A prolific movie campaign artist, John Alvin left an indelible mark with his iconic poster designs. Alvin's creation for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a pinnacle in poster artistry. Known for his Alvinesque style, Alvin crafted instantly recognizable posters for classics like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Blade Runner, Gremlins, and The Lion King. His foray into the film industry began with a speculative painting for Mel Brooks's Blazing Saddles, marking the start of an illustrious career.
John Alvin crafted this particular artwork for Steven Spielberg's E.T. The collaboration began in the early stages, even before the film was shot, when it carried the working title "A Boy's Life." Throughout the early stages the film was recalled to have various title permutations, starting with "A Boy's Life," followed by "E.T. and Me," and ultimately settling on "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial."
Alvin's renderings for the logo of the poster included a hand-lettering style, and he created a stencil to emulate a soft glow on the outer edges of the 'E.T.' logo. The method creates a beautiful bright glow effect, which translates well, as shown in the foreground figures.
John Alvin, always envisioning his work as "the promise of a great experience," left an enduring mark. John Alvin maintained a level of mystery about his artistic process, choosing not to demystify the creation of his key art, although he did mentor aspiring illustrators in the industry. For the E.T. artwork, the typical process involved using a paintbrush for intricate details like the texture of E.T.'s alien hand, executed in acrylic paint. He would then mask off this area and airbrush the sky. Further layers were added with additional airbrush work, and finally, details were meticulously rendered on top using Prismacolor pencil.
Alvin's ability to capture the essence of a movie in a single image set him apart. His partnership with advertising professional Anthony Goldschmidt led to groundbreaking work, making Alvin the go-to artist in the industry. His diverse skill set made him indispensable for various aspects of movie promotion, from trailer graphics to primary title sequences. Despite his unexpected passing in 2008, John Alvin's legacy lives on through his timeless and evocative poster designs.
