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Star Wars Art #1
Star Wars Art: Visions
When Star Wars debuted in 1977, it revolutionized mainstream American filmmaking, transporting fans to new galaxies and introducing them to countless now-classic characters, aliens, planets, and starships. In the decades since, the Star Wars Saga has become a phenomenon impacting cultures across the globe.
Just as George Lucas drew upon the work of N. C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell for his own visual inspiration, he has now invited more than 100 well-known and promising artists to draw upon the entire Star Wars galaxy for inspiration. Star Wars: Visions collects these magnificent artworks for the first time. Featuring pieces by renowned artists such as Amano, Allan R. Banks, Harley Brown, Gary Carter, James Christensen, Michael Coleman, Kinuko Craft, Jim Dietz, Phillipe Druillet, Donato Giancola, Ann Hanson, H. R. Giger, Daniel Greene, Ron Kleeman, Arantzazu Martinez, Syd Mead, Moebius, Paul Oxborough, Alex Ross, Anthony J. Ryder, Dolfi Stoki, William Stout, Dan Thompson, Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo, Scott Waddell, and Jamie Wyeth, Star Wars: Visions is a breakthrough tribute to the worldwide inspiration that is Star Wars.
Praise for Star Wars Art: Visions:
"Star Wars Art: Visions . . . acknowledges what fans have felt all along. They don't want to be mere spectators, but involved in the storytelling too."
-Los Angeles Times
Just as George Lucas drew upon the work of N. C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell for his own visual inspiration, he has now invited more than 100 well-known and promising artists to draw upon the entire Star Wars galaxy for inspiration. Star Wars: Visions collects these magnificent artworks for the first time. Featuring pieces by renowned artists such as Amano, Allan R. Banks, Harley Brown, Gary Carter, James Christensen, Michael Coleman, Kinuko Craft, Jim Dietz, Phillipe Druillet, Donato Giancola, Ann Hanson, H. R. Giger, Daniel Greene, Ron Kleeman, Arantzazu Martinez, Syd Mead, Moebius, Paul Oxborough, Alex Ross, Anthony J. Ryder, Dolfi Stoki, William Stout, Dan Thompson, Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo, Scott Waddell, and Jamie Wyeth, Star Wars: Visions is a breakthrough tribute to the worldwide inspiration that is Star Wars.
Praise for Star Wars Art: Visions:
"Star Wars Art: Visions . . . acknowledges what fans have felt all along. They don't want to be mere spectators, but involved in the storytelling too."
-Los Angeles Times
176 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
594 people want to read
About the author
George Lucas
266 books605 followersGeorge Walton Lucas Jr. is an American filmmaker and philanthropist. He created the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and founded Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairman of Lucasfilm before selling it to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Nominated for four Academy Awards, he is considered to be one of the most significant figures of the 20th-century New Hollywood movement, and a pioneer of the modern blockbuster. Despite this, he has remained an independent filmmaker away from Hollywood for most of his career.
After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1967, Lucas moved to San Francisco and co-founded American Zoetrope with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. He wrote and directed THX 1138 (1971), based on his student short Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, which was a critical success but a financial failure. His next work as a writer-director was American Graffiti (1973), inspired by his youth in early 1960s Modesto, California, and produced through the newly founded Lucasfilm. The film was critically and commercially successful and received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture. Lucas's next film, the epic space opera Star Wars (1977), later retitled A New Hope, had a troubled production but was a surprise hit, becoming the highest-grossing film at the time, winning six Academy Awards and sparking a cultural phenomenon. Lucas produced and co-wrote the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). With director Steven Spielberg, he created, produced, and co-wrote Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989) and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and served as an executive producer, with a cursory involvement in pre and post-production, on The Dial of Destiny (2023).
