The Imperial Shipyards
General Collecting => Autographs => Topic started by: jkno on March 04, 2012, 01:20:12 AM
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The world of science fiction and fantasy art and design has lost one of its true legends as Ralph McQuarrie died today at the age of 82.
McQuarrie began his design career after moving to California from Indiana in the early 1960s. While he started out working as a technical illustrator for Boeing, he also found jobs designing film posters and providing animation elements for CBS News coverage of the Apollo space program.
An offer to work on concept art for a film project followed, and his designs caught the eye of director George Lucas, who had an ideal for a little movie about adventures in space. McQuarrie worked on designs for Star Wars before it was even known by that name and, in 1975, was commissioned to provide the now iconic designs for the likes of Chewbacca and Darth Vader, plus many concepts for the sets and ships. His art actually helped convince 20th Century Fox to take a gamble on Lucas’ dreams, making him a key component in one of the most beloved franchises of all time.
"I just did my best to depict what I thought the film should look like, I really liked the idea,” he’s since said. “I didn't think the film would ever get made. My impression was it was too expensive. There wouldn't be enough of an audience. It's just too complicated. But George knew a lot of things that I didn't know."
Lucas naturally asked him to work on The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, and he even got to appear on screen in the uncredited role of General McQuarrie. But despite his close connection to the Star Wars universe, he declined Lucas’ offer to return for the prequels, commenting that he'd rather hand the baton to a new generation of artists and designers.
Outside of Star Wars, McQuarrie worked closely with Steven Spielberg on Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and ET, providing the jaw-dropping designs for alien vessels. He also contributed to Raiders Of The Lost Ark and won an Oscar for Cocoon before moving on to work as either a consultant or the concept artist for such films as Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Batteries Not Included and Jurassic Park.
A true original, McQuarrie is survived by Joan, his wife.
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=33315
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He was a great artist and person. You will be missed Mr. McQuarrie. I know you are among the stars you liked so much. Rest in peace.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/1zvwfv9.jpg)
(http://i41.tinypic.com/6zsqya.jpg)
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I read this on Facebook last night. The Star Wars Community has last one of its pioneers. He is the reason we have so much of our beloved Star Wars environments, aliens, creatures, and vehicles. Rest in peace Mr. McQuarrie.
I hope you don't mind Serg, but perhaps this is as good as place as any for those of us who want to leave our thoughts about this great artist.
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RIP Mr. Ralph McQuarrie!
He was and ever will be a great inspiration!
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Rest in peace, RM. Your works will inspire me for the rest of my life.
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My mom found a set of art from him last year in a yard sale, great stuff all from ESB, it was a packaged setset, not sure of the origins but It looks cool.
Anyway I am saddened by this, loved his work.
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Such a sad day. He was and forever will be a great inspiration in everything I do. Loved his vision, his art and he was a great man. May the force be with you!
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This is truly a sad day for Star Wars and sci-fi fans in general. Ralp McQuarrie was a true inspiration to all of us, especially myself as I fell in love with his work at a very early age while looking through my uncle's first printing of "The Art Of Star Wars" back in 78.
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its a sad loss to the art world star wars has lost a man who had a singular vision of that universe that we all wish to inhabit
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He will truly be missed as both a genuine person and as an artist.
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I remember how glad Ralph was when eFX presented him the proto of the Vader helmet, and how happy was during the entire process of making that helmet, then he was enthusiastic to hear about this Stormtrooper helmet as well. He felt again young, his illness was defeated those days, because people were so interested not just in his previous work but also on his thought about future work. Artists care more about their work than their own lives.
I remember years ago when I helped his wife Joan with a traditional Romanian blouse (http://i39.tinypic.com/2lswrc5.jpg) very similar with the one wore by Marion in Indiana Jones. Both of them were so graceful, all the messages were friendly, and everyone knows he still signed stuff for free until recently - which is not the case with many other artists or celebrities. Ralph was different, he respected everyone, and he enjoyed seeing people writing to him. He shared small parts of his life with other people, because he loved everyone.
A few glimpses of Ralph McQuarrie the man:
(http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/1774/autographralphmcquarrie.jpg)
(http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1774/autographralphmcquarrie.jpg)
(http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/1774/autographralphmcquarrie.jpg)
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What an artist! What a force of creation! He truly conceptualized and visualized the galaxy we've all come to love. And now he's one with the force, no doubt flying around the galaxy with Kershner. I would like to add that one of my latest WIP sets of customs are based on his early sketches/paintings of Tatooine natives.
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RIP, and thank you for your artwork that allowed a movie to be made that i will never forget