Rating: 
Summary: Beware...it is not what it seems
Review: I just attended an event in San Francisco last night to coincide with the publishing of this book and many of the matte artists were in attendance. It was just fascinating to hear the history and anecdotes from people who are finally getting well-deserved attention as they work magic on film. The book is beautiful and takes you from the early days of projection to the current digital graphics imagery. A must for any lover of film history and art...Alexa
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing, amazing book....highly recommended
Review: I just attended an event in San Francisco last night to coincide with the publishing of this book and many of the matte artists were in attendance. It was just fascinating to hear the history and anecdotes from people who are finally getting well-deserved attention as they work magic on film. The book is beautiful and takes you from the early days of projection to the current digital graphics imagery. A must for any lover of film history and art...Alexa
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Perfect!
Review: I received this book last week, and had time over the weekend to enjoy a lot of it's contents.
Matte Paintings have always been my favourite aspect of SFX, so this book was one I have been waiting for. The price put me off, so I spent longer than I should deciding to buy it.
I diddn't need to worry. If you love the art of the Matte Painting, this is the one book you'll need, and the only one you'll need. From interviews with the Matte Artists themselves, and a complete history of the Matte painting, it simply covers all you'd want. A CD rom is included which compliments the book perfectly.
A beautiful book- Well written, and with the quality of layout that a subject like this deserves. Well done to the creators of this excellent publication!
Rating:
Summary: Hats Off
Review: I salute the gentlemen who worked on this masterful book. Perhaps the most realistic look at matte paintings and honest account of the industry. A didactic and artistic voyage with a examination of some of the most powerful and momentous pieces.
Inspiring and filled with the true essence of the artform.
Rating:
Summary: Hats Off
Review: I salute the gentlemen who worked on this masterful book. Perhaps the most realistic look at matte paintings and honest account of the industry. A didactic and artistic voyage with a examination of some of the most powerful and momentous pieces.
Inspiring and filled with the true essence of the artform.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: If you are interested in the art of matte painting in the special effects industry, there isn't any comparison to this book on the planet. It is an understatement when I say that this book is DYNAMITE for lovers of matte painting.
Rating:
Summary: A TRIBUTE TO UNSUNG ARTISTS
Review: Matte artists have always helped bring a movie to life, and until now, they were never really appreciated. In this beautifully layed-out book by critically-acclaimed writer Mark Cotta Vaz and insider Craig Barron, the history of matte painting is finally revealed. Living in Los Angeles, California, I was given the truly remarkable privilege to tour these once forbbiden glass artist studios and see a first hand account of what it was like to be part of the movie-making process. Matte artists have been such great assets to the movie studios in terms of saving a lot of time and money during what would be an other-wise laborious task to build an intricate set. What's great about this book is that it shows comparison views of a shot before and after a matte painting is included. Such famed directors as Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, and George Lucas have used the artwork of these amazing artists to create worlds that would be almost impossible to make without. The book also includes a companion cd about the matte paintings, and includes scenes from movies such as "Star Wars," "Casino," and "Titanic." If you hadn't known these were paintings, you would never have guessed. Finally, these truly genuine artists are credited, and Hollywood owes many thanks to the epic scenes they were able to create! So to all matte artists everywhere, THANK YOU!
Rating:
Summary: The Wait is Over!
Review: Solong have I waited for a book like this, and it was over a year ago I heard Craig Baron of one of the best VFX houses out there, along with Mark Cotta Vaz, the best VFX journalist and writer out there, planned on making this book.
And it was worth the wait! This book is incredible. My favorite FX technique finally given the attention it deserves, and it is more extensive and detailed than I imagined. All matte paintings I've come to love over the years, plus an incredible amount of matte-painting-mastery I had never seen are represented by incredible photos, in their full glory. All are accompanied with a stunning print from the actual footage shot for it, or the final composite. Other pictures like photos from artists, cameramen, directors, sets, cameras and other equipment, but also original sketches and illustrations are shown throughout the book. This of course accompanied by Vaz's well written texts and anecdotes, informative, and energetic. The book has been divided in chapters that show the various stages of film history, as well as the several generations of matte painting wizards, and the development of the techniques.
I congratulate Craig & Mark on their beautiful acievement, very inspiring, stunning and moving, pure candy for the eye and mind. My library of VFX books and magazines seems finally complete!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and informative... a must have!
Review: The authors have done a definitive job with this chronicle of the unique and rather mysterious art of matte painting. The lavishly illustrated volume is strongly supported by a text that's rich with interesting production anecdotes and insights into the lives and personalities of the various practitioners of the art, in addition to the thorough technical information. Of course, the many original paintings reproduced -- both with and without the "intrusion" of live-action elements -- is the feature that recommends it the most. Examples range from the high-tech polish of today's blockbuster productions, to classic "Golden Age" films and material from the very dawn of film. All in all, the perfect book treatment of this subject and an indispensable addition to the library of anyone with an interest and appreciation for the true magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding reference book on matte painting
Review: The Invisible Art by Craig Barron and Mark Cotta Vaz is without question the definitive reference text on the fascinating art form of matte painting. Lavishly illustrated with B&W and color photos, The Invisble Art chronicles the history and present digital technology of creating matte paintings for films ranging from the silent era, and up through present-day filmmaking. I could not put the book down, and read every word and feasted on every photo. This book is a must-have for anyone even remotely interested in film production, and how one can save millions of dollars in production costs by using matte paintings and/or hanging miniatures to expand the scope and spectacle of a film's art direction and set design. Film producers especially should read this book.
|
