Ohhhh this was one of my favorite SW posters =(. I'm ashamed I never did much research behind the artist ( I got swept up in an exclusively Drew Struzan fascination). I once did a poster-sized, full-color illustration for an English class in high-school based on this poster, but replaced the characters with those from Romeo and Juliet. All the night before-hand. My teacher never believed that bit.
I was lucky enough to have had him as a teacher at the Academy in the late 1980s for Acrylic Figure Painting when I was studying illustration there. He and his work were always an inspiration to me. So many great paintings that will now be left unpainted.
When I worked at the ranch at LucasFilm I actually had the original of that poster hanging in my office along with some Joe Johnston marker sketches. Great artist and a very humble guy. Very sad that he is gone.
Kazu Sano was one of my teachers at the Academy of Art in SF during my last semester before graduating. In the short time I studied under him, and while he was dealing with his health, his passion and kindness never waned. Kazu will be missed. Thank you!
Thanks for posting this, James. Kazu was a great artist and person, he is going to be missed by many, many people. It's funny in a way to see him remembered so much for the ROTJ poster, almost 30 years old...he did a lot of great work over the years.
I never knew him or even OF him until now, despite the iconic Star Wars poster. May he Rest In Peace.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh this was one of my favorite SW posters =(. I'm ashamed I never did much research behind the artist ( I got swept up in an exclusively Drew Struzan fascination). I once did a poster-sized, full-color illustration for an English class in high-school based on this poster, but replaced the characters with those from Romeo and Juliet. All the night before-hand. My teacher never believed that bit.
ReplyDeleteOh shit. Kazuhiko was a huge inspiration for me after graduating from Illustration & Design.
ReplyDeleteHunt's tribute is moving as well. Quite a talent!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to have had him as a teacher at the Academy in the late 1980s for Acrylic Figure Painting when I was studying illustration there. He and his work were always an inspiration to me. So many great paintings that will now be left unpainted.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I worked at the ranch at LucasFilm I actually had the original of that poster hanging in my office along with some Joe Johnston marker sketches. Great artist and a very humble guy. Very sad that he is gone.
ReplyDeleteKazu Sano was one of my teachers at the Academy of Art in SF during my last semester before graduating. In the short time I studied under him, and while he was dealing with his health, his passion and kindness never waned. Kazu will be missed. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this, James. Kazu was a great artist and person, he is going to be missed by many, many people. It's funny in a way to see him remembered so much for the ROTJ poster, almost 30 years old...he did a lot of great work over the years.
ReplyDelete