John Williams : A Celebration - hand painted digital artwork (print)

John Williams has created musical scores and themes for some of the most successful films of all time. This hand painted digital artwork celebrates his unparralleled contribution to cinema.

The wonderful scores support and embellish the storytelling and embody the spirit, or soul of the films. He creates memorable themes that stand by themselves. In an interview talking about the music for ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and working with Steven Spielberg on the main theme for Indiana Jones, he described that there were two pieces to chose form and Spielberg asked Williams if he could combine them. Williams said that after some work he came upon the theme that we all know today... and this end result was inevitable. I think this word ‘inevitable’ typifies a lot of his music, you simply can’t imagine any other theme for these movies,. Whether it is the theme from ‘E.T.’, Star Wars, Close Encounters, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Superman or Indiana Jones. And the theme for Jaws and Darth Vader (the Imperial March) are truly iconic, and are the go to music cues we think of in scenes of looming threat, or the presence of a mighty enemy. So much incredible film music.

Projects shown here. Starting form the top, and going clockwise. ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1977), ‘E.T. The Terrestrial’ (1982), ‘JFK’ (1991), ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987), ‘Earthquake’ (1974). ‘Amistad’ (1997), ‘Always’ 1989, ‘Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace’ (1999) ‘Star Wars’ (1977), ‘Jaws’ (1975). ‘Home Alone’ (1990), ‘Schindler’s List’ (1993), ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (2001), ‘Lost In Space’ (1965), ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993). ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ (1987), ‘The Towering Inferno’ (1974), ‘Superman’ (1978), ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981). Centre - The man himself circa 1990s