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Published on KarmaCritic (http://www.karmacritic.com)

R.I.P. John Alvin (1948-2008)

By Espektro
Created Feb 8 2008 - 10:36am

Maybe John Alvin's name is not familiar with you, but maybe these samples of his artwork are

 

Here's the note from Wiki sources:

"John Alvin (Born in Mass. USA 1948 - Feb. 6, 2008) was an award-winning
artist who illustrated some of the world's most recognized movie
posters.

Alvin graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles
and became a freelance artist. His first movie art campaign was for Mel
Brook's Blazing Saddles (1974),

Since 1974, Alvin has created artwork for more than 125 film campaigns
for New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Disney Studios and
Lucasfilm Ltd., including Blade Runner, Cocoon, The Lost Boys,
Predator, The Princess Bride, Gremlins, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, The
Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Batman Returns, Batman Forever,
Jurassic Park, and many special works for Star Wars.

Alvin's poster for The Phantom of the Paradise was exhibited in the
Smithsonian Museum as being one of the best posters of the Twentieth
Century.

Recently he had been commissioned by The Walt Disney Company to create
interpretive art, and was named both the official poster artist for
30th anniversary Star Wars Celebration and the official fine artist for
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy"

 

We use to say filmmaking is a colective form of art, but sometimes you don't even imagine how many talented and exceptional people are involved in the process. Movie posters with time turns into true pieces of pop culture, just like the films they're promoting (and sometimes, the more recognizable element). As an illustrator and moviemaker wanabe, my total respects for these silent hands which painted more than just crude marketing campaigns: they played with our emotions and expectations to create timeless collective experiences beyond time and space.  


Source URL:
http://www.karmacritic.com/node/2665