John Berkey: Difference between revisions

| alt = painted portrait of Berkey in a white shirt

| caption = John Berkey self portrait

| birth_place = [[Edgeley, North Dakota]]<ref name="askart">{{cite web|title=John Berkey - Artist Biography for John Berkey|url=http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/artist/28586/artist.aspx|website=askArt|accessdateaccess-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|04|29|1932|08|13|}}

| awards = {{awdawards|[[Spectrum Award for Grand Master]]|1999|||}}

'''John Berkey''' (August 13, 1932 – April 29, 2008) was an American artist known for his space- and [[science fiction]]- themed works. Some of Berkey's best-known work includes much of the original poster art for the ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy, the poster for the [[King Kong (1976 film)|1976 remake of ''King Kong'']] and also the "Old Elvis Stamp".

Berkey produced a large body of [[Science fantasy|space fantasy]] artwork, producing utopian scenes of bubble-shaped, yacht-like spaceships. His distinctive [[painterly]] style has been evaluated as "at once realistic, yet impressionistic and abstract", and his space craft designs as being "distinctly elegant, yet clearly technological and unmistakably Berkian; more inspired by luxury yachts and manta rays than NASA".<ref name="heilemann">{{cite web|last1=Heilemann|first1=Michael|title=John Berkey & The Mechanical Planet|url=https://kitbashed.com/blog/john-berkey|website=Kitbashed|accessdatedate=15 February 2013 |access-date=15 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915180959/https://kitbashed.com/blog/john-berkey|archivedatearchive-date=15 September 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref> He has been described as "one of the giants in the history of science fiction art".<ref name="sciencefictionarchives" />

John Berkey was born in [[Edgeley, North Dakota]], in 1932.<ref name="askart" /><ref name="obit">{{cite book|last1=Lentz III|first1=Harris M.|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2008: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture|date=2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786453849|pages=3636–7|chapter-7|url=https://books.google.co.ukcom/books?id=BH7GCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA36&dqq=John%20Berkey%20star%20wars&pg=PA37#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdateaccess-date=15 September 2017|language=en|chapter=Berkey, John}}</ref> Berkey's early childhood was spent in [[Aberdeen, South Dakota]]. When he was aged six, he and his family moved to St. Joseph, [[Montana]] and then to [[Excelsior, Minnesota]]. In 1950, Berkey graduated from high school and went on to study at the [[Minneapolis School of Art]]. He resided in [[Shorewood, Minnesota]].{{sfn|Frank|2003}}

Berkey worked as a freelance artist from the 1960s, after an eight-year stint at [[Brown & Bigelow]], a [[St. Paul, Minnesota]], advertising agency. There, he produced up to seventy calendar paintings a year, which featured historical scenes of the [[American pioneer]]s, road and railway construction, agricultural and industrial scenes.<ref name="about">{{cite web|last1=Berkey|first1=John|title=About — John Berkey|url=http://johnberkey.com/about/|website=John Berkey Art Ltd.|accessdateaccess-date=16 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916221201/http://johnberkey.com/about/|archivedatearchive-date=16 September 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Among other commissions, Berkey regularly produced artwork for magazines such as ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'', ''[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]]'', ''[[Science Fiction Age]]'', ''[[Discover (magazine)|Discover]]'', ''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]'', ''[[TV Guide]]'' and ''[[The Plain Truth]]''.<ref name="popmech">{{cite web|title=Popular Mechanics Art – John Berkey Art|url=https://johnberkeyart.com/popular-mechanics-art/|website=johnberkeyart.com|accessdatedate=7 May 2015 |access-date=19 June 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619121444/https://johnberkeyart.com/popular-mechanics-art/|archivedatearchive-date=19 June 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref><ref name="minicom35" />

In the 1960s, Berkey was commissioned by [[NASA]] to produce artworks depicting the [[Apollo space program]] and other missions, as part of the [[NASA Art Program]]. He continued to paint space exploration subjects, including [[Skylab]] and the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]].<ref name="spaceart">{{cite web|title=NASA Space Art – John Berkey Art|url=https://johnberkeyart.com/nasa-space-art/|website=johnberkeyart.com|accessdatedate=7 May 2015 |access-date=19 June 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619121124/https://johnberkeyart.com/nasa-space-art/|archivedatearchive-date=19 June 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