In 1997, Lucas re-released the original Star Wars trilogy as part of a Special Edition featuring several modifications; home media versions with further changes were released in 2004 and 2011. He returned to directing with a Star Wars prequel trilogy comprising The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005). He last collaborated on the CGI-animated movie and television series of the same name, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2014, 2020), the war film Red Tails (2012) and the CGI film Strange Magic (2015). Lucas is also known for his collaboration with composer John Williams, who was recommended to him by Spielberg, and with whom he has worked for all the films in both of these franchises. He also produced and wrote a variety of films and television series through Lucasfilm between the 1970s and the 2010s.
Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers. He directed or wrote the story for ten of the 100 highest-grossing movies at the North American box office, adjusted for ticket-price inflation. Through his companies Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, Lucas was involved in the production of, and financially benefited from, almost every big-budget film released in the U.S. from the late 1980s until the 2012 Disney sale. In addition to his career as a filmmaker, Lucas has founded and supported multiple philanthropic organizations and campaigns dedicated to education and the arts, including the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which has been noted as a key supporter in the creation of the federal E-Rate program to provide broadband funding to schools and libraries, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a forthcoming art museum in Los Angeles developed with his wife, Mellody Hobson.
After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1967, Lucas moved to San Francisco and co-founded American Zoetrope with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. He wrote and directed THX 1138 (1971), based on his student short Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, which was a critical success but a financial failure. His next work as a writer-director was American Graffiti (1973), inspired by his youth in early 1960s Modesto, California, and produced through the newly founded Lucasfilm. The film was critically and commercially successful and received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture. Lucas's next film, the epic space opera Star Wars (1977), later retitled A New Hope, had a troubled production but was a surprise hit, becoming the highest-grossing film at the time, winning six Academy Awards and sparking a cultural phenomenon. Lucas produced and co-wrote the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). With director Steven Spielberg, he created, produced, and co-wrote Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989) and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and served as an executive producer, with a cursory involvement in pre and post-production, on The Dial of Destiny (2023).
In 1997, Lucas re-released the original Star Wars trilogy as part of a Special Edition featuring several modifications; home media versions with further changes were released in 2004 and 2011. He returned to directing with a Star Wars prequel trilogy comprising The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005). He last collaborated on the CGI-animated movie and television series of the same name, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2014, 2020), the war film Red Tails (2012) and the CGI film Strange Magic (2015). Lucas is also known for his collaboration with composer John Williams, who was recommended to him by Spielberg, and with whom he has worked for all the films in both of these franchises. He also produced and wrote a variety of films and television series through Lucasfilm between the 1970s and the 2010s.
Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers. He directed or wrote the story for ten of the 100 highest-grossing movies at the North American box office, adjusted for ticket-price inflation. Through his companies Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, Lucas was involved in the production of, and financially benefited from, almost every big-budget film released in the U.S. from the late 1980s until the 2012 Disney sale. In addition to his career as a filmmaker, Lucas has founded and supported multiple philanthropic organizations and campaigns dedicated to education and the arts, including the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which has been noted as a key supporter in the creation of the federal E-Rate program to provide broadband funding to schools and libraries, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a forthcoming art museum in Los Angeles developed with his wife, Mellody Hobson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 14, 2018
Okay here is how the last week has been for me - travelling with work (and they paid for it) great, visiting Warsaw - amazing, return flight thought storm Callum Hell, coming down with Sinus cold - nightmare, finding a whole stack of books I ordered awesome.
So forgive me if you will see a whole load of books being uploaded in a short period of time as I was either too busy to catch up or too ill to bother. But I am trying to catch up.
So here is the first. This was a book I had known about for some time as its basically a collection of artwork by various famous artists (some directly others not at all - connected to the franchise) who were influenced by the StarWars films and the universe they were set it. Some are highly stylised and contain only the most tenuous links others look like they are lost scenes which were edited out at the last moment.
What I love about this book is that they are (mostly) faithful to the films and yet are totally unexpected and different. For me it fills in the gaps and make the whole universe more richer and fuller after all is it just me or have you ever wondered what happened between the films (I know that some books have tried to fill in the gaps most famously the Aftermath trilogy).
