HOME | DD

Description
Reposting of commissioned art / from my physical art collection

I get the feeling that my special order may be a little delayed in transit.

This is actually a badge size piece of original art that he did for me. Frank joked at the time that while he originally tried to do badge sized (4" x 6" art for me, in the end he couldn't do it. But he did manage to work it in as detail for a larger picture he had been commissioned to do professionally. He even showed me where on the original the badge had been cut out to make room for the UPC and price codes.

This is perhaps one of the most treasured items in my collection. It was done by one of the first friends I ever made at a science fiction convention, a member of First Fandom, the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and the Dean of Science Fiction/Fantasy art, Frank Kelly-Freas.

I still laughingly remember how I met him and his first wife, Polly at that long ago convention. As a young (nearly broke) college student and fan, I had jumped at the idea of earning my then outrageous membership fee of $30 back. I needed to only volunteer a whole 8 hours over the 3 day event. I couldn't jump at the bait quickly enough. Assigned to guard the dealers room, I dutifully checked badges expecting my relief to arrive in 2 hours. They never came. But I stayed my post and after 10 hours, an old man and his wife took pity on me. Asking if I had even taken a break for lunch, I told them no. I was on duty after all. So Polly kindly pointed out the gopher hole (volunteer lounge) where I could at least score some free food. Even then I must not have been gone very long. When I returned she then introduced me to her husband, Frank. The same Kelly-Freas who was the artist Guest of Honor, designer of a NASA (Skylab) logo, the artist who drew Mad Magazine, as well as countless book and magazine covers. With the room closing for the Artist reception, he then told the convention staff member who finally came to relieve me since the room was closing that I, a first time convention novice (aka con virgin) would be his guest at the reception. He then introduced me to a veritable who's who of professional artist, writers, editors and publishers. It was an opportunity to casually chat about everything from inspiration for stories to how they saw an idea or whether the Cubs were just pretenders (again) that year.

I've never forgotten nor did I realize until decades later how few fans ever encounter that many of those involved at that level of fandom. It almost seems like name dropping, when I realize how many of them I've come to personally know due to their kindness.

Over the years, I remained friends with Frank, until her death Polly and then his second wife Laura. Whenever our paths would cross at conventions, it was always the occasion to chat and catch up on where we had been. I would remain friends with him until his death in 2005.

Art by: the late Frank Kelly-Freas

Description
Reposting of commissioned art / from my physical art collection

I get the feeling that my special order may be a little delayed in transit.

This is actually a badge size piece of original art that he did for me. Frank joked at the time that while he originally tried to do badge sized (4" x 6" art for me, in the end he couldn't do it. But he did manage to work it in as detail for a larger picture he had been commissioned to do professionally. He even showed me where on the original the badge had been cut out to make room for the UPC and price codes.

This is perhaps one of the most treasured items in my collection. It was done by one of the first friends I ever made at a science fiction convention, a member of First Fandom, the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and the Dean of Science Fiction/Fantasy art, Frank Kelly-Freas.

I still laughingly remember how I met him and his first wife, Polly at that long ago convention. As a young (nearly broke) college student and fan, I had jumped at the idea of earning my then outrageous membership fee of $30 back. I needed to only volunteer a whole 8 hours over the 3 day event. I couldn't jump at the bait quickly enough. Assigned to guard the dealers room, I dutifully checked badges expecting my relief to arrive in 2 hours. They never came. But I stayed my post and after 10 hours, an old man and his wife took pity on me. Asking if I had even taken a break for lunch, I told them no. I was on duty after all. So Polly kindly pointed out the gopher hole (volunteer lounge) where I could at least score some free food. Even then I must not have been gone very long. When I returned she then introduced me to her husband, Frank. The same Kelly-Freas who was the artist Guest of Honor, designer of a NASA (Skylab) logo, the artist who drew Mad Magazine, as well as countless book and magazine covers. With the room closing for the Artist reception, he then told the convention staff member who finally came to relieve me since the room was closing that I, a first time convention novice (aka con virgin) would be his guest at the reception. He then introduced me to a veritable who's who of professional artist, writers, editors and publishers. It was an opportunity to casually chat about everything from inspiration for stories to how they saw an idea or whether the Cubs were just pretenders (again) that year.

I've never forgotten nor did I realize until decades later how few fans ever encounter that many of those involved at that level of fandom. It almost seems like name dropping, when I realize how many of them I've come to personally know due to their kindness.

Over the years, I remained friends with Frank, until her death Polly and then his second wife Laura. Whenever our paths would cross at conventions, it was always the occasion to chat and catch up on where we had been. I would remain friends with him until his death in 2005.

Art by: the late Frank Kelly-Freas