Elli Frazetta has Passed Away

A note from my friend Chris Kalnick with sad news:

I'm sure some of you have heard, but I just found out that Elli Frazetta has passed away.

I'm saddened to hear this. A few years ago, when my daughter Dana was young, we went up to visit the Frazetta Museum. Elli was there to greet us, give us a tour, show us some unpublished watercolors, and when she found out Dana was an artist, she talked with her, giving her support and advice. She was very sweet and funny. I was just thinking about heading up there next weekend when I found out about her passing.

She was the model, mate and inspiration for one of the great illustrators of our age. And that means more than most people know. Art is hard to make without a support system to keep the world at bay.

I knew a lot of great artists who have been undermined by a wife or husband who thinks that they could make more money if they would only just get a real job. As if money is what it is all about. You don`t become an artist for the money. Not a real artist.