FAQ

Is Ralph still working?

Ralph is happily retired, living with his wife Joan in Berkeley, California.

Does Ralph continue to draw/paint personally?

Unfortunately, with the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Ralph does not have the full control of his right hand. On the bright side, we have dozens of years of his work to continue to enjoy, including much that has never before been seen.

Did Ralph work on the Star Wars prequels?

Ralph was offered an opportunity to work on the Star Wars prequels, and as he saw what Doug Chiang and the art department were doing, he really didn't think he could add to the wonderful work they were producing, and he respectfully declined, allowing the new generation of artists to carry the torch.

When’s Ralph’s birthday?

 Ralph was born on June 13, 1929.

Does Ralph read his email?

While Ralph is not a computer user himself, we do bring him copies of the email sent to the site about once a month.

Will Ralph autograph my…?

Sorry! Ralph is no longer able to sign items sent to him. We thank you for respectfully not requesting his autograph through the mail.

Is there any way to get something signed by Ralph?

We still have a selection of signed items available in our store. We’ll also be bringing just about everything we have with us to Celebration 6 next year, so look for us there!

I’d like to request an interview. Can that be arranged?

While this is not impossible, it is not likely. If you have a few questions you would like to ask Ralph, email them through the website and we’ll do our best to respond to them – perhaps adding them to our FAQ!

Where can I find out more about Ralph?

In 2002, we released a feature length DVD interview with Ralph in which he speaks in great detail of his career, including the work he did before and after the Star Wars films.

Will Ralph be attending the next Star Wars Celebration?

As much as Ralph enjoys meeting his fans, 50,000+ people is overwhelming for just about anyone. We’re afraid Ralph no longer makes personal appearances at conventions.

I’ve got a rare portfolio from (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). How much is it worth?

The Ballantine portfolios were produced in the hundreds of thousands. If you take a look on eBay at any given time, you’ll see copies ranging from $1 to $200. New, sealed portfolios still turn up in the $25-$50 range, so we wouldn’t recommend paying more than that for used sets, let alone individual prints! Of course, if you have one of the portfolios – we recommend that you treasure it for what it is – from an art perspective it’s priceless!

Can you tell me if Ralph did the art for . . . ?

If you have a piece of art that you’re wondering if Ralph is responsible for, send us a reasonable resolution jpeg file, or send us to a link to where it can be seen on the web. If we don’t know, we’ll take it right to the source.

Can you tell me if this autograph is authentic?

While the majority of autographs offered online these days appear to be forgeries, there are plenty of authentic Ralph McQuarrie hand signed pieces out there. In general, if anyone is selling something signed by everyone ever involved in anything Star Wars, those are immediately suspect. Feel free to send a scan of any autograph and we’d be happy to provide our honest opinion as to its authenticity. We’ve worked with Ralph since 1996, and so we can confirm any public appearances he’s made since then.

Can I buy any of Ralph’s original art?

We have in the past offered original drawings at auction, there are no current plans to sell more. Keep your eyes on the website in case anything changes.

Can Ralph paint the cover for my band’s album, book cover, movie poster, etc?

Sorry, as mentioned above, Ralph is retired.

HOME