the kind words! I first tried my hand at these comic cover recreations in acrylic paint around 6 years ago. I turned 50 years old and had a creative itch that needed to be scratched. I did it initially for the pure joy of the process, but after posting some images on Instagram and connecting with some of the wonderful comic community there, I was approached about doing commissions. I haven't done the best job of managing my workload. With each piece requiring about a month to complete, I quickly found myself overbooked and had to close my commissions to get caught up. It's a great problem to have, but I hate making people wait so long! Some of my buyers have patiently waited over two years for their completed piece. I'm now approaching the end of my commission list and hope to begin accepting new work later this year. It's still so flattering that someone appreciates my work enough that they would like to own it and I thoroughly enjoy every piece that I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to work on.
There is no shortage of amazing comic covers to paint and some of them can be very strange! Some of my favourite pieces are not the key comics with iconic covers, but the mostly forgotten covers that someone asks me to paint. So many of us in the comic community have a memory of the first comic they purchased, or an issue that only has a special meaning to someone for a very particular reason. I always like to inquire why the buyer chooses the comic cover they've requested. The answers usually involve heart-warming memories and nostalgia, which make the reproduction even more a labor of love.
7. It does sound like a very intimate way of selling your work. No wonder it's so fulfilling for you. If you could have met any of great artists of the past who would it be or were you lucky enough to meet any comic legends Like Neal Adams and Jack Kirby at a comic con perhaps?
Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to meet many of the artists I admire. I would have loved to meet and chat with Joe Sinnott. I have heard that he was such a friendly man. I hear the same about the late Bernie Wrightson and George Perez. There are so many legendary artists that we've lost over the years that I would have loved to meet, including Adams and Kirby. I hope that with my cover recreations I can pay a proper tribute to these legends.
8. I've heard they were very nice, humble artists and very hard workers. Suppose they had to be to create such amazing visual stories with such a tight schedule. For you though is this something you’ve always had a passion for or have you previously explored other art when you were younger?
Growing up, I dreamed of becoming a comic book artist. I mostly worked with pencil and pen on paper - really anything I could get my hands on to sketch or copy my favourite heroes. My school homework was typically submitted with a variety of doodles and superhero portraits adorning the borders of the page. However, I didn't have the discipline to continue to refine my craft and never came close to having the skill needed to become a comic professional. I abandoned those dreams long ago, but it's wonderful to reconnect with my creative side now. Recreating the iconic comic covers from my youth is the closest I can come to the legendary artists I so admire.
9. It's a shame you never made it into the comic world, you most definitely have the discipline for it! Ok I'm gonna let you go just one Last question. IF the opportunity arose would you work for the big leagues like Marvel or DC, just hypothetically?
I have such respect for those who have put in the work to refine their skills and become a comic art professional. For myself, I don't see that I'll ever have any opportunity to ever work for Marvel or DC. The creators of the comics I love are true artists. I just consider myself a craftsman. I've explored methods to recreate and pay tribute in acrylic paint and I hope I'll continue to have opportunities to share my passion with others. It's a gift I cherish every day.
You are very humble Mark! A true artist. If you're ever in the UK, look us up! You're welcome at our HQ anytime! Thanks again for chatting with us!
Check out Marks amazing work via his Instagram page
---> @frawgboy <---