This time last year we were mourning the passing of the great artist Frank Frazetta. And now the pantheon of iconic science fiction and fantasy artists just got a bit thinner with news of the loss of Jeffrey Catherine Jones.
Like Frazetta, Jones was an early bezerker in the field of raw, sensual fantasy/science fiction art. From book covers to the fantastic punch of Heavy Metal, Jones’ work splashed over the literary world like a lather of painters sea foam.
Winning praise from Frazetta, who said Jones was the greatest living painter, is accolades enough. Yet Jones reputation and honors are cemented by her being a founding member of The Studio. Jones, along with legendary artists Berni Wrightson, Barry Windsor-Smith and Michael Kaluta, decided they needed a true independent space. Free from the 
yokes of traditional commercial art avenues, the quartet of artists set up The Studio, an artist loft in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood as a place of uninhibited artistic exploration.
Jones power was subtle beyond the muscularity. Go behind the swords and shields, and follow the contours and curves of the human form. How the body occupied and bent space around it. How did Jones make a figure slither or slink from the page?
If you don’t know Jones work, the broad skill and talent, you should get to know the works of a true great.
Jones was a titan and the world will miss her brush strokes.
I didn’t know Jones passed away. I met him/her a few years ago in a comic con (before kids). I also went to the Frazetta museum in PA, I’m not sure if it’s still operational after his death but it was well worth the trip.
We posted about our Frazetta museum trip upon his death. Ellie, his late wife, led us on the tour back in 2003, took pictures with us. Even ran the tiny gift counter. Was the greatest museum trip ever. And Jones, was simply an amazing artist. Frazetta was right, she was one of the greatest painters.