Matte painting is one of the coolest types of digital art. The combination of photography, 3d rendering, and painted effects results in photorealistic concepts that are unbelievable. Dylan Cole is probably the most well known matte painter, with his work prominently featured in Lord of the Rings. He graduated with a Fine Arts degree from UCLA, and after working as a traditional painter, he made the jump to digital painting.

Aside from his work on Lord of the Rings, he also has produced several Gnomon DVDs (which are really interesting, so if you’re curious about matte painting, check them out), and worked on major titles such as G.I. Joe, The Golden Compass, Eagle Eye, Pirates of the Caribbean, Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift, and iRobot. This post showcases 32 matte paintings from Dylan, some of which I’m sure you’ll recognize.
www.presidiacreative.com/32-breathtaking-matte-paintings-dylan-cole/

www.presidiacreative.com/32-breathtaking-matte-paintings-dylan-cole/