Scenic Painting: The crowning touch Creates character in the set 2 Main Areas: 1.Materials

Theatrical Design and Production

Chapter 10: Scene Painting

© 2006 McGraw-Hill. All right reserved.

Scenic Painting: The crowning touchCreates character in the set

2 Main Areas:1.Materials2.Techniques




Materials

Paints Applicators




Scenic Paints

4 Elements of Paint

1. Pigment – Material that imparts color to a paint or dye2. Filler – Material that creates opacity in paint3. Vehicle – Liquid medium – water, oil, lacquer, and the like –

in which pigments, fillers, and binders are suspended to create a pain mixture; after the paint is applied, the vehicle evaporates

4. Binder – The adhesive that bonds the pigment and filler together

**most scenic paints are water-vehicle paints – nonflammable / less expensive / easier to mix / quicker to dry / lighter in weight / easier to clean




Safety Note

Dry pigment & binders…

Sometimes chemicals in paint are highly toxic!!!

When in dry form, they are easy to inhale

Consult MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to know how to handle certain

materials!!!




Dry Pigment and Binder

Oldest form of scene paint Pigment and filler are pre-mixed and kept in dry form (powder) Requires size water to create the paint…

Size water – A mixture of one cup hot animal glue and one tablespoon of Lysol per gallon of warm water (white glue can be substituted)

Comes in wide range of colors (See Table 10.1 – pg. 250) Relatively inexpensive & stores indefinitely Going ‘out of style’

Size water will spoil!!! – Throw it away!!!Don’t use spoiled paint!!!




Casein Paint

Water-based paint with a binder based in soy protein or milk Comes in a concentrate that can be thinned with water Easily mixed Has excellent covering properties Matte finish Water repellent when dry

Negatives:

Spoils quickly when opened – and smells like super-sour milk Smell remains once dried!!!




Latex Paint

Latex = Synthetic liquid plastic with flexible qualitiesWhite latex is used as a base to mix tints with more

saturated colorsCan use dry pigment / aniline dyes / casein / vinyl

acrylic concentrates to tint latexMatte finishAdheres to wood and fabric well

Aniline dye – A transparent pigment made from aniline, a poisonous derivative of benzene; characterized by brilliant hues and full saturation

Vinyl acrylic concentrate – A highly saturated pigment with a vinyl acrylic binder; mixed with an opaque base (for tints) or a transparent base (for fully saturated hues) to create a working paint




Vinyl Acrylic Paint

Water-based paint with a vinyl acrylic binderExcellent adhesionExtremely flexibleSuitable for painting wood, fabric, & most metals and plasticsWater-resistant

Can create a glaze (transparent wash) by diluting this type of paint with 8 to 10 parts water




Aniline Dye

Often carcinogenic & toxic – Safety 1st when using these!!!Powder formTransparent, brilliant, saturated dyes when mixed with water1 tsp dye to 1 qt boiling water as average mix

Paint scrims & muslin drops & cycsTint water-based scene paints

Dye tends to bleed / spread – needs a binderAdd starch / white flex glue / animal glue size / clear vinyl

acrylic base as binder




Varnish

Transparent coating made of synthetic or natural resinous materials suspended in oil (oil varnish), alcohol (spirit varnish), or synthetic vehicle (polyurethane, vinyl acrylic)

Sealing coat Matte, satin, glossy finish

Polyurethane believed to be better for stage – easier to apply and dries more quickly than other types




Shellac

Transparent finish coating made of resinous material (lac – insect secretion) suspended in alcohol

Extremely volatile substance – needs to be handled carefully

Often used as a vehicle for bronzing powders

Lacquer – Form of shellac or varnish that has been diluted with alcohol or other quick-drying solvents




Polyester Resin

Not actually paint!Used to form fiberglassFinishing method that can hold color and texturesMust be mixed with MEK to harden

Resin takes time to ‘set’Virtually impossible to remove once put in place

MEK – methylethylketone – catalyst-hardener




Enamel

An opaque paint with an oil, lacquer, or synthetic base

Hard surface

Excellent covering power

Smooth satin or gloss finish

Surface to be covered should have an enamel undercoat for proper sealing and finished look




Important Safety Tips

Check MSDS Sheets for proper handling of all paints and dyes

Visit the MSDS FAQ online to get more information on how to ‘read’ this information properly

Make sure to wear proper masks / respirators when mixing dry pigment

Oil-, alcohol-, and lacquer-base paints and some synthetic-base paints are flammable

Keep all hazardous materials in appropriate storage and also work with them in well-ventilated areas!!!




