FrankForteComics

One of my favorite stories involves a watercolor of my grandfather's first great love, Carol. Carol was a ballet dancer and, according to Frank, the first woman he genuinely thought he might marry. He described her as beautiful, elegant, and incredibly athletic, often crediting her with his lifelong fascination with the shape and musculature of a woman's legs. The relationship didn't last, and not because of a lack of affection.  According to Frank, Carol's parents strongly disapproved of him. They saw him as a rough kid from Brooklyn and objected to the fact that he was Italian. It was a painful experience that clearly stayed with him decades later. The watercolor was originally intended as a gift for Carol, but after they broke up, Frank kept it. If you look closely, you'll notice a small frog in the foreground. Frank later explained to his friend and art collector Dave W. that it was a tribute to Hal Foster, whose work on Prince Valiant had a profound influence on him as a young artist. So tucked inside a watercolor of a lost romance is also a quiet nod to one of his artistic heroes. It's always  fascinating to know just how much of an artist's life can be hidden inside a single image.🤍