Admiral Ackbar, by Michael Wm. Kaluta

On more than one occasion, Ackbar has been described as Winston Churchill-esque. It's an appropriate analogy, as his manner does bring to mind the commanding, determined figure who led Britain through the dark days of World War II. Michael Kaluta previously did an imaginative rendering of Ackbar for a Star Wars trading card set. When I started this sketchbook, I hoped to eventually have Kaluta draw the character in it. Kaluta was generous enough to agree to it, with impressive results. Note that he rendered Ackbar's pupils in pencil to convey a watery, "fish-eye" look. It's that attention to detail that makes Kaluta such an incredible artist.