Star Wars Art: Visions

Wealthy patrons have paid artists to create works of art about their obsessions for centuries. Museums the world over are filled with these paintings of Jesus, royal family members and, inexplicably, bowls of fruit.

Several years ago, Star Wars creator George Lucas decided to jump on the art patron bandwagon as well.

Lucas invited a wide variety of contemporary artists to produce works of art based on his popular sci-fi franchise. So along with countless versions of the crucifixion, Nativity and that little Spanish princess girl, we can now enjoy numerous versions of Princess Leia in a bikini and Natalie Portman in her Queen Amidala get-ups.

These paintings are collected in an impressive new book, Star Wars Art: Visions (Abrams Books, $40). The 176-page full-color coffee table book is a superb collection of art featuring Luke, Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, the Ewoks and, of course, the fan-favorite, Boba Fett.

The paintings range in scope and style from photo-realism, anime and landscapes to still lifes, watercolors and cartoons. Some artists treat their subjects very seriously and classically, offering heroic portraits of the major characters that look like they could be artwork from the movie poster.

Among the artists taking part include Jamie Wyeth, Allan R. Banks, Harley Brown, Julie Bell, Boris Vallejo, Syd Mead, Arantzazu Martinez and Ann Hanson.

Some of the artists have some fun with their subjects. "It's not Easy Being Green" shows Kermit the Frog and Yoda fishing by the side of a pond. Another hilarious painting, "Wookie Family Portrait," shows Chewbacca in a traditional suburban pose with his wife and three children.

Other humorous paintings include "The Mos Eisley Cantina with George Lucas as the Bartender," with the Star Wars creator working in a crowded nightclub surrounded by his oddball creatures. Another shows a faux yearbook photo of a slim Jabba the Hutt as a high schooler. Two other artists independently merged Star Wars characters into the Mel's Diner setting of Lucas' American Graffiti.

Two of this reviewer's favorite photos are the photo on the book's cover, a photo-realistic close-up of Vader's mask dotted with water is particularly powerful. Another, which looks like a black and white water-color of Darth Vader is delicate and haunting.

While many of the 120 paintings focus on the original three Star Wars films, there are still plenty that use the latter three movies as their inspiration. Queen Amidala and the pod race are featured in several works, but thankfully Jar-Jar Binks appears to be missing from the collection.

I'm not sure if there are plans to bring the paintings in the book to galleries or museums, but considering the enthusiasm Star Wars fans have for the films, it would certainly be a popular attraction. In the meantime, this book will certainly make a perfect and reasonably priced holiday gift for fans of the series.