Matte Painting Bob Ross Style (the Joy of Matte Painting)
 

I, like so many matte painters and artists I know, started my first introduction to art via PBS's "Joy of Painting" by Alexander Gram then was taken over by Bob (the fro man) Ross. So here is my Omage to the instructor who got me painting landscapes..with a modern twist in a professional setting.
Here is a matte painting that can be simple or hard..depending on your level of detail. Silhouettes are easy to do..light bg, dark subject.

First lay down the color.. Self-explanitory.
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny01.jpg

next Blend those colors
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny02.jpg

here I take a smaller bush, detailing a little more of the sky and water.
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny03.jpg

next the fun part..adding the city. Simple straight black Silhouettes
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny04.jpg

Adding a 2nd bridge
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny05.jpg

With the pen tool, I use to create the rigging (all rigging) then I "Sroke the path" in the pop down menu when you right click the path layer.
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny06.jpg

Water..working on the water and adding hints of lights on the bridge. Plus doing the same wire technique with a smaller stroke..1px. Detailing out the suspension on the bridge
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny07.jpg

adding City lights.. again Self explanitory
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny08.jpg

Final image. Detail the sky abit more, add moon and stars. Detail the lights and hit some building side with high lights. This mentality is "object is already there..just need hightlights to give it form". Same with the water. Added a tiny boat in the bg on the rt and reflection of the lights in the water.
http://www.jb-arts.com/color_sketch/ny09.jpg

The last 4 steps or so is what takes the longest. I spent a few days total and I'll prob replace the water with a water plate and Color correct the water to match mine. So I'll have a little animation. In the words of Bob Ross.."God Bless... And see you next time."

brilliant stuff, thanks for sharing!

yeah, great job. :lol:

thanks,

Do you use any perspective guides?

Really awsome! :D I used to watch Bob"paint happy clouds" Ross too. Thanks for showing this.

excellent! many thx! :D

Thats a great little walkthrough, thanks for sharing it.

Usually Yea all the time. But this was sooo simple to me..not this time. I did use the pen tool a lot to get the straight edges though. I had a good perspective drawing teacher in college when I was in columbus named David Burghy

Excellent small tuto, thanks for sharing.

It looks so simple when someone who´s talented does it! :D

Awesome, thanks for posting this.
Did you use any reference for the color, lighting or form? or is it straight out of your head?

cheers.