Drew Struzan is another of those artists, like Michael Deas, whose work you have undoubtedly seen, whether you realize it or not. Struzan is responsible for some of the most famous and recognizable movie posters in recent memory. He has also done art for advertising, book and comic covers, music CD covers and other product illustration.
Struzan is best known for his movie posters. He has obviously absorbed influences from illustration greats like J.C. Leyendecker, Coles Phillips, Norman Rockwell and others, and brings his knowledge of illustration techniques to bear in clear, powerful and striking representation of the likenesses of actors and the succinct representation of the promised excitement in a movie.
In his online portfolio you can see some of the famous poster and advertising art he has created for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Blade Runner, Back to the Future, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy and others.
Struzan works in airbrushed acrylics on board with details and textures added in colored pencil. There is a drawings section in his portfolio in which you can see some freely realized, but remarkably precise, drawing in colored pencil on toned paper.
The portfolio is arranged so that the initial click gives you a brief description and a detail image, which is linked to the full size images. the detail images occasionally give a hint at the wonderful surface and texture characteristics of his work and make you wish they were reproduced larger.
Fortunately, there are three (as far as I know) collections of his work: The Movie Posters Of Drew Struzan, The Art of Drew Struzan – Star Wars Portfolio and Drew Struzan: Oeuvre.
[Link courtesy of Michael Hirsh of Articles and Texticles]
