Matte Paintings

Matte Painting is a technique used primarily to create an environment that does not exist, and frequently involves compositing with some other existing Live Action or Miniaturephotography. Or a little CGI even.....

There is an art to finessing a seamless blend into the painted environment.There are specific talents for architectural, topographic and scenic environments. Not all artists can paint all things.....

My first few years in the business were spent working with matte artists who were using oils and acrylics on glass and masonite. Projecting and shooting on special matte stands, etc. Now it's all digital, of course, and most of my favorite painters have made the transition to digital media. And some matte artists even work in 3D.....
 
 

I employ the use of Matte Paingtings often and call upon the servics of only the finest matte painters in the business. From talented independents like Robert Scifo to major industry powerhouses like Illusion Arts, I maintain relationships that can bring incredible production value to any project.
 

Image #1: From the ABC-TV Mini-Series "Stephen King's The Shining" - Only the Sno-Cat in the very foreground is real, photographed on location in Estes Park, CO. A miniature of the Outlook Hotel was built and photographed at VIFX and was matched in perspective to the real hotel in Colorado. The entire landscape has been replaced to add the snow covering in a Matte Painting by Robert Scifo. Snow particles and delicate digital compositing by VIFX (since folded into Rhythm and Hues).

Image #2: From the Motion Picture "Speed" - One of the more difficult shots I've ever done! A panning, tilting, zooming, helicopter move was tracked on seven different planes. 2D & 3D Matte Painting elements by Robert Scifo. Amazing tracking, 3D Birds and compositing by VIFX (since folded into Rhythm and Hues).

Image #3 From the Motion Picture "Pushing Tin" - A brilliant blend of imagery, bringing the majestic splendor of the Rockies to an otherwise average Canadian stream....Subsequent to it's completion, this shot was cut from the film, due to story and location changes. Excellent work done by VIFX (since folded into Rhythm and Hues).

Image #4 From the Mini-series "Storm of the Century" - Would you believe that everything above the foreground rooftops and left of the road is fake? It is. Completely. If you were to see this in motion, you would note the flying birds, the walking man, the rippling ocean, traveling ferry and smoking chimneys. And the panning, tilting, booming, vibrating and distorting camera move. An AMAZING effort by Robert Scifo!
 
 

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