George Lucas Remembers Visionary 'Star Wars' Artist, Ralph McQuarrie

The Star Wars community suffered a loss this weekend. Legendary artist, Ralph McQaurrie, passed away at the age of 82, announced on his website last night and on StarWars.com. McQuarrie was responsible for countless early concept designs for characters, scenes, and creatures that defined the look and aesthetic of the galaxy seen in Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. His production paintings were the basis of the familiar looks that would become unforgettable characters like Darth Vader, C-3P0, and Chewbacca.

George Lucas released this statement:

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of such a visionary artist and such a humble man. Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision Star Wars. His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph's fabulous illustrations and say, 'Do it like this.'

"Beyond the movies, his artwork has inspired at least two generations of younger artists—all of whom learned through Ralph that movies are designed. Like me, they were thrilled by his keen eye and creative imagination, which always brought concepts to their most ideal plateau. In many ways, he was a generous father to a conceptual art revolution that was born of his artwork, and which seized the imaginations of thousands and propelled them into the film industry. In that way, we will all be benefiting from his oeuvre for generations to come. Beyond that, I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator."

—George Lucas

Simon Pegg tweeted this last night regarding the sad passing of the artist:

"RIP Ralph McQuarrie, an extraordinary artist whose work fueled my dreams, fantasies and imagination. His paintings will live forever."

McQuarrie also was a driving force in creating visuals for the original Battlestar Galactica, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Cocoon. His conceptual work on Cocoon, earned him an Academy Award for Visual Effects. You can see many of the iconic images he created, in addition to the ones below, at McQuarrie's website, his Facebook page, and StarWars.com.

SOURCES: RalphMcQuarrie.com, StarWars.com

______________________________________