'Star Wars' conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie passes away at age 82

"The Art of Return of the Jedi" was one of my favourite Star Wars related purchases, as were several other collections of sci-fi art. Always liked SF art's power to inspire.<p>Two of Ralph McQuarrie's more dramatic compositions:<p><a href="http://www.podracer.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/star-wars/ralph-mcquarrie-new-hope-death-star.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.podracer.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/star-wars/ralph...</a><p><a href="http://www.cornellbooksellers.com/blog/uploads/mcquarrie.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.cornellbooksellers.com/blog/uploads/mcquarrie.jpg</a>

I had a book of his <i>Star Wars</i> illustrations as a kid, too. It was great to see the variants of recognizable vehicles/structures/characters/etc that <i>didn't</i> make it into the final movies... an early lesson about all the little creative choices that sum up to an iconic final product.<p>Sorry to see he's passed. Glad he lived a full creative life. Encouraged that his <i>Star Wars</i> work was done in his 40s.

I had a set of his Empire Strikes Back drawings as a kid, and I spent countless hours pouring over every detail. He really had a way of capturing one's imagination.

that is a fantastic career of work.<p>sadly - the thumbnails on his site aren't working for me...is that true for anyone else?