CLASSIC ART: STRANGE NEW WORLDS!

Another of the iconic Ralph McQuarrie's gorgeous and evocative production painting for Galactica's pilot episode, featuring a lone patrol Viper landed on Carillon. I love the purple sky and the use of the alien moon.

CLASSIC ART: A LOOK AT MANKIND'S PAST FUTURE...

Another iconic piece of conceptual art by the legendary Ralph McQuarrie representing the lush, futuristic realms of an alien world in the Colonies, we assume the ultimately doomed Caprica, from 1977/78. It was used for promotional purposes by ABC TV, sadly in B/W form, during their early push for what was originally Star Worlds, then the singular Galactica.

CLASSIC ART: CAPRICA ATTACK!

The destructive Cylon bombardment of the Colonial home worlds begins, as seen in this superb production painting artwork by Ralph McQuarrie for Saga of a Star World in 1978.

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE ORIGINAL CYLONS

Looking more like the Ovions later seen in the pilot episode, and with origins here that see them resemble the alien humanoid race descendants referred to in often deleted dialogue during the series genesis, this early Cylon trio seen in storyboard form are piloting their raider vessel into attack, during the early events of Saga of a Star World. 

CLASSIC ART: COLONIAL AMBUSH!

One of my all-time favourite Ralph McQuarrie concept/production paintings for Galactica, as the Cylon sneak attack begins on the Colonial Fleet. It feels like a realistic scene of war, full of depth, detail and incident. I wish this evocative painting could have been filmed for real in the pilot episode, Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC ART: OUT IN THE UNKNOWN!

An unknown Viper pilot (possibly an early version of Apollo) keeps tabs on his wingman during their deep space patrol, in this great storyboard concept art linked to Saga of a Star World, by storyboard artist Carl Ardana.

CLASSIC ART: DESTROYING THE COLONIES!

The merciless Cylon sneak attack on the Twelve Colonies of Man, and in particular the planet Caprica, continues in another special piece of conceptual art by Ralph McQuarrie for Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC ART: LANDED ON A STRANGE WORLD...

Another one of the much-missed Ralph McQuarrie's concept/production paintings for the Saga of a Star World pilot from 1977/78, an evocative piece showing one of our heroes' Colonial Vipers parked on a strange world's terrain, which I presume is an early iteration of the tylium fused world of Carillon? 

'GALACTICA' AT 40: IN THE REALM OF THE OVIONS!

Another of the great conceptual paintings for the pilot episode from the late, great icon Ralph McQuarrie- this time showing us the major scale of the insectoid Ovions underground colony and its mining system.

CLASSIC ART: A LAST SUPPER FOR THE TWELVE COLONIES...

The six Colonial Battlestars and their leaders gather for a momentous occasion: finally, after a thousand yahrens of war their is now peace with the enemy Cylons, of which an armistice awaits. Unfortunately, this special dinner will be the lead-in to the Human race's greatest peril, in this lovely conceptual art for Saga of a Star World by Ralph McQuarrie.

BEHIND THE SCENES: BIRTH OF A RAIDER!

The dreaded Cylon Raider craft begins its first steps to visual realisation, courtesy of top artist now filmmaker Joe Johnston, during early 1977/8 preproduction work for Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC ART: PENCIL INSECTOID!

A rare piece of Ralph McQuarrie conceptual character art for the series, showing us an early version of an Ovion warrior, in an idea that saw it covered in metal armour/plating not too dissimilar to that worn by the droid C-3PO in STAR WARS.

This was an image sold off in a UK auction back in the late noughties.

CLASSIC ART: MINE WORK!

An early conceptual art idea by the legendary Ralph McQuarrie for the Ovions underground mine of Saga of a Star World, as one of its lasers cuts through a part of cave system, watched by a Colonial Warrior (presumably Skyler, before he became Captain Apollo).

Don't forget, the classic McQuarrie conceptual art can be purchased in a lovely set from DREAMS AND VISIONS PRESS here: Battlestar Galactica 35th Anniversary Portfolio - Ralph McQuarrie

CLASSIC ART: LAUNCHED INTO WAR!

Amidst heavy Cylon attack, one of the Galactica's Vipers blasts out of its bay and into action. One of my all-time favourite pieces of conceptual art from the original series by Ralph McQuarrie.

McQuarrie's artistic and commercial representatives, those fine people at DREAMS AND VISIONS PRESS, are now making available, officially licensed from UNIVERSAL, a selection of the late artist's work from the series, plus other original material from today's finest talents, available for purchase here: Dreams and Visions Press