Cool Stuff: The Amazing Star Wars Concept Art Of Former ILM Illustrator Joshua Viers

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Fan art isn't just for the consumers, its also for the creators. Joshua Viers, a concept art illustrator who formerly freelanced at Industrial Light and Magic, sent us a look at a serious of Star Wars concept art illustrations he has created just for fun. Sorry, these aren't for Star Wars Episode 7 or a new video game, although they have the professional quality and polish of something you'd find in the real thing. Hit the jump to see more of Joshua Viers Star Wars concept art.

Josh is a /Film reader and shared his recent Star Wars concept art with us in an e-mail. Here is a closeup of the piece seen in the header image, titled "Empire Bargains" which shows the Empire having to resort to once again bargaining with bounty hunters, on a desolate unknown planet:

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The piece was actually based the short from Once Upon A Time in the West because George "Lucas was inspired by Leone's work for the original films, and I wanted to recapture that."

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The Empire Arrives

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X-Wings Fly

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The Empire Rises

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And a close-up shot:

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The images were created "Part 3D, part photo, part painting."

Viers has been working in the industry since 2001 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Industrial Design. His credits include Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York, Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, JJ Abrams' Super 8, Superman Returns, Monster House, Cowboys & Aliens, Redtails, The Polar Express, Monster House, Beowulf, A Christmas Carol, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's The Spirit and the video game Duke Nukem Forever.

You can find more of Josh Viers' work on ConceptByJosh.com or his Deviant Art page.