Page 38 - Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2020)

McQUARRIE MASTERPIECES
Why do you think that Ralph’s work is so

revered and so influential, both in Star Wars
and beyond? Wade Lageose: There are so many extraordinary pieces to pick from, but my
WL: One only needs to look at Ralph’s favorite at the moment is Ralph’s “Laser Duel” from Star Wars. That illustration
artwork to understand why he is so revered. has great composition and movement, and features an early draft character, Deak
Ralph was an extraordinarily talented Starkiller (often referred to as Luke), facing off against Darth Vader. As in many
visionary and a master craftsman. He had of Ralph’s early Star Wars paintings, there is a great spontaneity and energy to it.
a way of communicating through his artwork Beyond its extraordinary technical merits, it tells an engaging story—as do many
that was spontaneous, approachable, and of his paintings—that keeps me coming back, again and again.
universal. His unusual concepts had a
real-world familiarity to them, making
them believable and easy to understand of piece turning up now that the books his pieces, then organizing them and
at a glance. Yet there is a depth to his are available? deciding which needed rescanning was
illustrations, from the engaging stories they WL: One of our goals from the beginning major task. It involved exhaustive research
tell to the wonderful lighting and artistry was to include everything Ralph ever both in and out of the Archives. We often
they display, that captures one’s imagination. contributed to the Star Wars universe. compared the physical originals maintained
While that idea was simple enough, its at Skywalker Ranch to the massive digital

How definitive can definitive be? Are you implementation was a phenomenal task. archive maintained by the Lucasfilm Digital

living in anticipation of a previously unheard Collecting, documenting, and photographing Archives. Just dealing with two separate,
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