So another great book to add to rather worryingly large collection of Starwars artwork books but hey am not counting.
So forgive me if you will see a whole load of books being uploaded in a short period of time as I was either too busy to catch up or too ill to bother. But I am trying to catch up.
So here is the first. This was a book I had known about for some time as its basically a collection of artwork by various famous artists (some directly others not at all - connected to the franchise) who were influenced by the StarWars films and the universe they were set it. Some are highly stylised and contain only the most tenuous links others look like they are lost scenes which were edited out at the last moment.
What I love about this book is that they are (mostly) faithful to the films and yet are totally unexpected and different. For me it fills in the gaps and make the whole universe more richer and fuller after all is it just me or have you ever wondered what happened between the films (I know that some books have tried to fill in the gaps most famously the Aftermath trilogy).
So another great book to add to rather worryingly large collection of Starwars artwork books but hey am not counting.
December 4, 2012
(More pictures at parkablogs.com)
This isn't the concept art book I imagined or was expecting. This isn't a concept art book at all.
Star Wars Art: Visions is more of a fan art book, except the 'fans' here are some of the best illustrators around. Think Moebius, Alex Ross, Syd Mead, Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo, H.R. Giger, Peter de Seve and James Christensen. There are 93 guest artists in all. Wow!
George Lucas has invited all these fine artists to create art for Star Wars, in their own style and interpretation. You'll see art from all sorts of styles, ranging from impressionist to manga to Picasso, punk(?), collage and more.
The book itself is huge, and the prints are large. You can see the details of the brush strokes and all. And most of the paintings are created traditionally.
The subjects are pretty cool, especially the more different ones like Kermit the Frog fishing with Yoda (from Peter de Seve), or the manga Leia which looks like she's from an alternate universe, or (gasp!) a nude Aayla.
This is a great collection of quality art. Easily recommended to any Star Wars fan.
January 9, 2023
It is a dark time for the rebellion as imperial forces pursue rebel forces across the galaxy. But not so on Dagobah where yoda is inhaling the last of his death sticks.
"Many parsecs to dagobah young skywalker must travel hmmm? Time we have Master the Frog. Spot of fishing hmm?"
A banjo appears atop a rock. Green fingers. Unblinking eyes. Mist carries Kermit's croaked out melody:
"There's a place where I often sit, just me, myself and I, on my pond. There the water's fresh and clean, and the grass is green like the smile on my face."
A river of colour flows from yoda's death stick into the grey dagobah mist.
"hmmm.. agree yes Master the Frog. Easy being green it is not"
Anyway that's how I imagine we ended up with a picture of Yoda and Kermit doing a spot of fishing. We're just lucky someone was there to capture the moment.
"Many parsecs to dagobah young skywalker must travel hmmm? Time we have Master the Frog. Spot of fishing hmm?"
A banjo appears atop a rock. Green fingers. Unblinking eyes. Mist carries Kermit's croaked out melody:
"There's a place where I often sit, just me, myself and I, on my pond. There the water's fresh and clean, and the grass is green like the smile on my face."
A river of colour flows from yoda's death stick into the grey dagobah mist.
"hmmm.. agree yes Master the Frog. Easy being green it is not"
Anyway that's how I imagine we ended up with a picture of Yoda and Kermit doing a spot of fishing. We're just lucky someone was there to capture the moment.
January 6, 2017
Gorgeous book with amazing Star Wars-inspired art, ranging from classic oil portraiture to collage and mixed media. Some really interesting and creative looks at a galaxy far, far away. My favorite pieces were a moving image of Vader dreaming of Padme and a realistic and detailed version of the battle of Hoth.
Four stars instead of five because of the naked twi'leks (four by my count) and other assorted scantily-clad ladies. As a female fan, I'm so tired of that aspect of SW fandom...
