Glossing Over Matte Painting
As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a matte painter. …okay, maybe not, but certainly since I found out about it three years ago it’s been a rabid fascination. Matte painting is a technique used in film and video production to create highly detailed and realistic backgrounds. It involves painting and compositing different elements together to create a seamless and immersive environment. Painters like Peter Ellenshaw, who worked on classics like Mary Poppins and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Harrison Ellenshaw, who worked on Star Wars and TRON pioneered the art form as it is now, but with the advent of digital art the possibilities became endless.
“Wish You Were Here” Matte Painting by Jeff Baker, made using Blender, Unreal Engine 5, ZBrush, Photoshop, and Procreate.
ID: A Matte Painting of a space man standing on an alien world looking up at an asteroid with a glowing obelisk on top. A ringed planet is visible in the sky behind some mountains.
Like I said, after I learned about Matte Painting I became fascinated by it and wanted to try it myself. I spent hours studying tutorials and experimenting with different techniques, but I never quite figured it out. It always looked either obviously photoshopped, or overly painted. I couldn’t figure out how to meld the two styles into one unified and consistent style. However, this experience led me to adapt the technique and create my own style in my fantasy paintings.
Instead of creating hyper-realistic environments, I use matte painting techniques to create otherworldly and fantastical landscapes. I blend different elements together to create a sense of depth and dimensionality, while also playing with color and lighting in an attempt to create a sense of magic and wonder. My paintings often feature mystical creatures, ancient ruins, and epic battles, all set against breathtaking backdrops.
While my style may not be traditional matte painting, I owe a great deal to this technique for inspiring me and teaching me the fundamentals of creating immersive environments. By adapting it to my own needs, (And stealing some techniques from concept artists like Hardy Fowler) I've been able to create something that is uniquely my own and brings me great joy. Whatever you’re working on doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be you.