Frank Cho has been making ballpoint pen drawings purely for himself for over two decades. This is the first time that these rarely seen works have been captured in a dedicated volume. Compiled here are his favorites, many which were done specially for this book. Most pieces are shown in four stages and accompanied by Cho's commentary to reveal his process. He is completely self-taught, which makes for a unique educational experience.
Included within the book are visual guides for drawing anatomy and body parts, plus a short interview where Cho discusses his working methods and answers the most common questions that he receives online. Also included are covers for his creator-owned comic Skybourne, where Cho has incorporated the ballpoint pen in a mixed-media format to show other artists how to incorporate this tool in commercial assignments.
Mature Warning: Ballpoint Beauties contains a lot of nudity. We think the book is tasteful, but nevertheless you may want to use your discretion if you are gifting this book to anybody under 18.
Frank Cho's first book collecting his major ballpoint pen art while also revealing his step-by-step ballpoint pen techniques.
"Remember when Frank Frazetta reignited the legitimacy of pencil drawings back in the '90s? Well, Frank Cho has now done the same with the ballpoint pen. These works of art are actually a meditation of excellent craftsmanship, proving again that a simple tool in the hands of a true master can be as powerful as any."
-Daren Bader
"Cho astounds with a pencil or a pen or a broken stick dipped in ink."
-Mark Chiarello
"It is absolutely mesmerizing to watch a master perform magic using the most humble of tools."
-J.A.W. Cooper
"Frank has a tremendous sense of anatomy, proportion and volume and elegant line-and
yet, for some reason, he accidentally drew all of these with a common ballpoint pen. Must remember to send him some new drawing pens!"
-Terry Dodson
"Frank is one of the most naturally gifted artists working in comics. His work is beautiful,
with a spirit of fun and wonder."
-Brandon Peterson
"It's always fun to see where Frank takes his chosen subject matter. I would never have guessed
he'd wrestle an office supply into something so beautifully finished. Where are the ink blobs?
Bonus points for stunning graphic design."
-Mark Schultz
"Frank 'Monkey Boy' Cho has done for the ballpoint pen what George Petty did for the airbrush-moved it from the world of industry and commerce to the world of drapery, flesh, flowing hair and girls, girls, girls. Old '40s white boys like me, and a whole lot of others, thank him."
-Jim Silke
