Crikey! Was I was really avoiding doing any drawing at all on this one? I think I just had the clippings of Threepio and wanted to use them. Including a Star Wars bubble-gum trading card. It’s a cross between a treasured scrap-book and comic.
Art Notes: Ankle Deep
Art? Art? What art? Oh yes, one little panel. Honestly, you’d think I didn’t like drawing. Far from it, it was all I ever did. As I’ve said many times to friends and family, and my mum will attest to this: the bedroom floor was—much of the time—ankle-deep in drawings. It was covered in them. You think I’m exaggerating? No, seriously: I’m not. COVERED.
Centre-right – in pencil – is the very first Star Wars drawing I ever did, on the sitting room floor as soon I got back from the cinema. The thick soft pencil was obviously deemed a more worthy medium!
Centre-bottom – a weird rendering of Vader. “Darth Vador!” He looks more like a Hell’s Angel.
In the big haul of young artwork I rediscovered in 2010—with the help of my dad, it’s amazing just how much there is. Tellingly, it’s all World War 2 – mainly German soldiers and Horror characters like Dracula up until Christmas 1977. Then… it’s Star Wars all the way! Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars – with some occasional Incredible Hulk and Space 1999. Look at this lot!
Film Notes
I was always buzzed by the sound during these scenes in the desert. I don’t know what Ben Burtt did to the droids’ voices in the post-dubbing, but it sounds wonderful. I love the sound of it. In the cinema it was even more impressive. Made it all so… massive. “Hey – hey – over here!”
Next: Threepio gets it.
PANEL 1
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Wide-shot: a glued-in Star Wars trading card of C-3PO on Tatooine, with the huge skeleton behind him. Is it a Krayt Dragon?
'After trudging over dune after dune--'
"I can't take much more of this--" says Threepio.
PANEL 2
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(Head and shoulder shot of C-3PO, drawn this time, with the bones behind him)
"Oh, I don't believe it... a vehicle!" he gasps.
PANEL 3
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(Full body shot of C-3PO, black & white news clipping photo)
He tries to catch the vehicle driver's attention. "Hey, over here! Help... help!" he shouts. "Oh, how fortunate."
'But 3PO was to learn that he was not quite as fortunate as he would like!'
I used to have to wade through ankle – deep (well, past my ankle really) drawings on my bedroom floor too. I thought that was just me because I was so messy. They were all on the back of Daddy’s boring work papers (which he must have had tonnes of). 😆
Yep – that’s what all these are on the back of. Boring graphs about ‘work study’ and efficiency.
I used to be amazed to come home from school after mum had done a tidy up and be reminded of what the carpet looked like!
What on earth (or any other planet!) is that tattoo thing on Darth Vador’s arm?? 😮 It seems to have hands for ears!
You’re right! I didn’t even notice the hands Carrie. Did you see the single claw coming in over the top of the skull too?
Those were drawn only from memory – after seeing it once aged 9. Hence the weird stormtroopers too. There’s another big pencil one to follow that ‘chewie-prisone r’ one which shows all hell breaking loose in the detention block.
I’m actually commenting on your collection of pinups you have spread all over the floor from the photo in the blog. The second one down on the left, with the montage around the close up of Vader… any chance you can show us a close up of this drawing? It stands out to me and I’m stuck with this tiny thumb-sized view of it! 🙁
Hiya Rod,
I’ll sort that out for you – cheers.
I only realised the other day that it’s one of the older ones. Probably Feb or March ’78. the ‘Leia’ in it seems to be copied from a back of comic pinup by Tony DeZuniga (I actually still recall the name!).
Wait ’til you see it – it’s weird.
Here you go Rod:
http://starwarsage9.com/images/stories/drawings/1978_early-montage.jpg
Weird! Leia’s in it twice! Is this from some story in the comics where Leia has a doppleganger? Or is this some sort of strange artistic license with some deep meaning? I’m fascinated now!
I like the composition. It’s great to see your 9 or so year old self also appreciate it enough to copy it too. But what’s up with the Mummy guy in the top left, and why is the Stormtrooper pointing at his exploding crotch? LOL
It’s bonkers sin’t it?
At the age of 9 I was obviously hinting at Leia’s duality – or something… even – though – she – didn’t – knowwww it, her identity was sort of split: Vader’s enemy / Vader’s daughter.
Yes, yes – this is profound stuff.
Ha ha – I only spotted the blast to the stormtrooper’s nether regions myself last night! That’s a (teeny-weeny) Tusken Raider peeking around Vader’s helmet.
In all of the official images, Vader’s not an actual 200 foot tall giant behind everyone – but a sort of phantom image. My drawing seems to explode that idea “no, no he really is!” in the daftnest way possible!