The Art Of Ralph McQuarrie Star Wars

Meet the man who is responsible for the visual world of Star Wars.  I recall seeing McQuarrie’s first production illustration in the pages of Starlog magazine in the 1970s.  It was a back view of an Empire Tie Fighter pilot.

It’s important to note that before Star Wars most science fiction space movies, no matter how realistic or serious, looked pretty stock and similar.  Not that they were bad movies it’s just that movie studios had a hard time breaking out of a mold.

In the case of Star Wars creator George Lucas wanted something completely different.  He wanted his universe to look live in-not pristine and clean, but used, slightly dingy and used-just like real life.

While McQuarrie’s art was certainly cutting edge and massive in scale it looked utilitarian.  Things looked like they would work-including the droids.

The Art Of Ralph McQuarrie Star Wars, from Chronicle Books, comes self-contained in a heavy paper stock box decorated images of McQuarrie’s art and schematics on all sides.

The flip-open box contains Star Wars postage stamps, a collection of postcards and a small softbound booklet discussing McQuarrie’s art and creative process.  

The booklet is held in place by a sleeve while the stamps (in their translucent paper envelope) and postcards are held in place by a black tie string.

The box itself is held shut by a larger circular sticker.  Think of the whole assemblage as a miniature treasure box full of surprises and goodies. 

Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.