Scenic PaintingTechnical Theater I

Scenic Painting Basics – 20 Point Review Quiz

1. What are two ways you get ready to paint?2. How far should you dip a paint brush in paint?3. What is a ferrule?4. What is a holiday?5. What type of brush stroke do you use when priming or base

coating?6. Latex paint is oil-based. True or False?7. What is a paint key used for?8. It is okay to use rulers to stir paint. True or False?9. What tool do you use to close a can with?10. When is a paint brush clean?

Rules for Painting

1. Wear gloves and face mask (if needed)2. Put down drop cloth3. Damp rag handy for spills4. Close all paint containers tightly (cans

w/mallet)5. Wash all materials until they are completely

clean!

Tips for Painting

• Inspect brushes for clumped surfaces; inspect sponges, rags, and rollers for irregularities.

• Dip your brush no more than ¾” into the paint.• Do not let the paint get into the ferrule (metal binder).• Use a cross-hatch (criss-cross) painting stroke to avoid

gaps called “holidays.”• Apply paint evenly!• Always work on the wet edge of the paint.• If work is interrupted, feather the edge and then work

back towards it when you restart.

Tools and Materials: Brushes

• Detail brushes (for details)• Flat-ferrule (for base-coating, lay-in and

priming)• Rollers (for base-coating, lay-in and priming)• Sash (for lining and detailing)• Scenic Fitch (lay-in)• Scenic Liner (lining and detailing)

Tools and Materials: Tools• Brush Extender• Bucket• Can Openers• Drop Cloths• Fans• Gloves• Hair Dryer• Paint Key• Paint Rags (clean-up)• Paint Trays• Rulers• Snap Liner• Stir Sticks

Tools and Materials: Accessories

• Feather Duster• Feathers• Markers• Newspaper• Rags• Rocker Grainer• Spider Web• Sponge

Types of Paint

• Water-Based: Latex, Casein, Supersaturated• Oil-Based: Stains, shellac, spray paint• Binders and Finishes: Acrylic

Steps in the Process

• Surface Preparation• Priming• Base Coating• Layout• Lay-in• Detailing• Finishing• Touch-Up

PRIMING / STRAIGHT PAINTING1. PREPARATION / MATERIALSDrop ClothPaint TapePaint – Open and CloseBrush/RollerDamp Rag

2. PAINT LOADING:Brush – Dip ¾” max in paint; no paint in ferrule!Roller – Evenly load roller; do not get paint into end of roller holder.Wipe off excess

3. BRUSH STROKEAlways use a cross-hatch pattern.Avoid holidays.Apply paint evenly.

4. CLEAN UPClean all brushes, materials Check floor / work surface for drips, spills, splatters, or tracks!

I. Basic Scene Painting Technique – Base Coating

• Flat covering• Wet blending• Scumbling

II. Basic Scene Painting Technique - Over-painting Technique

• Washing and glazing• Blocking• Combing• Dry brushing• Lining• Sponging• Rag rolling and flogging• Spattering• Stippling• Spraying• Stenciling• Stamping

WOOD TEXTURES

WOOD TEXTURES

Faux Finish Technique - Wood

• Understanding Wood• Wood Graining techniques– Combing– Rocker graining– Brushing – Detailing

Project #1 – Wood FloorSTEPS IN THE PROCESS1. Layout – Use a ruler and pencil to mark out planks;

space planks same width as brush size.2. Lay-in –

1. Apply darker paint; let dry2. Apply lighter paint

3. Detailing1. Use combing technique or rocker grainer2. Use marker to draw in plank lines3. Add knots, nailheads or scars using dark paint or marker.

Faux Finish Technique – Brick or Block

• Understanding Bricks• Brick Wall Technique–Brushing–Stenciling–Sponging–Wood blocking

BRICK TEXTURES

BRICK TEXTURES

BRICK TEXTURES

Project #2 – Brick WallSTEPS IN THE PROCESS1. Layout – Use a ruler and pencil to mark out bricks;– Height should be same width as brush size– Width should be approximately 2x width

2. Lay-in – 1. Sponge or brush dark color for base2. Sponge or brush light color for texture

3. Detailing – Creating 3D Effect1. Determine direction of light2. Add grout in gray or other dark color3. Add highlight on side of light4. Add shadow away from light

Faux Finish Technique – MARBLE

Base Techniques–Wet Blending–Rag Rolling / Scumble–Spider Web TechniqueDetail Techniques–Feather Cracking–Spatter/Splatter

BASE: WET BLENDING

Use two wet brushes at the same time.

BASE: Rag Rolling / Scumble

Use rags or newspaper.

BASE: Spider Web

Apply Base CoatAttach Spider WebsSpray Paint Over

DETAIL: Feather Cracked

Rotate thin edge of detail brush.

DETAIL: Spatter/Splatter

SPATTER: Fling undiluted paint.SPLATTER: Fling diluted paint

Project #3 – Marble (Wet Blend or Rag Roll/Scumble)

STEPS IN THE PROCESS1. Layout – Decide what type of marble technique you will

use and what type of brush strokes/tools you need – Wet

2. Lay-in – 1. Sponge or brush darkest colors first2. Sponge or brush lighter colors on top

3. Detailing – Creating Depth1. Spatter/Splatter over Surface2. Add Feather Cracking

SCAVENGER HUNTUse your Camera Phone or CameraGet Clear, Usable Images of three different textures.Get a Variety of Textures (Brick, Wood, Stone, Marble, Natural, Glass,

Metal, etc.)

Remain in the classroom, shop, theater, lobby, surrounding hall. You may go outside the building between the theater lobby and the loading dock around to the side door.

DO NOT disturb other classes by making noise or peering into windows.

You will have 15 minutes. If you are late returning, you will be written up for skipping.

Critique your own texture and choose two of your classmates’ works to comment on. Then turn in the Handout.

Test Grade:1. Finished Texture – 50 points2. Texture Reference Attached to Work – 20 points3. Completed Handout – 20 Points4. Critique – 10 points

On the Back of your Handout5. How well do you think you replicated the texture photograph?6. What is one thing you had to learn or do differently once you started the

process?7. What is one thing you feel you could have done to improve the work?8. Which two of your classmates did the best work? Why did you choose their

work?

Texture Critique