Featured Artists-Craig Burt Collection

Painting by Numbers

"Token Toll"

This painting was one of the more fun to do because it was mostly based in nostalgia. Even though it wasn't executed as well as it could have been - should have put more work into the 'token bad guy' - it is still a likeable painting to me.

1. Once you see this Ralph McQuarrie painting the inspiration for the Episode III painting is obvious. I decided to bring the setting into Revenge of The Sith mainly because I wanted to and because it was likely to be in the movie, not because I thought a battle would happen in the location.

2. Is the basic idea used for the poses of the figures - a set photo from Return of The Jedi.

3. We have some of the sketches of the figures. You can see that the design of what would be General Grievous is a blend of the McQuarrie painting's Luke, and my ideas of some of the elements he might have - white armor. Before the painting was started I'd heard, or read, a quote from Rick McCallum saying Grievous would have elements of Vader's armor - in the very early days of production. That's the reason the figure has Vader's 'chest plate' and his triangular breath vent. There where several poses tried before I decided to use the ones from the ROTJ photo.

3a. You can see that originally I tried to have the composition very similar to the McQuarrie painting. I decided that was too similar to the original and changed the perspective. There is also a sketch of Anakin - with Luke's hair - to figure out the folds and flow of his clothes.

4. Is a scan of the painting three quarters done. Not much to be done apart from neatening up. The alternate Grievous pose - facing to right with horizontal sabers - from the sketches was a good one, but I thought using the one more like the photo made him look more defensive and as if Anakin was the better of the opponents. 

5. Is the finished painting. Thought the dramatic lighting and shadows worked well.

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