Star Wars Celebration V Round Up (updated with prices)

Fans of Ralph McQuarrie have a lot to get excited about at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida next month! The biggest and most exciting announcement is that we are bringing a gallery of over 100 original Star Wars illustrations from Ralph McQuarrie's personal collection to the show, as announced in the LA Times and on StarWars.com earlier this week. You'll be able to see, up close and personal, preliminary drawings and sketches dating back to the day Ralph received the script for The Star Wars from George Lucas. Most of theses pieces are being unveiled for the first time as part of this gallery showing.

To commemorate the event, Dreams and Visions Press has produced a limited edition 48-page, 8.5 x 11 souvenir program ($20) that will be available exclusively in the gallery, which includes reproductions of all the images on display along with detailed descriptions of each piece. Limited to only 1,000 copies, it's the perfect keepsake to relive your memories of this very special gallery exhibit.

Also available exclusively in the gallery are 10" x 20" prints of twelve of Ralph's production paintings from The Empire Strikes Back (10 images which have never been reproduced at that size; none of which have ever been reproduced in the Metallix format). Each image is limited to 80 individually numbered copies hand signed by Ralph McQuarrie ($60 each). Matching numbered sets will be available while supplies last, however we anticipate these prints will sell quickly once fans see how beautifully the reproductions turned out.

In our booth in the exhibit hall, we will be offering a number of original hand signed portfolio prints, a variety of signed 8 x 10 photos ($35 each - including a number of images that have never been offered before), and our limited edition Celebration V exclusive print ($180). Measuring a whopping 22" x 24.5", each of the 250 individually numbered copies is hand signed by Ralph McQuarrie (a Celebration first!). This huge rendition of his iconic Bounty Hunters painting is destined to be the centerpiece of a very small number of Ralph McQuarrie's fan's collections.

Last but not least, on each day of the show we will be handing out our free Art of Ralph McQuarrie trading cards, with photos of Ralph working behind the scenes on The Empire Strikes Back on the front, and the backs forming a puzzle of Ralph's famous Yoda painting. You'll be able to collect all nine by stopping by our booth in the exhibit hall as well as the art gallery on each day of the show, while supplies last.

We're looking forward to catching up with old friends and seeing plenty of new faces in Orlando! It can't be any hotter or more humid than Japan was, right? As with prior Celebrations, we invite you to stop by the booth and sign a guest book for Ralph so you can send him your well wishes directly. See you all next month!

The Art of Ralph McQuarrie at Celebration V

We're one month away, and while we can't yet divulge everything we have planned, here are the first few teasers!

We will be offering a limited number of signed 8x10 photographs of Ralph that have never been offered before, including one from his days working at REEL 3 animating the Apollo missions, to a rare shot in costume as General McQuarrie in The Empire Strikes Back.



At the last several Star Wars Celebrations, we gave away a series of bookmarks on each day of the show. For Celebration V, we've made up a set of 9 collectible trading cards. Each card has an image of Ralph on the front (working behind the scenes painting backgrounds or mattes, sketching thumbnails, and in costume as General McQuarrie), and the backs form a puzzle. If you collect all nine, you'll be able to recreate Ralph's iconic painting of Yoda that was used as a fan club sticker in the early 80s.


Details on how you can get your set are coming soon, along with several other exciting announcements! You can keep up with the latest updates by following us on our Facebook page.

We look forward to seeing old friends and new faces in Orlando next month!

CELEBRATION 5 HERE WE COME

Here it is June and the countdown has begun for us here at The Art of Ralph McQuarrie. We are getting ready and have a lot of new things we are bringing to C5. We can't spill the beans just yet but in the coming days we hope to have a big announcement. Be sure to also follow us on facebook.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

To everyone from all of us here at The Art of Ralph McQuarrie, we wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season and look forward to 2010 and hope to see everyone at Celebration 5.

Art gallery showing at Fan Days III in Dallas

The Art of Ralph McQuarrie will be at Fan Days III in Plano Texas October 24-25 with the first public showing of original art from Ralph's own archives. On display will be original drawings from Star Wars, The Empires Strikes Back, Star Trek 4 and other selected drawings and paintings from his 50 year career. If you have never seen an original up close her is your opportunity to do so. Visit the website for Fan Days III. Hope to see you there.

The Art of Ralph McQuarrie at Comic Con

The Art of Ralph McQuarrie is pleased to be making our premiere appearance at the San Diego Comic Con this year.

We will be showcasing Dreams and Visions Press' Japanese edition of Star Wars: The Art of Ralph McQuarrie, and as an exclusive for the convention we've produced a complimentary 32-page booklet containing an English translation of the Japanese text. This will be given to anyone purchasing the Japanese trade paperback, while supplies last. Limited to 500 individually numbered copies, what makes this volume particularly attractive is the previously unpublished Darth Vader concept illustration that graces the cover, which has not been seen outside of Ralph's personal archives for nearly 35 years.

In addition to the Japanese book, we will also have copies of our Ralph McQuarrie Star Wars Tribute Poster, with artist Lawrence Noble appearing in our booth throughout the convention to sign your copy. We will also have a limited selection of matted artwork hand signed by Ralph McQuarrie for sale.

The Art of Ralph McQuarrie will be located in the Lucasfilm Pavilion, alongside our friends from EFX Collectibles in booth (2913E). Stop by to see us, and check out the EFX Ralph McQuarrie Darth Vader concept helmet which will be on display at the show.

Stan Stice & John Scoleri
Dreams and Visions Press

Ralph McQuarrie Tribute Poster Available Now!

If you have not yet ordered a copy of the Star Wars Ralph McQuarrie Tribute Poster, copies are now available directly through Dreams and Visions Press.

Both the Star Wars Celebration Japan 1978 copy edition and a special Star Wars Shop 300-copy limited edition printed on a heavier stock and signed and numbered by Lawrence Noble are available while supplies last.

Copies are in hand and available for shipping within the U.S. Limit one of each poster version per customer.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!