Cool News
There's A Cool New ART OF DREW STRUZAN Book Coming Out!!
Merrick here...
Our friends over at Titan Books have a badass new book coming out in a few months (September): THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN.
Instead of going into vast detail about Mr. Struzan's contributions to film and Geekdom in general, let's just say that...if you don't know his name, you almost certainly know his work.
A Titan press release describes the upcoming book thusly...
From Harry Potter to Hellboy, Indiana Jones to Star Wars, Drew Struzan has created some of the most iconic movie poster images in cinematic history. Now, gathering together over 300 pieces of artwork from the last 30 years, THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN reveals an unparalleled insight into the acclaimed artist’s movie work.
Accompanied by excerpts from an exclusive interview with the artist, the development of forty projects is related and explained in this stunning hardback. From black and white and color comprehensives, presenting concepts for the pieces, through to the final art, this volume looks in-depth for the first time at the evolution of Struzan’s inimitable posters.
In addition to some of his most well-known artwork, this collection also showcases scores of previously unseen pieces, including alternative concepts for films such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Blade Runner and unused art for movies such as Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Waterworld.
A collectible for movie buffs and artists alike, this is a stunning celebration of an artist whose work redefined the art of movie poster design, and whose name is synonymous with some of the finest art in Hollywood.
What you see below are developmental "comps" -vs- final product art. This is a very, very small sampling of what's coming our way when the book finally arrives.
© Copyright Drew Struzan / All Right Reserved.
© Copyright and TM Lucasfilm Ltd. 2005 All Right Reserved Used by Permission.
© Copyright Drew Struzan / All Right Reserved.
© Copyright Columbia Tristar 2003 All Rights Reserved, Used by Permission.
To learn more about Drew's work, you can find his official site HERE. THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN is currently up for preorder HERE
; we hope to bring you more art fronm the title as well as a link to Titan's official page for the book in the near future.
In the coming months, we're hoping to bring AICN readers a chance to snag a copy of this book via a contest of some sort. We'll let you know more as we know more, so stay tuned...
--- Follow Merrick on Twitter! ---
Accompanied by excerpts from an exclusive interview with the artist, the development of forty projects is related and explained in this stunning hardback. From black and white and color comprehensives, presenting concepts for the pieces, through to the final art, this volume looks in-depth for the first time at the evolution of Struzan’s inimitable posters.
In addition to some of his most well-known artwork, this collection also showcases scores of previously unseen pieces, including alternative concepts for films such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Blade Runner and unused art for movies such as Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Waterworld.
A collectible for movie buffs and artists alike, this is a stunning celebration of an artist whose work redefined the art of movie poster design, and whose name is synonymous with some of the finest art in Hollywood.
© Copyright Drew Struzan / All Right Reserved.
© Copyright and TM Lucasfilm Ltd. 2005 All Right Reserved Used by Permission.
© Copyright Drew Struzan / All Right Reserved.
© Copyright Columbia Tristar 2003 All Rights Reserved, Used by Permission.
; we hope to bring you more art fronm the title as well as a link to Titan's official page for the book in the near future. In the coming months, we're hoping to bring AICN readers a chance to snag a copy of this book via a contest of some sort. We'll let you know more as we know more, so stay tuned...
--- Follow Merrick on Twitter! ---
-
+ Expand All
-
Like no-one else.
First -
Nyaaa
-
Is the new Struzan
-
on the artist. I have seen the older edition of this book, and it is beautiful.
-
drew is a fantastic illustrator. the bladerunner poster is a classic. just incredible. i heard he retired from doing movie posters?
-
I love the Struz! And this will be out just in time for my *gulp* 40th birthday, if anyone was thinking of getting me a prezzie...
-
Huh? It's not an obit thread?
-
His style would have been perfect for a "Star Trek" poster. Matter of fact, I think the posters they went with all blew. It needed some old-school artwork like the first generation's films.
-
...but it sure smells good!
-
I have literally spent ours of my life staring at his work in awe. I once had a 9ft high poster of Last Crusade in glass that went up in a fire.... One of my biggest losses. I worship the man.
-
I kinda like the trek poster of the enterprise
-
influence for me growing up. It was to the point where almost every movie that I loved growing up, he did the poster for. Amazingly high quality artist. Can't wait to get my mitts on this one!
-
Its all right. I certainly do like it better than the "cast" posters, even if they are in black and white. They just don't do a whole lot for me. Same goes for every fucking Harry Potter poster since the 1st great one. Its just a poster of the fucking actor standing there, looking older. HOW GODDAMNED LAZY is that?
-
posters aint what they used to be
-
our first disagreement.. 'sniff' oh well, we'll always have the Vlad... Man.. Did Struzan ever do any Bram Stoker Dracula stuff?. That may change flicka's mind.
-
Yeah drew did the first potter poster and then they inexplicably went Photoshop.
