Star Wars 1978 Cantina Fan Club Poster Art (1978)-Bill Selby
Artist: Bill Selby (Painter)
5 Comments - 9,457 Views - 3 Likes
Additional Images:
Cantina Poster-Work in Progress photos
Star Wars 1978 Cantina Fan Club Poster
Star Wars 1996 Cantina Poster-Bill Selby
Famous Monsters #192 & SW Insider #204 Magazines
Star Wars Galaxy 3 Cantina Trading Card
West End Games Cantina Galaxy Guide Books and Adventure Set
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThis gorgeous painting was used for the iconic Cantina poster produced by Factors Etc. Inc. back in 1978. It was the very first Star Wars Fan Club poster and the art was commissioned by George Lucas himself. The poster is now rare and sought out by collectors. Over the many years, this art has gotten published in numerous books, magazines, and other various merchandising, such as trading cards and lunchbox.Artist Bill Selby used 35mm color slides that Black Falcon Ltd (Lucas’ company before it became Lucasfilm) provided for reference. Star Wars had been showing in the theaters for eight months when Selby began working on the Cantina poster project. Lucas’ instruction was to add all of the aliens in the cantina sequence into a grand scene. In the preliminary drawing, Selby had more creatures, but subsequently removed some of them because Lucas, limited by time and budget was unhappy with the way several aliens looked in the film's cantina scene. Once Lucas approved the color comp, Selby started painting with only one week to complete it. Even with the tight deadline, Selby opted to paint with oils, which he realized it wasn’t the most efficient method. He used heat lamps to speed the drying process, but ended up using acrylic to finish the painting. To make the deadline, artist Jon Townley helped Selby complete the painting. Townley also signed on the lower left of the painting, right under Selby’s signature. Once the work was complete, Selby personally delivered the painting from the East Coast to Black Falcon Ltd office at the Universal Studios back lot in Hollywood. The painting almost didn’t make it to Los Angeles. Here’s the story from Selby: “When the painting was completed, I crated it up - a flat plywood crate around 4 inches thick - and flew to Los Angeles to get it approved. It was the dead of winter, and I had to change planes in Chicago. While standing inside the airport observation deck watching bag handlers remove luggage and the crated painting from the plane, I looked on in horror as the crate slipped off the baggage trailer onto the icy tarmac. Nobody noticed but me! Zooming tow tractors and trucks came within inches of smashing the crate. I frantically notified security. The crated painting was finally rescued by a mechanic on a cigarette break.” The original is large measuring 30” X 42” and is painted on gessoed Masonite board. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Ross T. L. 
Member Since 2004
Posted on 3/12/2009
I had the pleasure of seeing this in person at the previous owner's home. The colors in this piece are incredible. Congratulations Han, great pickup!
Justin Hutchinson
Member Since 2006
Posted on 3/17/2009
WOW, incredible color on this. Impossible to find the reprint poster let alone the original art. Just amazing my favourite of all your pieces. Cool to meet you the other day Han!
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