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Asian Spotlight:
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your work.
Ric Frane: I've been drawing and painting as long as I can remember. I took art lessons from a local painter and went on to college for formal training. When I was younger I saw Frank Frazetta's work and that inspired me to do fantasy art. I later went on to develop my own style of pin-up and horror art.
Asian Spotlight:
What work of Frank Frazetta influenced you the most?
Ric Frane: I saw Frazetta's first art book while I was in high school. I copied just about every one of his paintings. So there really isn't one piece that influenced me. All his work just made a huge impact on the direction I wanted to take my art.
Asian Spotlight:
Do you have a favorite among your work?
Ric Frane: Funny thing is it's not pin-up or horror. The "Bruce Lee" painting is one of my favorites. I wanted to do something different of him. Not the usual ENTER THE DRAGON screaming with bloody scratches. I tried to show the man and the martial artist. That's why you pretty much only see his face and hands. The hands were very important to me. That was a 2'x4' painting. Larger than most of my work.
Asian Spotlight:
Why do you considered Bruce Lee to be one of your heroes?
Ric Frane: When I first saw ENTER THE DRAGON I said, That's what I want to do! Not really knowing what I was going to be getting into to learn all that. Not that I am Bruce lee mind you. No one else has ever come close to that kind of on screen power. Even when he's not doing anything your eyes are on him. There's this energy that comes right off the screen. I have a lot of books on Bruce Lee and I've read everything he's written. I respect everything he has shared with others and the hardship he went through as an Asian trying to find work in a prejudiced industry. Not being hired as a Shaolin monk because you are too Chinese is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of. A show he helped create!
Asian Spotlight:
Will you be adding new work on the Asian Fantasy gallery soon?
Ric Frane: Why? Do you know any Asian models? Yes. I am working on a piece now that features Asian women and tattoos. I have some other ideas in the works. Still looking for the right model for one.
I have some featuring Linda Tran, Natasha Yi, and Linn Thomas in the works.
Asian Spotlight:
What can our readers expect from you in the future?
Ric Frane: For me to paint as many nude women as possible this year. I'm doing a couple of new series, one featuring modern pin-ups with old school tattoo designs in the background, and one of classic monsters with pin-up girls. I think a Godzilla one would be fun.
Asian Spotlight:
Thanks you so much for this interview. Any last words for our readers and your fans?
Ric Frane: Buy art! RicFrane.com
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