Cheesecake panel WonderCon 2001

On Friday afternoon, Jim Silke, Frank Cho, Dave Stevens, Russ Heath, and Terry Dodson addressed good girl art. Mike Bair joined late and Jim joked: "He's spent the last four hours studying Lisa Marie Scott." There was a lot of joking and kidding of each other.


Dave spoke about his first sight of Bettie Page. While in high school, he saw her in a 1952 or '53 issue of Frolic. It was a bikini shot standing in water. He'd never seen a woman who looked so good from head to toe. It was a revelation. Dave had no idea of her extensive career, but kept finding
more images in used bookstores. He began sketching her without any idea of the public interest in her. When he cast the Rocketeer comic book, he made her the girlfriend. Dave got a huge mail response from "men his age," indicating Jim.

Russ said lots of guys were looking. He knew no one who did not know Bettie Page. She had no bad poses. She had more curves than the usual body. Her "terminal points," meaning knees and elbows, were small.

Jim said Olivia and Dark Horse are paying her for using her image. Dave said everything Jim and I do, we send the payment to Bettie first and don't make her wait for the royalties to show up. There were many who did not want to make any payments when
she emerged. Bettie sued a few times, but lost big. She also chose a
poor management agency. Dave said she just turned 79.


Terry spoke on his Harley Quinn design and how he based her on a 1950's body. His favorite girl artist is Gil Elvgren who depicted a wholesome appeal which does not cross the line. And Elvgren had great painting skills. Asked about her breast size, Terry said all the Bruce Timm girls have the same chest. Harley's breasts are under
control; she has the body to support it.


Mike said he was 5 when he saw a Varga image he found amazing. Every artist comes up with their own point of view, such as Adam Hughes' '90s aerobiscised body.


Jim spoke of stealing a Varga pin up off his uncle's wall when he was 9 or 10. He named Norman Lindsay, Petty, Lagatta, and some others as his artistic ideals. Jim also loves the Dragon Lady and other brown-skinned girls.


Frank said it started with Lynda Carter, TV's Wonder Woman. His first artistic idols were Norman Rockwell and Frazetta, then Dave Stevens, Adam Hughes, and Al Williamson. He likes a nice, clean, fluid line. Frank keeps learning about artists new to him, especially in the last four years.


Dave brought up George Petty as a brilliant designer. About Vargas, he does not enjoy his draftmanship as well, but he painted great skin tones in the 1950's: sun drenched and hot. For oils, he loves Elvgren for traditional glamour. Also Robert McGuiness. For the overtly sexual, he likes Frazetta. I believe I heard Frank bring up Boris,
which Dave dismissed as "taxidermy." Bud Plant was commended for
unearthing older artists.


Russ liked Petty. About cheesecake, he said everything else gets dated, a pretty girl is forever, timeless. He can have fun drawing locomotives, but the research is tough. Researching girls is fun. Frank added it's tax deductible.


Terry described the Frazetta woman as a fantasy woman, an earth goddess. He discovered Dave Stevens on a Sheena cover. Later, he asked: What is the Rocketeer? Terry then found Adam Hughes which he described as a slick Dave Stevens. Now Adam is taking over Dave's old position as primarily a cover artist. Terry brought up Elvgren again, and also Sundblom. Sargent's work is beautiful and elegant.
Terry then brought up animation and Dave mentioned Red Hot Riding
Hood. Terry said the drawings are so simple, but the knowledge is there, the essence of form.


About photo reference, Frank said he uses lots now. He used to pose for his own work, then add "hips and hooters." For an important piece like a cover, Frank does a thumbnail, then draws it out. If it looks wrong, he goes to the files which are broken down into parts like knees, arms, and eyes. Then he corrects the drawing. For the strip, he does it from memory.


About the opportunity of meeting Bettie Page, Jim said he'd rather not. However, he pointed out Dave sees her frequently. Jim joked Dave was just over at her house moving bird seed.

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