The Art of John Uibel

Matte Painting

Craig Barron of Matte World Digital and Mark Cotta Vaz have compiled a comprehensive study of the art and science of matte painting in their book, The Invisible Art: the Legends of Movie Matte Painting. Filled with images, interviews and detailed explanations of the development of the century-old craft, The Invisible Art is an enormous, indispensible reference. Craig has done all the leg-work for you, finding and interviewing Hollywood’s finest studio artists, providing never-before seen reproductions of moviedom’s most recognizable images — and many images you’d never have thought were matte paintings.

Included in the book, I must say, is the definitive image from the 65mm LDS motion picture Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd (2000), the climactic scene at the Temple Bountiful, an enormous Mayan-esque set I designed and [had] built on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Used as an example of digital painting solutions, Matte World extended the set, amplified the background, added people, replaced the sky and otherwise enhanced and already impressive set. I’m proud that my set and Matte World’s painting made it into this landmark book.