Four stars instead of five because of the naked twi'leks (four by my count) and other assorted scantily-clad ladies. As a female fan, I'm so tired of that aspect of SW fandom...
December 24, 2018
I love how all the Abrams Star Wars editions are so extremely beautiful. The colors, the quality of the paper, in this particular case the art selection made by George Lucas 💕✨ Now I need the rest of the collection because it's totally worth it 👌
January 7, 2024
A few of these are fantastic, most are very good, a few are pretty blah, and then a couple are weirdly sexualized (believe it or not, always of female characters, what a coincidence). Overall very cool though.
June 19, 2021
Love the concept. Open up the Star Wars universe to a very diverse group of excellent artists in their own right. When you turn the page you never know what you'll find. I think this book is so interesting it will entice even a fan of Star Wars. You don't have to be a Fan or FAN to want this book. I read three non-fic art books of Star Wars todays and this is my favorite. Maybe. Probably. It was just cool to see what the artists came up with.
Get it from the library to take it for a test run so to speak then buy a copy on ebay.
Get it from the library to take it for a test run so to speak then buy a copy on ebay.
April 27, 2024
Beautiful art and images
March 15, 2014
Una recopilación de ilustraciones de todo tipo de artistas en torno al universo de Star Wars. Una pequeña maravilla visual. (Demonios, hasta hay un Darth Vader de H.R. Giger...). Si eres fan de la saga de George Lucas, muy recomendable...
October 28, 2024
What an incredibly beautiful book! I love almost all of the art 🎨 , only 2 don't connect with me in any way, and 1 is frustrating in its inclusion of certain objects. I enjoyed all of the pretentious author profiles. Art has a way of drawing that out of copywriters. The artists' own words were much more meaningful, however. They described and gave insight into their creations that I simply didn't see or notice.
The Struggle Behind the Mask by Stephen Early, Easy Being Green, It's Not by Peter de Seve, Sith Annunciation by Dan Thompson are my favorites as well as Sleeping Aayla by Evan Wilson and Yobana by Jeremy Lipking are simply arresting. Maverick Bounty Hunter by Nelson Boren reminds me of a certain gunslinger, Deschain by name.
A great effort prior to Disney crapping all over it (I'm still a tad bitter).
The Struggle Behind the Mask by Stephen Early, Easy Being Green, It's Not by Peter de Seve, Sith Annunciation by Dan Thompson are my favorites as well as Sleeping Aayla by Evan Wilson and Yobana by Jeremy Lipking are simply arresting. Maverick Bounty Hunter by Nelson Boren reminds me of a certain gunslinger, Deschain by name.
A great effort prior to Disney crapping all over it (I'm still a tad bitter).
April 13, 2023
Thanks to Izzi for this book.
This book came out in 2010. It is interesting to look back and see where “Star Wars” fans were right before Disney bought Lucasfilm. And now Disney+ has an animated series with the same title as this book, along with the premise of “different artists do their own take on ‘Star Wars’”. Except instead of animated short films, this is pieces of visual art from a butt ton of artists.
And so this is an art book! Different artists, influenced by the Original Trilogy, the Prequel Trilogy, and some of “The Clone Wars” do their paintings, drawings, and digital art in whatever way they chose. Which is fun–sometimes, the best path to choose is just letting the artists go nuts. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they stick closer to canon. There’s art that looks like more traditional painting, there’s what looks like posters, there’s art in historical styles, and there’s some that’s a bit more out there and modern.
It’s fun. And worth checking out.
This book came out in 2010. It is interesting to look back and see where “Star Wars” fans were right before Disney bought Lucasfilm. And now Disney+ has an animated series with the same title as this book, along with the premise of “different artists do their own take on ‘Star Wars’”. Except instead of animated short films, this is pieces of visual art from a butt ton of artists.
