Influential artist Ralph McQuarrie's brilliance continues to resonate in the latest Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

According to Uproxx, McQuarrie's artworks have given Star Wars the kind of soul it has now today. In The Force Awakens, McQuarrie's concept of art is very evident in the new character Rey (played by Daisy Ridley). Another famous Star Wars character of McQuarrie is Darth Vader.

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"As I knew this was something that was going to be a point of sale item, I wanted it to have a good first reading - Darth Vader in full size," said McQuarrie at Star Wars official website.

The unfolding of a legend

McQuarrie, a former technical illustrator of Boeing, graduated from the Art Center School in Los Angeles. In 1975, he met the father of Star Wars, George Lucas to discuss some art projects. The wild ideas and lavish imagination led to the creation of many Star Wars characters and settings. This, eventually, made Star Wars a reality.

After the first Star Wars franchise, McQuarrie remained onboard with The Empire Strikes Back and the Return of the Jedi.

Aside from Star Wars, McQuarrie's works are also evident in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and the Nightbreed.

'The Force Awakens'

Although McQuarrie died at the age of 82 in 2012, his influence lives on with The Force Awakens.

The Force Awakens director and writer J.J. Adams relived McQuarrie's "distinct compositions" when The Force Awakens was created. Adams reviewed McQuarrie's old sketches to get some ideas for The Force Awakens. Adams wanted that this new Star Wars movie still embodied the soul that all Star Wars films have.

When the Star Wars: The Force Awakens will hit the big screen this month, many Star Wars fans will surely get excited with the various Star Wars characters which McQuarrie created.

TagsRalph McQuarrie, Star Wars, George Lucas