The Art of Ken Kelly

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: First of all Ken Kelly was not only a student of Frank Frazetta but Frank married Ken's cousin. For those familliar with Frank Frazetta's work you will notice a lot of similarities in the two artists work like you can in comparing any student and teacher work. But Ken uses a lot of dark backgrounds mixed with bold colors making your attention focus on where he wants you to look. Also using the dark backgrounds makes the colors stand out and look vibrant. Ken Kelly's figures always seem alive in his paintings, as if he captured the event with a camera. He's without a doubt one of the best fantasy/sci fi artists out there.

Rating:
Summary: Not ready for prime time
Review: Kelly advertizes himself as a "student" of Frank Frazetta, but he hasn't learned anything except how to imitate the master. Stiff, uninvolving, poorly designed, lifeless figures go through boring rehashes of Frazetta motifs. If a student showed me this work, I'd encourage him to keep going in the hope that he might eventually find his own style. He once did a Famous Monsters of Filmland cover that wasn't too bad, because he was copying from photographs. Boris is another one that has built a career scavenging from Frazetta, but at least he has slick craftmanship. Kelly is an incompetent draughtsman and his compositions are awkward. Did his family connections get him this book? Sorry to sound harsh, but this stuff is junior league.

Rating:
Summary: Not ready for prime time
Review: Kelly advertizes himself as a "student" of Frank Frazetta, but he hasn't learned anything except how to imitate the master. Stiff, uninvolving, poorly designed, lifeless figures go through boring rehashes of Frazetta motifs. If a student showed me this work, I'd encourage him to keep going in the hope that he might eventually find his own style. He once did a Famous Monsters of Filmland cover that wasn't too bad, because he was copying from photographs. Boris is another one that has built a career scavenging from Frazetta, but at least he has slick craftmanship. Kelly is an incompetent draughtsman and his compositions are awkward. Did his family connections get him this book? Sorry to sound harsh, but this stuff is junior league.

Rating:
Summary: Dramatic, violent pulp art in the spirit of Frank Frazetta!
Review: Ken Kelly was a student of Frank Frazetta and it shows in Kelly's style of art. This 94 page book is an outstanding collection of violent pulp art depicting struggles to the death with serpents, fierce cats, grotesque monsters, and heavily muscled warriors. Of course the fair maiden in distress is also a frequent theme. If you love this kind of art then this book is highly recommended. The master, Frank Frazetta, also gives a nice two page introduction to Kelly's work.

Rating:
Summary: Frazetta this,Frazetta that,I think Ken Kelly's amazing!!!
Review: Personally I don't care who taught who,or who came out first.I just care about who I think's the best.And I admit that Frank Frazetta's stuffs good,,but it's nothing Boris Vallejo,Julie Bell or this guy Ken Kelly couldn't do,and sometimes even better.As a matter of fact,I think some of Frank Frazetta's stuff suck's.I mean for instance,let's take the fact that I like the Egyptian Queen poster alot,and the aparition one,but I hate the neanderthal one,and the Ocean Witch one,those one's are just stupid,and I don't think that they look that good at all.And if you want a more artistic analogy.Well,I think they looked badly drawn,unrealistic,and blurry,not to mention their themes sucked.To me it looked like something a novice might of drawn.

Now as far as Boris Vallejo's stuff go's,In which he happens to be my personal favorite Fantasy artist of them all,I may at times disagree with some of the style's that he uses.although ofcourse that's not very often,but I never,ever thought his artwork was anything less than amazing.The fantasy people depicted in his art,are alway's realistic looking,and very well drawn.As is Julie Bells,and Ken Kelly's,now Luis Royo could use a little bit of work,but other than that,I think their all great!Including the over rated Frank Frazetta.I think instead of only liking one artist,and despising the rest,we should just thank God that there are people out there who can draw this amazingly.So,ofcourse I highly recommend this book,for all the Fantasy art lover's out there,along with the other artist's that I mentioned....