And so this is an art book! Different artists, influenced by the Original Trilogy, the Prequel Trilogy, and some of “The Clone Wars” do their paintings, drawings, and digital art in whatever way they chose. Which is fun–sometimes, the best path to choose is just letting the artists go nuts. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they stick closer to canon. There’s art that looks like more traditional painting, there’s what looks like posters, there’s art in historical styles, and there’s some that’s a bit more out there and modern.
It’s fun. And worth checking out.
May 20, 2017
My rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
The artwork in this was a little bit hit and miss for me. There were some that I thought were really cleverly done with nods to the stories of the characters depicted or having multiple scenes in a painting that looked focused on one at first glance. My favourite artworks were:
- Regrets by Masey
- Easy being Green, It's Not by Peter de Seve
- Now My Enemy by Robert Bailey
The artwork in this was a little bit hit and miss for me. There were some that I thought were really cleverly done with nods to the stories of the characters depicted or having multiple scenes in a painting that looked focused on one at first glance. My favourite artworks were:
- Regrets by Masey
- Easy being Green, It's Not by Peter de Seve
- Now My Enemy by Robert Bailey
September 26, 2018
For every "Oh, that's pretty cool and inventive" work, there are two "From which high schooler's notebook did they tear this?" works. Some show great imagination; others aspire only to duplicate a film still on the canvas. And then there are the sexy Twi'leks...did I just say that? If nothing else, the book would be good on your coffee table, as it offers a diverse collection of SW universe interpretations. Lucas had better be flattered that so much has been made over his creation.
September 2, 2019
Uno de los primeros libros de arte que le dedique el tiempo de apreciar.
Un compendio de visiones sobre star wars de grandes artistas gráficos, todo un deleite visual en cada página.
Sin duda me hizo replantear la adquisición de más libros de arte (no solo de star wars).
De las últimas obras de calidad que se pueden obtener sobre el universo star wars.
Un compendio de visiones sobre star wars de grandes artistas gráficos, todo un deleite visual en cada página.
Sin duda me hizo replantear la adquisición de más libros de arte (no solo de star wars).
De las últimas obras de calidad que se pueden obtener sobre el universo star wars.
August 22, 2018
A great number of very talented artists contributed to this collection. I loved seeing their various takes on the Star Wars universe. I could, however, wish that Aayla Secura had gotten ONE appearance in which she wasn't lounging around naked or mostly-naked.
January 21, 2025
Considering this contains mostly illustrations and very little text, not much can be said. I'm not that fond of splitting the pictures and artist biographies into two parts instead of having them together.
August 16, 2018
I've read this before, his "making of" the original trilogy books are the better.
October 22, 2019
I read or skimmed through this book years ago. There were very interesting pieces of art in this book.
October 23, 2019
Solid collection of a variety of SW art pieces, but nothing thematically tying them together.
January 25, 2020
Wonderfully beautiful and alluring works based on the Galaxy Far Far Away.
February 24, 2022
Some great works & a number of artists I know: Eric Joyner, Moebius, Mikimoto. Great landscapes, Chewie family portrait, Twi’lek as classical nude, several Rancors & pod racers…
September 27, 2023
Star Wars Art: Visions
Eclectic range of artwork inspired by the SW galaxy. Differing mediums, styles and genres. Fascinating. ****
Eclectic range of artwork inspired by the SW galaxy. Differing mediums, styles and genres. Fascinating. ****
February 11, 2024
Robiąc reread & rewatch albumów z artami i konceptami, okazuje się, że ten nadal jest moim ulubionym. Co by nie mówić, malarstwo jest silne Mocą.
July 24, 2025
Truly amazing artwork of Star Wars characters, places and spaceships. A must read for any Star Wars fans.
March 2, 2017
I think I might just have to purchase this book, or maybe even get a copy of a few of these paintings for my house! The artistry and creativity found in these pages show how many dedicated artists and Star Wars nerds can show the world around them the true depth of what is seen in the "galaxy far far away".
