Thirty years ago, John Alvin created one of the most memorable -- and whimsical -- illustrations ever to grace a Star Wars poster. In the years since, he has become one of the finest illustrators in his trade, flourishing in a field that is quickly becoming a lost art. We are so fortunate to count John's talent among the treasures of the saga's legacy, and will deeply miss him and the passion for Star Wars he so successfully expressed through his art. -- George Lucas
John's work has long been revered in the entertainment industry -- Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, E.T., Lion King, Little Mermaid, Blade Runner, and Princess Bride are just a few properties he's worked with. It's his work in the Star Wars universe, though, that most of us are familiar with, work that John skillfully composed to both complement and enrich the Star Wars legend. It was John's stirring poster depiction of Luke beneath a twilight Tatooine sky that instantly captivated fans at last year's Celebration events held in Los Angeles and London. The scene from A New Hope which he selected -- Luke looking toward the twin suns, and his dual destinies -- resonates more powerfully than any moment in the saga, and was the perfect choice to celebrate Star Wars' 30th anniversary. John had captured the true spirit of the saga, displaying a deep understanding of the hero's journey and a fierce passion for the Star Wars mythos. John was a champion of the Star Wars saga. An accomplished artist with the rare luxury to explore multiple outlets for his talent, he time and again returned to Star Wars. His first crack at the saga came in 1978 with the completion of the now famous Star Wars Concert poster, depicting R2-D2 and C-3PO as a "two-droid band." It was the start of a 30-year affair with Star Wars, and a devotion that found expression in scores of lavish illustrations spanning the entire saga. John was there for Star Wars' 10th anniversary in 1987, creating a stunning Tatooine panoramic that trumpeted "The First Ten Years". He was also the artist of choice for 1995's international video campaign, which utilized new classic trilogy artwork he'd composed for cassette sleeves and posters. Throughout the rest of the '90s, John illustrated several books in the Jedi Academy and Jedi Readers series, closing out the decade with an illustration that launched the first Star Wars Celebration convention. Most recently, John had been crafting exclusive Star Wars artwork prints, allowing him to experiment with new ideas and compositions. He became very fond of a series he called "The Force of Influence" -- a set of seven artworks, each depicting two characters which share a connection: a teacher and student, a father and son, a husband and wife, etc. We're showcasing these here together for the very first time.
John's most lasting contribution to Star Wars may be his steadfast devotion to the illustrating art. In an age when photo-montage has overtaken many movie poster campaigns, John's crafted imagery of pencil and paint elegantly preserves the soul of the saga, ensuring him a hallowed place in its legacy. He will be sorely missed.
Some words from artist and friend
I was looking in the mirror this morning and saw the face of a man that had just lost his best friend. Beyond the mirror, the memory of my friend beckoned me to see more, and to do it through the magic of his eyes. His vision broadened mine, and invited me to see what he left me even though it was no longer in plain view...
What John left me had been firmly lodged in my heart and I could access it at any time I wished... it consisted of compassion, consideration, love of family, commitment to my friends, and devotion to my art.. John was magical, mystical and practical.
My life is enriched for having known him for 31 years.
-- Lawrence Noble
From Steve Sansweet
I am still devastated by the news of John's passing. He was not only a brilliant artist, but a superb human being, a loving husband, and a very proud father. I treasure our many phone calls and email exchanges, especially as John worked on the fantastic key art for Celebration IV, which to me embodies the spirit and emotional connection that we as fans have to Star Wars.
And John was proud to be considered a fanboy -- in fact, in a play on words, he'd often sign his emails "Artboy." As talented and as well-established a painter as he was -- with well over 100 movie posters to his credit ranging from E.T. to Bladerunner -- John was always thinking about the next project and the one after that. He had already started talking about a 30th Anniversary poster for The Empire Strikes Back and promised to do a special Obi-Wan Kenobi painting for me. I'm sad that we'll never get to see those paintings, but John's body of work -- Star Wars and otherwise -- will be with us forever as a lasting monument to his artistic genius.
-- Steve Sansweet
