Ralph McQuarrie thanks for the memories

Last night Twitter feeds were a buzz with the passing of a legend AT 82. George Lucas may have given us Star Wars but Ralph McQuarrie gave it a look and  a feel unlike anything else on screen. When Lucas was touting the film around the studio's he enlisted McQuarrie's help asking him to illustrate a couple of scenes to better inform the studio executives on what Lucas wanted to deliver on the big screen.
   The final look of the film didn't stray too far from McQuarrie's designs. The Illustrated Star Wars Universe is a marvellous book that allowed McQuarrie's work to be seen by a wider audience and of course devoted fans. Also he designed the iconic Battle Star Galactica, ET, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. But film work is just a fraction of what he did. His work lives on in young and old alike. On toy shelves, bookcases, and off course on film ,Blu ray and DVD.
   So a toast to a legendary designer and artist, who has given much to popular culture and who will be missed.
Ralph McQuarrie
June 13th 1929 - March 3rd 2012