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Star Wars Conceptual Artist Ralph McQuarrie Dies at 82

Posted by samzenpus on from the may-the-force-be-with-you dept.

First time accepted submitter puddingebola writes "Ralph McQuarrie, the conceptual designer that created the look of characters such as Darth Vader, Chewbacca and R2-D2, and helped design sets and scenes for George Lucas has passed away at 82. From the article: 'The success of his Star Wars paintings launched a late feature film career for McQuarrie that included helping design such classics as Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial, Back to the Future, Cocoon, Total Recall, and the original TV series Battlestar Galactica.'"

10 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Here's to you! by Nyder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I dedicate this bowl of weed to the great designs you drew and kept me entertained for so many years!

    Here's to you!

    --
    Be seeing you...
    1. Re:Here's to you! by causality · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And a stoner who models their life after "Cheech & Chong" is mature? I'm sorry, but if you need mind altering substances to bring value to your life, then you must have a pretty horrid life.

      I don't believe it is proper to model one's life after any stereotype or Hollywood image. I'd rather be an individual and so would anyone else who truly understands what this means. That this model in particular bothers you is irrelevant to me. To me, they are all equally abhorrent and phony when viewed as anything more than entertainment.

      The hinge of your statement is "need". Mind altering substances can also be appreciated. I would say that if you need to use a Web site to bring value to your life, that's also a horrid life. Yet, someone can use and enjoy a Web site without making it the center of one's existence. You could say that about hobbies, movies, relationships, anything really; for all of those things there is an unhealthy way of being too attached to them and giving them undue importance. We call the the unhealthy ones fanboys, zealots, and codependents. We call the healthy ones people who enjoy their free time.

      To treat drugs as anything unusual or special is your particular hang-up. The inability to recognize it as such that prompts you to blame others for not living as you do is a character flaw and an area in which you are emotionally immature. It is the difference between someone who simply does not belong to a religion but honors the freedom of those who do, versus someone who hates all religious people and would love to shut down every church. You merely found a form of bigotry that is less likely to be challenged than hating people of faith, people of color, people of a particular gender, etc.

      --
      It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
  2. Why God why!? by WiiVault · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Couldn't it have been George. Cruel I know, but so is what he does seemingly for a living now- destroying my childhood and that of millions of other fans in the search for his ego. Queue the karma bonfire.

    1. Re:Why God why!? by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

      destroying my childhood

      "Destroying your childhood?" WFT? Look, I was ten years old when "Star Wars" came out. I saw it every Saturday matinee in the theatre for 13 weeks. I bought all the comics and had the toys. As far I was concerned it was the greatest thing ever. Then, later on, Lucas mucked with it. Did it 'destroy my childhood?' Not even close. My childhood is attached to watching all those showings with my buddies, maybe with a bucket of popcorn - Lucas can't ever destroy that.

  3. Go easy 'bro... by interval1066 · · Score: 3

    "He's heading for that small moon..." ...in th sky. Go easy, 'bro. Loved your work.

    --
    Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
  4. Ralph conceived first! by Culture20 · · Score: 2

    Chewie on that, Lucas!

  5. Wow, **everyone** get's a +1 Insightful by hey! · · Score: 2

    From the article linked to above:

    "Why would I make any more," Lucas stated about continuing with his popular sci-fi universe, "when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?"

    --
    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  6. Link to concept art images by Dr+Herbert+West · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hate to be on-topic, but what the hell:
    Article on Tor.com with some images from some of his other concept art. I always get a kick out of seeing hand-painted 70s-80s concept art. Cognitive dissonance-- "old fashioned" sci-fi imagery.

  7. A kind man to a young fan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I was in the midst of my elementary school Star Wars fever I was also a collector of autographs. I made a point of tracking down more obscure people tied to the films, including Mr. McQuarrie. I sent him a letter and a drawing or two and was amazed to get a wonderful handwritten response, with his own little sketches in the margins and offering tips on my artwork. I then wrote back, with more drawings, and got a second response with a similar, personal tone. He seemed genuinely surprised that there was interest in his work. I've never forgotten those kind responses and still have the letters.

    I never met him or knew much more about his life (I believe he was a WWII vet), but those responses make me believe he was a kind and thoughtful guy. Thanks, Mr. McQuarrie, for taking the time to inspire a young kid in the midwest.

  8. A hand I would love to have shaken... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I do visual work for a living. We have a whole library of art we look at for inspiration and Mr. McQuarrie's right at the top of the list. His work not only affected my visual development as a youngin, I mean who at my age didn't see Star Wars, but for the rest of my life his paintings will be studied and, even if indirectly, they'll continue to serve to entertain the world.

    I'm exhausted right now. I really wish I had the ability to speak more eloquently about this man. I'm just at a loss for words. I hear this man's name at least once a week and it seems like I'd just have a lot more to say. But I'm tired. I'm just going to leave it at this: I really wish I could have shaken his hand, both for personal and for professional reasons.

    Farewell, Mr. McQuarrie. You were fantastic.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)