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Artist Ralph McQuarrie was born #OTD in 1929. He is probably best known as the primary concept artist for the Star Wars movies, but he also did work for Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and E.T., and he won an Academy Award for his work on Cocoon.

Image: Ralph McQuarrie

McQuarrie's 1975 painting "Y-Wing Attacks the Death Star" shows a metallic blue proto-Death Star in the background. Two Y-Wing fighters in the foreground are diving towards it.
Two droids, early visions of C-3PO and R2-D2, moving across a desert. The tall golden droid resembles the C-3PO of the movie, but has the sleek, art deco look of Maria from the film "Metropolis." A canister-shaped R2-D2 is in the background.
McQuarrie sitting at his drawing table. He is wearing a navy crew neck sweater and smoking a pipe. His hair is gray and swept back. There are numerous markers, pens, and erasers on the table, as well as a circle template and many scraps of paper.
McQuarrie’s concept painting of Luke Skywalker standing on a bluff, looking at a distant Mos Eisley through binoculars. He is carrying a long rifle, and his land speeder is recognizable behind him. You can just make out 3PO and R2 next to the vehicle.
#otd
This entry was edited (10 months ago)
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