Artist Ralph McQuarrie was born #OTD in 1929. He is probably best known as the primary concept artist for the Star Wars movies, but he also did work for Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and E.T., and he won an Academy Award for his work on Cocoon.
Image: Ralph McQuarrie
McQuarrie was one of the first artists hired by young director George Lucas to develop concept art that would accompany his Star Wars pitch.
Many characters, places, and vehicles he envisioned made it to the films almost unchanged. That includes McQuarrie’s early design for Chewbacca, seen below.
Robert McNees
AstroMike