I'm so excited to see that my new book You Can Draw: Star Wars from DK Publishing is finally in stores this month! It's been a fun and rewarding project for both myself and the amazing illustrators Matt Busch and Tom Hodges. We're all huge Star Wars fans so getting this book finished and on the shelves was extremely important to us all.

This book has been on our mind for quite some time, even before we were all asked to be a part of it last year. When parents and kids attending our popular Star Wars drawing workshops at Comic-Con asked about where they could find more drawing instructions, I decided to start the Learn to Draw tutorial section on starwars.com in 2004. I recruited the best Star Wars artists I could find, each with their own unique style, to show step-by-step guides on everything from drawing the ferocious Rancor monster to blocky LEGO-style stormtroopers. After the Learn to Draw section really took off, we'd get tons of mail and envelope art sent to Lucasfilm and fan magazine Bantha Tracks from kids who were teaching themselves how to draw just from those online lessons. So it was only a matter of time before we got a Star Wars drawing book off the ground.

The book features tutorials on how to draw major characters from the entire saga including Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Padmé Amidala, Princess Leia, Emperor Palpatine, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt, C-3PO and R2-D2 -- just to name a few. Other droids, characters and creatures such as Bib Fortuna, Watto and Tion Medon are also included. For fans who love to sketch space battles (and who doesn't?) I include tips on how to draw the Millennium Falcon, Slave I, X-wings, TIE fighters, Podracers and other vehicles and starships. Various weapons including blasters and signature lightsabers are also featured, but you can't draw Han Solo without his trusty blaster!

As you flip through the book you'll see that it's broken into easy-to-read sections about drawing characters and vehicles from start to finish. Fans can learn to develop their drawing skills using step-by-step instructions, trace overlays, foldout pages and stencils. Plus you can also learn about the exact same penciling, inking and coloring techniques professional comic book artists use, as well as tips on how to make your own comic book.

Working on the book for months at a time, I couldn't help but favor some characters and content over others. I really fought for Gonk the clunky power driod to be in the book. He's one of those droids that people tend to overlook. I'm a big fan of drawing minor and obscure characters from the saga like the Sarlacc and mouse droids.

I'm also proud to say we made sure clone troopers and stormtroopers are also in the book so the members of the 501st Legion can practice drawing themselves. In fact, I'm hoping to bring local 501st members to book signings, as well as at various comic book conventions, to pose for kids to draw them just like real artist models. After all, what fan wouldn't jump at the chance to draw a stormtrooper in full armor posing in fun positions and action stances?

Of course, this book is much more than just instructions on how to sketch your favorite Star Wars characters. I also wanted to explain basic drawing techniques right down to the best pencils to use. Most people want to jump right in and draw, but this book teaches you the basics that help you become a better artist including information on figure proportions and anatomy, dramatic lighting, perspective, foreshortening, shading, inking and coloring.

Drawing, like any other skill, takes a lot of practice to master. So I hope when you buy my book as a drawing instructional guide, you'll be willing to make mistakes and not get too frustrated -- even if your first attempt at drawing R2-D2 looks like a baked potato on wheels. As long as you are determined and patient with yourself as an artist, drawing will begin to come to you naturally. And remember most of all to have fun!

To learn more about the book and see some of the book's illustrations, be sure to read Inside You Can Draw: Star Wars and First Look: You Can Draw: Star Wars on the official Lucasfilm site starwars.com.

Be sure to check out the book's illustrators' blogs, on our Myspace page here.
To learn more about the book's illustrators and their work, please visit the web sites of Matt Busch and Tom Hodges.

You Can Draw: Star Wars is currently available from DK Publishing at local bookstores and online at StarWarsShop.com here.