-
Jun 08, 2010 12:17:07 PM CDT
You guys should see his early works, all the album covers he did
by nerdboy1423
They are pretty dope. There is a book coming out for that,soon, too!
-
...this guy on a blunt greasy pole or anything, and I even have some love for these posters since they're associated with so many childhood favorites. I'm just not a big fan of this illustration style. It's impressive and all, but looks very photographic...almost traced. Most of these are just illustrated versions of the photoshop floating head collage we've all grown so tired of. Some historic movie posters though...no denying it.
I did a little scrolling through VladBack just the other day... -
Am I right??
-
i wonder if it made the movie seem any better than it actually was. lol
-
You stunned me. You of all people should know that traced or not, whether he has used the same photo ref multiple times or not, that's all completely beside the point. Struzan's mastery is in harmonious colour distribution through the frame and most of all his incredible sense of composition. He can draw. He doesn't need to prove that and whether he traces off from a projected photo has got zip-all to do with it - that's just a time-saving practicality once your skills are up. The real meat is in his design sense and the vitality he gives the subjects, and the proof is in the hundreds of Struzan wannabes that just can't touch the guy, even if they use the same photo ref. I get that his style may not appeal, no problem. There artists whose styles don't do anything for me on an aesthetic level but I'm still in awe of their skill.
And the more recent "floating heads" posters? In the case of Star Wars remember the soul-sapping suit-made decisions. Yes most of those are the Photoshop-ish thing, but Drew was doing that beforehand, with much better balance and no guy in a duotone tint running down the bottom. But even he has to revise his work to make the master happy. And don't disparage Photoshop for all the lousy design, it's just a tool. Blame the marketeers and their lack of appreciation of the history of this art and plain lack of imagination.
Gotta say dude, I'm a bit shocked. Shocked, I tells ya! -
Didn't Bill Peak do a really cool poster with smearing colours for The Motion Picture?
-
But yes, the first Motion Picture poster, and the sequels, all had lots of smearing colors and lens flares.
-
Inventing Photoshop AND the Knoll lens flare plug-in!
-
...and I wasn't disparaging Photoshop...I was suggesting that his superior posters probably inadvertently led to a lot of the big floating head + some little floating scenes from the movie poster formula that is so common.
On the drawing side, I personally don't care for drawings that look like photographs. It' just boring to me...and I prefer posters that have some sort of hook or concept, not just a collage of scenes from the movie.
Just a personal taste thing. -
You know that's just good-natured joshing, right? I was pretty surprised and that's why I came to the defence of that recent stuff, but I think if you were more acquainted with the whole of his career, you'd see what I mean about the photo stuff being so beside the point. So, not raking you over the coals or anything, in case that wasn't clear.
-
Almost a simu-po! I getcha on the collage (isn't it more of a montage?) thing though. If that doesn't appeal, I get that completely. If it does, he's the bees knees at it.
-
...always, brother.
And you're right, I've only seen his movie poster work, so it's possible he has all kinds of other stuff I'd like better... -
...I was using "collage" descriptively, as in things pasted together...
-
too lazy but google his Thing, Big Lebowski, Iron Man 2, Robocop
-
and I know you love pasting things together...
-
related to Bill/William Stout? He also did posters. And cool-arse comic stuff.
-
the Norman Rockwell of poster artists. He takes an image and though color, composition, and most importantly attention to detail creates a work of art that feels (here comes the cliche) alive.
-
though...
-
I'm sad Mr. Struzan has retired. He's basically the last great flim poster artist; an art form that has sadly been bastardized by photoshop loving studios. Sigh. Such great work. This seems to be a must have book.
-
Looks like this may be worth picking up.
-
It's a bout damn time! Now bring on the equivalent books for Bob Peak, Richard Amsel, and John Alvin!
-
This guys Star Wars work when I was a kid got me to persue a career in art that I continue in to this day.
-
... incredible images, such as the "Revenge" of the Jedi poster, I wonder if Mr. Struzen considers the DVD cover he did for MONARCH OF THE MOON the low point of his career?
-
Bob Peak was one of the better known movie poster artists in the past 40 years.. responsible for memorable posters such as Excalibur, Wrath of Kahn, Camelot and My Fair Lady just to name a few.
I'm looking forward to the Drew Struzan book, IMO it's unfortunate that lens flares have become such a cliche but no different than the heavily airbrushed glows/sparkles from the 70s and 80s... movie posters are promotional material and generally reflect the marketing trends of the times.
-
Especially the 'circus' Star Wars poster
-
Is probably my favourite of his. A real defining image from the 80's. Suck on Struzans Stroodle. Jesus..dunno where that came from.
-
A term that gets thrown about too easily, so it's nice to see one that actually earns the title. His attention to detail is astounding. I've been an artist most of my life and never came close to this kind of work. Thank God for computers!
-
...I knew a guy in my illustration classes who used to rip off Struzan mercilously.
-
were the posters.
