Frank

Fable‘Addictive, perplexing and haunting’ would be words to describe the works of the Talented Mr Fable. This jittery, likable and intriguing man is so down to earth he is in the ground. His questionable and awe inspiring artwork is set to take this artist on an interesting journey.

Looking at the different images in his artwork, you are absorbed by what the artist was thinking and trying to portray. As ‘Frank Fable’ say’s, ‘I prefer for the viewer to make up their own stories’ when viewing them.

WORDS BY JOSHUA GANIM

Frank Fable hey? Where did you get the name from? I needed a pen name as ‘Todd Moxon’ aint sexy, I don’t mind the ‘Todd’ but to me ‘Moxon’ sounds like some sort of treatment for Chlamydia. So I thought ‘Frank Fable’ it sums up my art well. For me it reads as ‘short story’

A little help from the dictionary:Frank: direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; without inhibitionFable: :a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters; to describe as if actually so; talk about as if true

Where and when were you born? Suburbia, Sydney 1981.

Tell us about growing up there? Middle class, parents still happily married and sexually active, 2 sisters. Catholic school boy but never got touched inappropriately (I must have been ugly), and medical records as long as a piece of string…

I noticed that you were scarred up! Curioser and curiouser, do you care to elaborate on your medical records a bit? I was always the kid breaking bones and getting

stitches, but the highlight would have to be a car accident at 16 resulting in loss of some bowel, trashed arm/screws plates/nerve damage, stripped the top of my foot so could see 3 of the bones in my foot, busted an artery in my foot so was squirting blood and lost a muscle as a result, my T12 in my spine now resembles a triangle more than a square. Then the ongoing operations. And least of all the psychological related issues (but that’s a long one). What got you into being an artist? Definitely the money…but that aside, it just kind of evolved. I’ve always loved to create things/pictures/

objects/wearables and people have been nice enough to comment positively or buy stuff, which has just naturally fuelled the process

Did your family encourage you with your art? After being a crash test dummy my family were happy for me to do whatever I want. (Giggle) When did you realise you had an artistic side? When someone told me!

What inspires you to do your work? EverythingSeriously everything But I suppose I should expand. Depending on the day, today would be self help; I’m currently (10 years now) battling an addictive personality, so this seems to come up a bit. I’ve been medicated for about 15 years now for OCD so I’m guessing on some level this makes an appearance. Love, definitely love. Hope for a future. Corny shit like watching the clouds. My girlfriend’s continuous support that I may one day do something with my life. Etc…

What kind of things did you like to draw growing up? Planes and fire, cars and fire, boats and fire.

Where your parents ever called up to discuss these drawings?No I hid them well.

Most of your work revolves around strange figures and imaginary creatures. Where do you get the inspiration for these from? I like to sit and watch strangers. I like to decide what I think their

lives are about, and then draw.

What sort of mediums do you use to create your artwork?I have so many different paints (oil and acrylic) textas, pencils, inks, pastels etc that I have collected or been given over the past number of years that I use, so it just depends on what my flavour of the week is, but generally I’ll always head back to spraycans or textas. I’ll normally use these to paint on timber board as I don’t like the fragility of working on canvas. What is the general size and how

long does it take to create a piece?A lot of my pieces have been done on 90x60cm board as I find this a particularly easy size to work with which keeps the whole process fun for me. But I do work on all sorts of sizes from drawings on A4 up to large wall murals. Time wise, sometimes I can get lucky and complete the majority of a piece in a day, but mostly I’ll have about 4-5 all on the go at once and do them all in around a month or so. It varies.

Have you ever thought about taking your work to a new medium – like animation or toy design?

I’ve made some little doll things before as I fancy myself quite the sewer. I also make jewellery and t-shirts, but I’m definitely up for new things. Who are the artists or designers that inspire you? So many people make so many nice things, so that question is kind of like asking how long my medical record is.

Have you done any collaborative work with any other artists? No. I don’t really know or hang out or anything with any ‘artists’. My

mates mostly have normal jobs.

If not, who would be at the top of your wish list of peeps to work with? I really don’t work well with others. I’m a fairly anxious human, but I’m hopeful for change?!

I really get the feel that you are a regular ‘Frank’, that doesn’t like to really delve too far into the art scene? I AM, a regular Frank! What’s next for you? I’m hungry, so I think I’ll go eat.

Do you have aspirations to take your work overseas? Hell yeah- I love seeing new places and my girlfriend loves holidays so if I could work out a way to meld all that together then I’ll be a happy boy. When it comes to sewing, what’s your preferred weapon of choice – Janome or Singer? Janome circa 1985, I got this one cheap from an op shop and it works better than my new machines, it’s made from metal. Also ‘Janome’ sounds so Jerry Springer, “do you know me’? You don’t know me.