CLASSIC ART: FIRE IN THE SKY!

Here's a terrific and evocative piece of art by the late sci-fi talent John Berkey-a favourite illustrator of George Lucas- from sometime between 1976 and 77, showing Rebel X-wing fighters making their attack runs in, out and around the mighty planet killer, the Death Star, from the original STAR WARS. Sadly, this image from Berkey (whose other great film work would include art for KING KONG (1977) and SUPERMAN III (1983)), which was created as part of his commissioned work for the STAR WARS poster campaign, was not eventually used, though one other piece of character/action art (featuring the towering figure of Lord Vader with a defiant Luke, Leia and the droids underneath him) would make the grade as the iconic cover of the UK SPHERE BOOK edition of the movies adaptation in 1977. This Death Star battle art is yet another fine example of the incredible artistic work done for the saga over the last thirty-four years, and its stunning depiction remains indelibly iconic....

Check out more of Berkey's brilliant sci-fi work here:  John Berkey Image Gallery

CELEBRATION V: THE ART OF RALPH McQUARRIE (UPDATE)

Whilst perusing the CV dealers area, I brought this lovely postcard with unused poster art from EMPIRE. The back information credits the art to Ralph McQuarrie. I've never seen this particular film evocative image before so I thought I'd post it. (23/8/2010 UPDATE: John Scoleri at DREAMS AND VISIONS PRESS has kindly sent me a note (see below comment) to say that this isn't Ralph's work, and that it was incorrectly credited. Anyone out there got any info on who may have done this fine piece? Perhaps Tom Jung?).

I hope anyone who went to CV had a chance to look at the terrific gallery of Ralph's superb artwork (which included rare trace element sheets of his SW art that Ralph had kept since 1975/76) and picked up the excellent accompanying book, plus the two high quality daily trading cards of him at work on EMPIRE (one available from the exhibition itself and the other from the DREAMS AND VISIONS PRESS dealer stand).

It wasn't just STAR WARS fans who regularly popped in to admire the gallery - George Lucas himself, always a fan of Ralph's work, gave it a look over on the Saturday am, prior to his THE MAIN EVENT appearance and the conventions opening, to look at many rare pieces he hadn't seen in years.

We all owe Ralph so much for the visual success of the Classic STAR WARS SAGA, and STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends him continued best wishes.