-
Is The Dark Tower piece Drew did up for 'The Mist' included here (or any info about it)? While I think it leaned a little Eastwood heavy, I still love it and would love a framed print of it.
-
But that it also has the sense of freedom one can have with a pure fantasy illustration. Definitely picking this one up.
-
I paid to see Raiders so many times, the theater owner finally let me have that huge stand-up display after I begged him for it for months. What was so cool is that after the first 20 times or so paying, he just started waving me in at the box office. He told me I'd paid for it enough already. Intellectual property lawyers.. take note. I remember how pissed I was when the whip part ripped because it was so thin and snagged stuff. I was dumb and sold it for 300 bucks a few years later because I wanted to move out. I'm pretty sure they're extraordinarily rare now. Wish I still had it. I'll be buying this book even if I win a copy.
-
Wasn't that the Richard Amsell art? Struzan did do a Raiders poster but I'm trying to remember whether it was a rerelease or anniversary thing or something - but definitely one of his weaker ones. Marion's over-airbrushed face looks really weird and doesn't go with the rest of the lighting. From memory. Gotta find my Struzan "Oeuvre" book...
-
who I actually prefer over Struzan. Loved his poster for Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
-
for me Drew always manages to reflect the tone of the film perfectly.
-
I love Drew's work, it needs to be used more.
I also like the use of Photoshop, if used correctly.
The current trend for movie poster art is very much in the Drew style, ie floating heads & scenes from the movie, but in a more slick photograhic style. The purpose of a poster is the same as a trailer, it needs to inform,- tell you who is in the film & also entice, show some scenes that are representative.
This may not be particularly original or inventive, but that's what the poster needs to do.
I love the potter posters, Drew did a great job, but so do the photoshop ones.
My problem comes with dvd/blu ray cover art.
they usually rework the image, & generally very badly. seeing as this is the image that people will keep in their collection at home, it becomes the more lasting form, so it needs more consideration than it currently gets.
-
posters/video covers isn't actually photoshop, it's all those so called artists who sort of want to go for that style but have no idea about the basics of construction and composition. They want to copy but they don't get the lesson!
Seeing as sometimes those video slicks are double-sided anyway, I reckon they should print their lousy stuff on one side with the badly comped heads and hyperbolic shills (put that shit on a God-dmaned sticker we can get rid of!), and print the nice poster art without the blurbs on the other. You can flick it around if you like. The stuff they print on the reverse is usually something generic anyway...
Not a big fan of the movie, but the only 'shopped poster in recent years that got the colour balance and compositional elements leading your eye properly was the first Narnia film. Very nice work and it could even be painted through squinted eyes.
And ironically enough Amsel's Mad Max 3 poster shows he changed his style to be much more Struzan-like than say, the Raiders one. Miller has a big one in his production office though... -
art and poster type montages over a lot of years now, and he's the most successful of the Struzan-clones (it's a canny business decision after all) with an awful lot of official licensed stuff under his belt.
But it's all dead. None of it comes near Struzan, whether they're using the same photos or not. -
for an inside look on one of the greatest artist of my generation.monorail77 my 30th is november i'm definitely adding this to my birthday wish list
-
Anyone know if the Struz's Roland poster that appears in The Mist is available to purchase anywhere?
I would frame that puppy in a heartbeat. -
If I had a tenth of that talent, I'd die happy right now. He's a fucking phenomenon.
I'm SO having this book... -
Jun 09, 2010 10:24:33 AM CDT
I like the Sith prelim with Yoda's saber going into Obi Wan's as
by alienindisguise
Drew is the man. I love his realistic yet sketchy style. One of the greats no doubt.
-
I gotta say, I have mixed feelings about the guy. I have always liked his stuff, but sometimes I felt as though it gets too photorealistic. When he starts to sway further from the nice color choices and painterly style, it seems trite and lame. Still, gotta love that 2003 Bladerunner poster.
-
Much better than the final tampered-with by Lucasfilm version.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Two new Avengers photos for you to ogle! -- 250 total posts 228 posts
- It's A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD If You're Jai Courtney! -- 143 total posts 143 posts
- A New Shot Of Hulk From THE AVENGERS Movie!! -- 128 total posts 128 posts
- Edgar Wright And Johnny Depp Summon KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER To The Big Screen! -- 97 total posts 97 posts
- Behold These Lovely HD Reconstructions Of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE TV Spots!! -- 296 total posts 87 posts
- This International BATTLESHIP Poster Is Kinda Kitschy!! -- 66 total posts 66 posts
- Darabont Casts L.A. NOIR Pilot!! Spoilers For WALKING DEAD!! -- 88 total posts 64 posts
- A Fan-Made Trailer For JOHN CARTER Sells The Movie Better Than Any Other Trailer So Far... -- 191 total posts 63 posts
- Director Sam Mendes Talks New BOND Movie Via Videoblog!! -- 51 total posts 51 posts
- New AMERICAN REUNION Trailer! -- 49 total posts 47 posts