If you are a Star Wars fan, or even a Star Wars appreciator, you owe it to yourself to read and look through this book. High recommend.
If you are a Star Wars fan, or even a Star Wars appreciator, you owe it to yourself to read and look through this book. High recommend.
January 6, 2016
One of the things I love most about Star Wars is the visual aesthetic that Ralph McQuarrie, Joe Johnston, and other artists brought to the big screen. Creating a universe where things look real and used, but still imaginative and exciting, you can look at the images they created and know if something is Star Wars or not. That visual aesthetic has become a sandbox for other artists to play in in the coffee table book Star Wars: Visions, edited by Acme Archives and published by Abrams.
After a Foreword by George Lucas, and an Introduction by Lucasfilm Executive Editor J.W. Rinzler, you launch into 142 pages of color plates, usually full-page, with occasional sidebars that highlight details of some of the larger pieces. Most artists have focused on the Original Trilogy (I'm assuming most of these artists grew up with that trilogy like I did), but there are some that have chosen the Prequels as their setting. Some are straightforward, like Daniel E. Greene's oil portrait of Princess Leia in her classic buns and white robes, or Krystii Melaine's Fur Balls, showing Han Solo and a troop of Ewoks ready for battle. Others tell stories that happened outside the films, like Anthony J. Waichulis' journal entry by a very young Princess Leia, written in the Aurrabesh font of the Star Wars Universe. Several pay homage to Lucas' American Grafitti, and The Empire Strikes Back is the setting for more of the pictures than any of the other movies.
The artists are like a who's who of comic book artists, technical artists, illustrators and movie production artists. They include Boris Vallejo, Gary Carter, James C. Christensen, M. Morgan Coleman, Peter de Seve, Peter Ferk, H.R. Giger, Michael Grimaldi, Eric Joyner, Moebius, Alex Ross, and dozens of others. The artists get bios in the back of the book, in case you're left wondering "where have I seen that before?"
I originally checked this out as a library book, then purchased a copy online. I may even buy a second copy, because some of the pictures are worth framing. Personal favorites include Peter De Seve's Easy Being Green, It's Not, which has Kermit the Frog and Yoda side by side in a swamp fishing; how can I not love it? Peter Ferk's The Stuff That Dreams are Made Of has a pile of the old Kenner Star Wars toys on a Star Wars bedspread, including the AT-AT, Millennium Falcon, X-Wing fighter, A-Wing Fighter, and other toys that I grew up with and slept with every night.
This book is a tribute to the artistry and imagination of Star Wars, and every page brings something new. If you're a fan of either the Original Trilogy or the Prequel Trilogy, you'll enjoy Star Wars: Visions.
After a Foreword by George Lucas, and an Introduction by Lucasfilm Executive Editor J.W. Rinzler, you launch into 142 pages of color plates, usually full-page, with occasional sidebars that highlight details of some of the larger pieces. Most artists have focused on the Original Trilogy (I'm assuming most of these artists grew up with that trilogy like I did), but there are some that have chosen the Prequels as their setting. Some are straightforward, like Daniel E. Greene's oil portrait of Princess Leia in her classic buns and white robes, or Krystii Melaine's Fur Balls, showing Han Solo and a troop of Ewoks ready for battle. Others tell stories that happened outside the films, like Anthony J. Waichulis' journal entry by a very young Princess Leia, written in the Aurrabesh font of the Star Wars Universe. Several pay homage to Lucas' American Grafitti, and The Empire Strikes Back is the setting for more of the pictures than any of the other movies.
The artists are like a who's who of comic book artists, technical artists, illustrators and movie production artists. They include Boris Vallejo, Gary Carter, James C. Christensen, M. Morgan Coleman, Peter de Seve, Peter Ferk, H.R. Giger, Michael Grimaldi, Eric Joyner, Moebius, Alex Ross, and dozens of others. The artists get bios in the back of the book, in case you're left wondering "where have I seen that before?"