Berkey declined an invitation from [[Stanley Kubrick]] to work on the 1968 film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]''.<ref name="askart" /> In 1974, Berkey was commissioned to render the [[key art]] for ''[[The Towering Inferno (film)|The Towering Inferno]]'', which became the largest grossing film of 1974. This established Berkey's reputation and he went on to produce poster artwork for a number of other [[blockbuster film]]s including the 1976 remake of ''[[King Kong (1976 film)|King Kong]]'', ''[[Orca (1977 film)|Orca the Killer Whale]]'' (1977), ''[[Meteor (1979 film)|Meteor]]'' (1979), ''[[The Black Stallion (film)|Black Stallion]]'' (1979), ''[[Superman III]]'' (1983), and ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]'' (European release, 1984). He also produced promotional artwork for ''[[The Concorde... Airport '79: The Concorde]]'' (1979).<ref name="movieposters">{{cite web|title=Movie Posters|url=https://johnberkeyart.com/movie-posters/|website=John Berkey Art|accessdatedate=7 May 2015 |access-date=15 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915170843/https://johnberkeyart.com/movie-posters/|archivedatearchive-date=15 September 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

In 1975, the young filmmaker [[George Lucas]] purchased several pieces of Berkey's science fiction artwork. The paintings served as visual reference material while Lucas was trying to pitch his ideas to film studios for a new space fantasy film, ''[[Star Wars (film)|The Star Wars]]''. Among the paintings was one of a rocket-plane diving down through space towards a gigantic mechanical planet (the image had been used as cover art for the 1972 reprint of the short story anthology ''[[Star Science Fiction Stories No.4]]'').<ref name="tributes" /> It is thought that this painting in particular had a strong influence on the [[production design]] of ''Star Wars'' and served to inspire the film's leading [[concept art]]ist, [[Ralph McQuarrie]], and the model maker [[Colin Cantwell]], whose early designs for the [[Death Star]] battle station bore a strong similarity to Berkey's painting. A number of other [[List of Star Wars spacecraft|''Star Wars'' spacecraft]], such as [[Star Destroyer]]s, may also have been influenced by Berkey's designs of naval-style ships with smooth hulls and [[conning tower]]s bristling with [[Antenna (radio)|antennae]].<ref name="heilemann" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Ben|title=John Berkey's art inspired the Death Star in 'Star Wars'|url=http://www.startribune.com/john-berkey-s-art-inspired-the-death-star-in-star-wars/18674534/|website=Star Tribune|accessdatedate=6 May 2008 |access-date=15 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915234855/http://www.startribune.com/john-berkey-s-art-inspired-the-death-star-in-star-wars/18674534/|archivedatearchive-date=15 September 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

Berkey was commissioned by [[Lucasfilm]] and [[20th Century Fox]] in 1976 to provide some of the first poster art for ''Star Wars''. Among this work was a painting which depicted the character [[Luke Skywalker]] brandishing a [[lightsaber]], flanked by [[Princess Leia Organa]] the robots [[C-3PO]] and [[R2-D2]], and a number of [[Imperial stormtrooper]]s; in the background is a large figure of [[Darth Vader]] looming behind them, a similar composition to the theatrical poster artwork for ''Star Wars'' by [[Tom Jung]] and the [[Brothers Hildebrandt]]. When the [[novelization]] of the film was published, ''[[Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker]]'', the United Kingdom edition published by [[Sphere Books]] featured [[cover art]] by Berkey ([[Ballantine Books]]' US edition originally featured a cover by [[Ralph McQuarrie]]).<ref name="heilemann" /><ref name="remembered">{{cite web|title=John Berkey Remembered|url=httphttps://www.starwars.com/community/news/family/news20080513.html|website=StarWars.com|accessdateaccess-date=16 June 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517124534/http://www.starwars.com/community/news/family/news20080513.html|archivedatearchive-date=17 May 2008|date=13 May 2008}}</ref><ref name="macquarrie">{{cite web|title=Ralph McQuarrie's Del Rey Star Wars Covers {{!}} StarWars.com|url=httphttps://www.starwars.com/news/the-del-rey-star-wars-covers-of-ralph-mcquarrie-part-1|website=StarWars.com|accessdateaccess-date=16 June 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616144341/http://www.starwars.com/news/the-del-rey-star-wars-covers-of-ralph-mcquarrie-part-1|archivedatearchive-date=16 June 2017|date=7 December 2015|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

