Steven Albert

Steven Albert

Freelance Digital Matte Painter and Fine Arts

Senior Matte Painter

United States

Hire Me

Senior Digital Matte Painter

The Finest Hours (2016)

Matte Painting Supervisor

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Senior Matte Painter

Vikings (2012)

Matte Painting Supervisor

Puss in Boots (2011)

Senior Matte Painter

Shrek (2001)

Background

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Senior Digital Matte Painter/Visual Deve

Antz (1998)

Background Artist

Balto (1995)
Steven Albert Matte Painting ShowReel 2013
I am an award winning visual artist, specializing in the creation of photorealist images, design products, illustrations, and fine art paintings.

I have extensive experience in the motion picture industry as a Digital Matte Painter, with a concentration on 3D animated films. I served as Matte Painting Department Supervisor in Bangalore, India, training and developing the team’s skills to produce high quality and appropriately styled paintings used in the films.

I also helped create an outreach program, training curricula, and presentation materials to bring awareness of film careers to institutes across India.

My artwork has been internationally exhibited and collected and was represented in galleries in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles among others.

I currently work in a freelance capacity and am open to new projects and clientele for a variety of art product related projects using both digital and traditional techniques, including illustration, fine art, design, signage, and matte painting work.
Work History

  • Freelance Matte Painter and Fine Arts Painter

    Self Employed

    March 2014 - Present
    Maine

    Creating Digital Matte Paintings along with basic 2 1/2D projections using Nuke

    Clients include Mr. X, Inc., Toronto, Canada

  • Matte Painter

    Mikros Animation

    September 2022 - September 2023
    Montréal, Canada

  • Matte Painter

    Reel FX

    October 2021 - September 2022
    Montréal, Canada

  • Lead Matte Painter

    Boulder Media

    2018 - 2019
    Dublin, Ireland

    • Collaborated with the VFX Supervisor, Art Director, and Production Designer to create background
    images for 3D animated motion pictures, using Adobe Photoshop
    • Created layering protocols for compositing in Nuke to achieve 21/2D integration within the project.
    • Contributed art assets for the Art Department for the style development of shots or sequences.

  • Senior Digital Matte Painter

    Mr. X

    February 2015 - July 2016
    Toronto, Canada Area

    Projects have included Vikings, The Finest Hours, and The Strain

  • Matte Painter

    MPC

    January 2014 - February 2014
    Vancouver, Canada Area

  • Matte Painter

    DreamWorks Animation

    January 2013 - December 2013
    Redwood City, California

    Film: Mr. Peabody and Sherman
    • Created realistic images for motion pictures, using Adobe Photoshop, Vue, Nuke and Maya, within given deadlines.
    • Worked closely with the Matte Painting Supervisor and Art Direction to match lighting, style and color parameters of the film.
    • Worked with the Matte Painting Compositor to organize various layers to achieve 21/2D and 3D integration within the film.
    • Researched appropriate reference material to incorporate or aid in the construction of the matte paintings.

  • Matte Painting Supervisor, Training, & Outreach.

    DreamWorks Animation

    January 2011 - December 2012
    Bangalore, India

    Film: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
    • Supervised the Matte Painting Team in India, to produce matte paintings with the style, lighting, and color requirements of a show under aggressive deadlines.
    • Managed the performance, and moral of matte painters for consistent quality and workflow.
    • Worked cross-site with show leadership in California on sequence launches, approvals, critiques, and art direction.
    • Interacted with other departments ensuring matte painting elements worked in shots and maintained continuity on the project.
    • Bid the schedule with the VFX Supervisor and Production Supervisor.
    • Cast shots/assignments to matte painting team.
    • Performed local art direction for the team by providing them with sketches and other materials.
    • Worked closely with the Matte Painting Compositor, translating 2D paintings into 3D environments.
    • Developed training programs for the Matte Painting Team. Recognized with award for training.
    • Participated in Outreach, creating presentation materials, and speaking at various arts institutes throughout India on matte painting careers.

  • Matte Painting Lead, Training.

    DreamWorks Animation

    March 2011 - April 2012
    Bangalore, India

    Film: Puss in Boots
    • Supervised the Matte Painting Team in India, to produce matte paintings with the style, lighting, and color requirements of a show under aggressive deadlines.
    • Managed the performance, and moral of matte painters for consistent quality and workflow.
    • Worked cross-site with show leadership in California on sequence launches, approvals, critiques, and art direction.
    • Interacted with other departments ensuring matte painting elements worked in shots and maintained continuity on the project.
    • Bid the schedule with the VFX Supervisor and Production Supervisor.
    • Cast shots/assignments to matte painting team.
    • Performed local art direction for the team by providing them with sketches and other materials.
    • Worked closely with the Matte Painting Compositor, translating 2D paintings into 3D environments.
    • Developed training programs for the Matte Painting Team. Recognized with award for training

  • Fine Artist Painter

    Self Employed

    2002 - 2010

    • Developed a fine arts business through the creation, exhibition, marketing, and sale of unique, photorealistic paintings.
    • Exhibited artwork in well-reviewed annual solo shows and various group shows in top art galleries and museums in the United States and internationally.
    • Awarded grants for artistic excellence, including the Pollack-Krasner Foundation Grant.
    • Represented by George Billis Gallery, New York, Koplin Del Rio Gallery,Los Angeles, and Hespe Gallery, San Francisco.

  • Web Designer

    Bowdoin College Educational Technology Center

    January 2001 - January 2002
    Brunswick, Maine

    Designed and animated digital video animatics and illustrations of cellular bio-chemical processes using Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Director, for “Adaptive Learning,” an experimental interactive education website project.

  • Senior Digital Matte Painter/Visual Development Artist

    DreamWorks Animation

    January 1996 - January 2001
    Palo Alto, California

    Films: Shrek
    Antz
    • Created realistic images for motion pictures, using Adobe Photoshop, within given deadlines.
    • Worked closely with the Matte Painting Supervisor and Art Direction to match lighting, style and color parameters of the film.
    • Assisted Art Department with style development of shots or sequences

  • Senior Background Painter/Visual Development Artist

    DreamWorks Animation

    1995 - 1996
    Los Angeles, California

    Films: Prince of Egypt
    •Painted background elements and scenery for 2D animated films using traditional media and techniques within given deadlines.
    •Closely followed art direction for consistent lighting, style, and color continuity within a sequence.
    •Assisted the art director with developing the style of the project by painting key art.

  • Senior Background Painter/Visual Development artist

    Amblimation: A Division of Universal Pictures

    January 1992 - January 1995

    Films: Balto
    We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story
    • Painted background elements and scenery for 2D animated films using traditional media and techniques within given deadlines.
    • Closely followed art direction for consistent lighting, style, and color continuity within a sequence.
    • Assisted the art director with developing the style of the project by painting key art.

  • Background Dept. Supervisor

    American Film Technologies, Inc

    January 1989 - January 1991
    San Diego, California

    Supervised a team of artists through the production and style continuity of groundbreaking digitally painted backgrounds for Fox Television's experimental computer animated series "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes."

View All Positions
Education

  • BA in Art

    Bowdoin College

    1984 - 1988