Who is the artist "Jack Fred" ??

[orcgirl]

Hello,

I was looking through T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil module and it is full of illustrations signed as J. Fred, Jackie Fred, Jack Fred. However, there is no Jack Fred listed in the interior art credits. Is this a pen name for another artist? The entry in Pen & Paper:

Jack Fred :: Pen & Paper RPG Database

is blank

as is the wikipedia link for his name in The Endless Stair picture:

File:CM8 The Endless Stair.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Just Curious???

Orcgirl

 

[Filcher]

I can't tell without getting a bigger image, but the image almost looks like a Parkinson.

 

[Scarbonac]

I can't tell without getting a bigger image, but the image almost looks like a Parkinson.

That'd be my call, too.

 

[13garth13]

The cover work looks like Parkinson, but all the black and white interior stuff for ToEE looks suspiciously like Jeff Easley work.....

Cheers,
Colin

 

[Filcher]

Cool, so maybe a shared "pen" (brush?) name?

 

[tanalos]

Answer to who is Jack Fred.

Just got back from Sony Fan Faire a little over a week ago and I spent time in Larry Elmore's pannel. Mr. Elmore was happy to enlighten us on the origin of Jack Fred.

When AD&D was just starting up the demand for quick turn around projects (paintings and drawings) were being asked of the art department. Elmore told of one afternoon that they needed a painting by the end of the day (Elmore is big on oil painting which takes a great deal of time to dry and cure) He pulled out his acrylics set and went to work but was definitely NOT happy with his work signing it JACK FRED. The name Jack Fred became a popular office joke for any artist not wanting to be associated with the final project submitted. Artist Jeff Easley also used this "pen name" for signatures as did two other artists.

Jack Fred art is literally something these artists didn't want to take credit for but were required by time constraints or lack of creativity to design and submit. On several occasions the women down at payroll would count Easley with credit for Jack Fred work.

 

[Richards]

So he's the "Alan Smithee" of the RPG game art world, huh?

Johnathan