Peter Ellenshaw made quite an impact as a matte artist and special effects designer. His beautiful oil paintings expanded a film’s palette long before computer generation. Much of his work would be collectible if it weren’t for the sad fact that matte paintings were done on glass and quite often, each painting was cleaned off and the glass reused. So much of his matte work is only visible in films. Here in Passamaquoddy, we of course have the Ellenshaw museum. So let’s see what’s inside today.

Not all of Ellenshaw’s work was showy or elaborate. Most of the mattes used in Toby Tyler (starring Passamaquoddy’s favorite son, Kevin Corcoran!) were simple travelling mattes. It seems this frame is the only piece that showcases the master’s work.