Artist: Raphael Lacoste – Assassins Creed/Ubisoft Titles

Undoubtedly one of my Favourite Digital artists along with Martin Mckenna, is Raphael Lacoste, who works with Ubisoft Montreal, who’s been the concept artist on such titles as, Prince of Persia, Assassins Creed and also FarCry 2.

Lacoste is now leaving Ubisoft to work with Montreal based Visual effects company, RodeoFX (The Golden Compass).

He specialises in concept art and Matte painting, Matte Painting is painting with the use of Photoshop, 3D software, and using images from a Stock of photographs, most likely taken by himself, as he is an professional photographer.

An example of Matte Painting:

Lacoste was the Art Director for Assassins Creed, hence why look at his work for Assassins Creed and you instantly see the amazing work thats gone into it, Shadows, lighting, atmosphere, and great depth.

I love the technical side of games, like Unreal engine and how it can achieve such detail, with trickery. Gears of War was undoubtedly the best looking game ever made, until Assassins Creed. Gears of War lacked Atmosphere and the Frame rate wasn’t the best at small parts of the game.

Am Interview with Raphael Lacoste can be found at 3DTotal Artist: http://www.3dtotal.com/team/interviews/raphael_lacoste/raphaellacoste_01.asp

Raphael Lacoste’s Website: http://www.raphael-lacoste.com

Raphael Lacoste’s Deviant Art: http://raphael-lacoste.deviantart.com/

And as always, Examples of the artists, Raphael Lacostes work. Also, please note, im not 100% sure all this work is his, but are taken from projects he worked on, and are his style. Its Possible some of the none Landscape Work is done by David Levy

Prince Of Persia

Assassins Creed

Far Cry 2