Another of Berkey's original paintings for ''Star Wars'' was a poster depicting the final battle over the Death Star from the final scenes of the film. Berkey reportedly never saw ''Star Wars'', and this is evidenced in the fact that he illustrated multiple [[Millennium Falcon]] spaceships (in the film there is only one). Berkey said of the poster in an interview, "It was the first time that I was asked to paint fictional space crafts not of my own design". The painting was issued as a souvenir poster that was included in the first release of the [[Star Wars (soundtrack)|''Star Wars'' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]] by [[20th Century Records]].<ref name="remembered"/><ref name="sw-art">{{cite web|title=Star Wars Art – John Berkey Art|url=https://johnberkeyart.com/star-wars-art/|website=johnberkeyart.com|accessdatedate=7 May 2015 |access-date=19 June 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619123346/https://johnberkeyart.com/star-wars-art/|archivedatearchive-date=19 June 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref><ref name="sciencefictionarchives">{{cite web|title=Original Star Wars poster painting by John Berkey|url=http://www.sciencefictionarchives.com/en/collections/311/original-star-wars-poster-painting-by-john-berkey|website=www.sciencefictionarchives.com|accessdateaccess-date=15 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915233736/http://www.sciencefictionarchives.com/en/collections/311/original-star-wars-poster-painting-by-john-berkey|archivedatearchive-date=15 September 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

In 1992, the [[US Postal Service]] held a public vote on the design of a new [[commemorative stamp]] which was to feature [[Elvis Presley]]. Two designs were shortlisted: a younger Elvis by [[Mark Stutzman]], and an older Elvis by John Berkey. Stutzman's "Young Elvis" won the competition with over 75% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Elvis stamp: America elects a King|url=https://postalmuseum.si.edu/artofthestamp/subpage%20table%20images/artwork/rarities/Elvis%20Ballot/elvisballot.htm|website=Smithsonian National Postal Museum|accessdateaccess-date=19 June 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619131715/https://postalmuseum.si.edu/artofthestamp/subpage%20table%20images/artwork/rarities/Elvis%20Ballot/elvisballot.htm|archivedatearchive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> Berkey nevertheless went on to design 15 other postage stamps, including the 1991 [[Christmas stamp]] featuring an illustration of [[Santa Claus]].<ref name="obit" />

In 1999, John Berkey received the [[Spectrum Award for Grand Master]].<ref name="minicom35">{{cite journal|last1=Ketter|first1=Greg|title=John Berkey|journal=Minicon 35 Program Book|date=21 April 2000|page=2|url=http://mnstf.org/minicon35/M35_programbook.pdf|accessdateaccess-date=16 September 2017}}</ref>

In 2004 he was elected to the [[Society of Illustrators]]' Hall of Fame. On March 22, 2007, [[Excelsior, Minnesota]], honored him with "John Berkey Day."

Berkey died of heart failure on April 28, 2008, at his home in [[Excelsior, Minnesota]].<ref name="obit" />

Many of his original paintings are periodically on display at ArtOrg in [[Northfield, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Selected Art from John Berkey Observed Exhibit|url=http://artorg.info/?page_id=2780|website=ArtOrg|accessdateaccess-date=17 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917090338/http://artorg.info/?page_id=2780|archivedatearchive-date=17 September 2017|location=Northfield, MN|date=17 September 2009|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref>

In his lifetime, Berkey influenced a number of artists, especially science fiction artists, among them [[James Gurney]], [[Drew Struzan]], [[Vincent Di Fate]], [[Stephen Youll]], [[John Picacio]], [[Brandon Peterson]] and [[Michael Kaluta]].<ref name="tributes">{{cite web|title=Berkey Tributes|url=https://johnberkeyart.com/berkey-tributes/|website=John Berkey Art|accessdatedate=7 May 2015 |access-date=17 September 2017|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917120136/https://johnberkeyart.com/berkey-tributes/|archivedatearchive-date=17 September 2017|deadurlurl-status=nolive}}</ref> Artist [[Corrie Erickson]] studied under Berkey.

{{Portal|Speculative fiction|Visual Arts|Star WarsFilm}}

*{{cite book|ref=harv|last1=Frank|first1=Jane|title=The Art of John Berkey|date=2003|publisher=Paper Tiger|isbn=1843401223|urllanguage=http://www.worldcat.org/title/art-of-john-berkey/en|oclc/=52829293|accessdate=15 September 2017|language=English}}

*{{cite book|ref=harv|last1=Frank|last2=Frank|first1=Jane|first2=Howard|title=The Frank Collection : A Showcase of the World's Finest Fantastic Art|date=1999|publisher=Paper Tiger|location=London|isbn=9781855857322}}

* {{isfdbISFDB name}}

[[Category:ScienceAmerican science fiction artists]]

[[Category:20th-century American illustrators]]