I originally checked this out as a library book, then purchased a copy online. I may even buy a second copy, because some of the pictures are worth framing. Personal favorites include Peter De Seve's Easy Being Green, It's Not, which has Kermit the Frog and Yoda side by side in a swamp fishing; how can I not love it? Peter Ferk's The Stuff That Dreams are Made Of has a pile of the old Kenner Star Wars toys on a Star Wars bedspread, including the AT-AT, Millennium Falcon, X-Wing fighter, A-Wing Fighter, and other toys that I grew up with and slept with every night.
This book is a tribute to the artistry and imagination of Star Wars, and every page brings something new. If you're a fan of either the Original Trilogy or the Prequel Trilogy, you'll enjoy Star Wars: Visions.
November 30, 2010
Star Wars consumed so much of my time, energy, and imagination as a child that it now holds an intrinsic nostalgic pleasure for me. For several months each year, I renew my addiction to the intangible, intensely romantic feeling I get when I immerse myself in this universe and soak my imagination in it. As I have matured and my tastes have grown towards Not-Star-Wars, I've become increasingly disillusioned by the slimy quality of most new media (and too much old media) in that universe – particularly novels. At the same time, I've grown to realize that much of the nostalgic/imaginative feeling I am addicted to is comprised of John Williams' score and the concept art of Ralph McQuarrie and his cohorts, and that relatively little of the appeal for me was ever in the main characters and their story.
Thus, I was more than a little excited when I discovered this on the shelf at Borders and realized that it might be a book of recent concept art. I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover that this was a book of “real art” done by a panoply of real artists, who worked in a wide spread of styles to portray aspects of the Star Wars mythos that caught their imaginations. It's almost tragic how incredible this turned out. It illustrates beautifully the potential of the universe and of the stories in it (there are several particularly good paintings regarding the Anakin-Padme tragedy that make you wish that story had been handled well in the prequels). When real artistic craftsmanship is supplied, the mythos yields spectacular results. If only Lucas Licensing brought this kind of vision and artistry to the Expanded Universe. . .
Thus, I was more than a little excited when I discovered this on the shelf at Borders and realized that it might be a book of recent concept art. I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover that this was a book of “real art” done by a panoply of real artists, who worked in a wide spread of styles to portray aspects of the Star Wars mythos that caught their imaginations. It's almost tragic how incredible this turned out. It illustrates beautifully the potential of the universe and of the stories in it (there are several particularly good paintings regarding the Anakin-Padme tragedy that make you wish that story had been handled well in the prequels). When real artistic craftsmanship is supplied, the mythos yields spectacular results. If only Lucas Licensing brought this kind of vision and artistry to the Expanded Universe. . .
March 18, 2013
A beautiful collection of Star Wars themed images from a large variety of artists. Some are traditional, heroic, detailed and very thematic - these will be loved by most readers. Others are whimsical and quirky - these will be an acquired taste. I for one welcomed the change of pace and it was interesting the see Star Wars from a different angle than what we are usually used to (nude studies, picasso style cubism, japanese anime etc). The weakest works in the book were by self-studied amateur artists, who strived to be serious but whose amateurish approches were thus all the more comical. Had those works been replaced by either the classical or the whimsical approach images, this would have been a five star book. Nevertheless, a solid effort also as it is.
August 27, 2013
If you enjoy art and Star Wars, this book is definitely worth looking through, if not owning. There is a real mix of high and low art with many different styles as well. I think every fan can flip through this book and find some art that really amazes and impresses and maybe a few that don't. There were a few pieces of artwork that felt too out of continuity with Star Wars, but when you have professional artists with different aesthetics and levels of interest in Star Wars, that is to be expected. I liked Star Wars Illustration better a little bit because I think a lot of the art is almost like fan service with how the artists are big Star Wars fans, but there is a lot of great stuff here and I'm really glad this book is on my book shelf.
September 12, 2016
Really a gorgeous book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews