Ask any of the contemporary greats of Battletech painting, from inside and out of Camospecs Online, "Who inspired you?" One name rings out in all of their answers: Joe Frazier. His work both laid the ground work for technical proficiency--the standard practices of painting--as well as set the bar for what's expected of Battletech painters for years to come. Bold, clean lines that define panels are and create rich contrast are the defining hallmark of Frazier's style. Using a fine touch and black ink, Frazier carefully traced the panel lines of his pieces. From his inspiration, many later artists adopted the use of micron pens and brush ink to line panels in miniatures. This is most apparent in the early works produced by key Camo Specs Online artists, such as Savage Coyote's white paint and black micron pen Ghost Regiments. These pieces bear an uncanny resemblance to Frazier's work, showing a definite force of inspiration. Though over time styles have changed to more rich and blending colors, the art of panel lining remains a key skill that every 'Mech artist must master.
In an ironic Old is the New New sort of way, Frazier appears to be one of the earliest airbrush painters amongst the Battletech artists. Viewers should notice that, despite his use of different tools, his basic style of contrasting colors and bold lines remains consistent.
Sadly, Joe Frazier passed away over a decade ago--as his hobby stood on the cusp of a resurgence. Inspired artists, hobbyists, and the global battletech community came together to mourn his passing with heartfelt tributes and "21 PPC Salutes" of their own works inspired by Frazier's. As miniatures change, models undergoe seen, unseen, reseen, re-unseen, and new-seen statuses, and the Battletech community grows, Joe Frazier continues to stand as one of the great defining pillars of Battletech art and miniature painting. There may never be an artist with neither quite the legacy nor long lasting inspiration as Frazier. His work inspired many of the contemporary greats and eith each new artist they inspire, a little bit of Frazier's influence continues on into the next generation.
Below are a scant few of his exceptional works. Please enjoy and find your own inspiration in these!
8 Comments
Mike Wenski
1/6/2017 08:42:21 am
Fantastic profile. Every photo you posted is so great, it must have been hard to limit the pictures to just what you included here. The amount of detail in each piece is inspiring.
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csimian
1/6/2017 12:32:00 pm
I actually have one of his SLDF Archers. Simply beautiful.
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Jason Jackowski
1/23/2017 10:36:07 am
I just came across a bunch of pictures I took of his basement. It was like a shrine to Battletech. Brought back some good memories
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Cap'n Ed
1/23/2017 10:38:28 am
Jason,
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Kenn Potter
2/5/2019 09:45:13 am
I am so happy to see that Joe's work is still out there. I was one of the lucky few that gamed with Joe on a regular weekly basis. His passing affected me greatly as I lost on of the few people on this earth I truly called friend.
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Herod
1/31/2020 02:56:10 pm
Happy to find this page. I was just thinking of him. His miniatures were the gold standard back in the day.
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Troy L. Cowell
9/3/2021 01:11:09 am
Unless he made more than one, I've got the modified Victor you've got pictured! I've also got an Unseen Stinger by him!
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Kenn Potter
9/3/2021 04:21:18 pm
You probably do have that one, he usually sold almost everything he painted on e-bay.
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