When the "Special Edition" of the first Fantastic Four movie came out just before the second film, there was a tribute film dedicated to Jack Kirby. I had heard that the directors cut of the first Fanatistic Four movie was going to have a this film and it was worth buying just for the this extra feature.
In the Jack Kirby tribute film, I think it was Neal Adams, said he saw Jack start a complete drawing, not sketching or blocking anything out, on a blank sheet of paper. Neal said, as he watched, Jack started a detailed drawing in the upper left corner and progressed down to the bottom right corner with a finished, completed drawing.
Astonishing.
He could see the completed drawing on the paper before he drew it.
I myself am a artist and have done a lot of drawings of people. The more I have done it, the better I have become. At times when I look at the person, then the blank paper, I sometimes "see" the portrait on the blank paper, it is almost like a paint by number, just fill in the appropriate space.
But never from memory like Jack could. I would have to sketch out, erase, try again, if I attempted to do it from memory.
Again, astonishing ability.
Jack was a great guy and a great artist.
He is truly missed.
B.
