Painting with Pixar:

Description

Ticket price does not include museum admission. Ages 10-16 

Join Pixar digital matte painter Paul Topolos (The Incredibles, Cars, Up) for a hands-on look at the work of the art department in the production of animated films. Topolos will use his own work and the Walt Disney Family Museum’s Mary Blair exhibit as sources of inspiration, and students will learn how to create their own works of art, experimenting with color theory and design through digital hands-on painting activities. 

Presented in partnership with the Walt Disney Family Museum 

Paul Topolos
Digital Matte Painter, Pixar Animation Studios

As a youth, Paul Topolos was a big fan of epic films and particularly fascinated by the establishing shots in those films that took him to other places.  When he eventually found out that many of those shots were built around matte paintings, he realized what he wanted to build his career around.  

Topolos joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2002 as a matte painter on the Academy Award-®-winning film, “The Incredibles.” He then worked on the Golden Globe-winning “Cars,” and Academy Award®-winners “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Up” and “Toy Story 3.” In addition to his feature work, Topolos has lent his skills to several Pixar shorts, including “Lifted,” “Your Friend the Rat,” “Partly Cloudy” and “Doug’s Special Mission.”

Prior to Pixar, Topolos worked at the Lucas companies in both the game and film divisions.  For LucasArts, he drew storyboards, concept designs and built, painted, art directed and lit 3D sets for video games.  At Lucasfilm, Paul was a storyboard artist on “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” and the matte painter in the pre-visualization department on “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.“

Topolos is currently at work on an upcoming Pixar feature.