The Force takes Edmonton-area artist to comic con and beyond

An industrial area of Stony Plain, Alta., is also home to a galaxy far, far away, thanks to artist Robert Bailey.

A decade ago, Bailey was specializingin aircombatpaintingsSpitfires, Hurricanes, Luftwaffe bombers and having them signed atreunions, "mostly in the States by veterans," Bailey said.

But one day,that all changed for the artist who will beat this weekend's Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo at the Expo Centre.

"George Lucas had seen my workand contacted me. I had a meeting with him at Skywalker Ranch and that was nine years ago and I have never looked back. It has been Star Wars pretty much down the line since then."

That would bethe George Lucas who created the Star Wars universe.Bailey began with some oil paintings for the filmmaker and then moved into pencil drawings of the science-fiction realm.

Bailey, now 69,became licensed as a Star Wars artist, meaning he was authorized to use the famous copyrighted characters in his work.

He began researching by watching the movies again and again so thatdrawing the characters could be second nature.

Boba Fett and Darth Vader are quite popular, but Yoda is his most sought-after character.

Pencil drawings Bailey did for Star Warshelped himbecomelicensed bymajor movie studios like Disney,Pixarand Marvel.

ThenBailey's drawings took him somewhere completely new: a comic convention.

Comicconsare hugely popular eventswhere fans of science fiction, anim, superheroes and fantasy gather.

For Bailey, they are like visiting a different planet.

"I have done many, many comic-cons and it is hectic and it is stressful,but I really enjoy seeing people enjoying themselves," he said. "That is what comic con is all about."

This weekend's Edmonton comic expo will be the eighthcomic con Bailey has attended this year alone.

Fans come from all over, expressing their love of the movies and the new perspectives that Bailey's art illustrates.

But not just fans collect Bailey's work.

Carrie Fisher, who plays Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies,has 18 of Bailey's drawings.

With Fisher in town this week for theEdmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo, Bailey has prepared a few more ofher, including a special one chronicling the starover the years.

"This particular one represents her as a person, where as before most of the drawings that she has areof her as Princess Leia from Star Wars."

When other artists ask Bailey how they might find similar success,he tells them to work hard, to persevere, and to hone their craft tofind thestyle that best fits them.

Bailey spends a lot of time honing his craft in his Stony Plain studio, west of Edmonton.

He does only pencil drawings and producesno prints. He prefers to sell originals.

The drawingscost anywhere between $180 and $1,400, depending on size.

But for him, it is all part of the journey.

"I seem to be doing this more, faster and faster now as each year goes by, despite the fact that I am getting older.You would think that I would be slowing down, but I'm not.

"I am attending more and more comic cons every year. You would think that I would be doing the opposite."