I discovered Frazetta back in the late 60's early 70's. I pretty much devoured everything he did, buying fanzines and artbooks as well as the Conan paperbacks that had his covers as well as the Ace books that had his covers for their Edgar Rice Burroughs line. I read countless interviews where he mentioned people that he had collaborated with or had inspired him. One name continued to pop up. Roy G. Krenkel. It dawned on me that I was already familiar with Krenkel, I had many of the paperbacks he did for Ace so I delved deeper and in fanzines I saw his pen and ink work and understood why Frazetta spoke so highly of him.
"I met Roy Krenkel back in 1949 or 1950, and he has never ceased to be a constant source of inspiration to me—a truly conscientious artist who will not tolerate incompetence." Frank was quoted speaking of Krenkel. They had even collaborated on a few projects, especially when Krenkel was pressed to meet deadlines. Once I studied his work more, I understood Krenkel's impact not only on Frank Frazetta, but other artists as well. Krenkel I believe used a technique known as "gesture drawing" concerning more with catching a dynamic pose than being exact or detailed. Something both Frazetta and Krenkel were masters of. Also something I recognized later in Michael Wm. Kaluta's work.
Below is a video concerning the technique of "gesture drawing".
Krenkel's work had energy, his ink drawings, though not detailed were suggestive but his ability to capture and freeze movement and posture were exceptional.
His line work also accentuated the movement of his figures, the directions on the line as well as the absence of line all centered the eye on the movement of his figures. Krenkel was a master of the style.
His work was primarily in the fantasy genre and Burroughs was the subject of much of his work. Even his architecture was suggestive, based on form and never distracted from the action or pose of his figures. If you watched the video on "gesture drawing" you will understand that it doesn't focus on the details of constructing anatomy from circles, blocks or the count of head size, but on form and movement.
Krenkel also used light and shadow to center your eye on the action. Everything flows and the energy flows, capturing movement rather gracefully.
He was also a master of color and his oils accentuated his style. His colors rarely muted, but if you notice he seemed to layer more details into his paintings that his ink drawings and yet retained his ability to capture motion as being natural and not forced.
It is sad in a way that Roy G. Krenkel doesn't get the attention he deserves and somehow got lost in the shuffle and is only known and revered by people from his field and hardcore fantasy art buffs. His contribution not only to the genre, but the inspiration he fueled in artists that are well known today is unmistakable.
For more on Roy G. Krenkel's legacy, here is a tribute.