Applicators




Brushes

Good brushes are expensive – but worth it!Natural bristles are best

– Look for length and a natural springiness when wet

3 types of brushes

1. Priming – applies 1st coat – large (6 to 7 inches wide)2. Lay-in – applies base coat – medium (4 to 5 inches wide)3. Detail – Used for fine work – small (1/4 to 2 inches wide)

Multiple types of brushes exist for multiple purposes Match the purpose to a specific brush for best results




Other types of applicators

Sponges – Use for texture and for creating several different paint treatments

Rollers – Use with water-base paints to get large amounts of coverage

Aerosol Spray Can – Allows for some control of paint – often used to distress objects due to look of paint once sprayed

Spray Gun – Variety of methods use these – Drops to furniture can be painted with these

**Useful for applying glaze coats, fire retardants, spattering




Auxiliary Scene-Painting Tools




Auxiliary Scene-Painting Tools

Charcoal & Chalk – Used to draw parts of the design before painting

Handle extender – Allows painters to reach inaccessible areas with ease (Often made of bamboo)

Bucket

Straightedge – Guide to painting straight lines / beveled underside to prevent paint from ‘creeping’

Chalk Line – a.k.a. snap line – Aids in creating lines

Paint Cart – Convenient to carry paints

Electric glue pot – essential for creating size water

Immersion heater – Helpful for mixing and heating water, paint, dye, etc.

Stirrers




Preparing Scenery for Painting

Repair HolesPatch on the BACK of the flat

Applying Dutchmen4-6 inch wide strips of muslin to cover joints between flatsCompound – ¾ water to ¼ glue

Flame proofingAll scenery must be flame proofedCompound – 1 lb borax, 1 lb sal ammoniac, ½ pt vinegar, 1 g hot water

Horizontal and Vertical paintingPrepare the paint space for whichever method will be usedHorizontal – large amounts of clean floor spaceVertical – large amounts of wall space and more care from the painters




Vertical Painting Structures…




Preliminary Coating of Paint

2 basic coatings

Size coat

Shrinks the fabric (tightens to frame)

Fills the surface of the cloth to better take paint

Water & hot glue (16 to 1)

Prime coat

a.k.a. Ground coat1st layer of paint

Usually painted over with detail layer –

use ‘garbage paint’

Neutral color to prevent bleedthrough




Paint-Mixing Techniques

Dry Pigment & Binder – No set formula – working to get consistency of coffee cream

Casein – 1 part paste to 2 to 4 parts water

Latex – If undiluted – extend with 1 pint of water to 1 gallon of paint

Vinyl Acrylic – Versatile with a wide variety of techniques for mixing




Scene Painter’s

Palette

= Light= Pigment




Scene Painter’s Palette

Practical Hints and Tips

Be sure all paint is thoroughly mixed and stirredTo reduce value or saturation –

add complimentary hueadd a less saturated pigmentadd black (last resort)

To increase value – add pigment of same hue but higher valueadd white (judiciously…)

When mixing high values – start mixing with lightest pigment and slowly add other components

When mixing dark colors – start with darkest and slowly add lighter colorsIf mixing large quantities be sure to box the paintPaint appears lighter when dry – test your mix with various samples to make

sure you are getting the correct end result




Painting Techniques

Smooth Base Coat

Vertical – paint top downHorizontal – paint corner out

Keep brush fully loaded with paint

Keep a wet edge

Don’t scrub surface with brush

Dry pigment & binder – apply with a cross-hatch pattern to avoid brush marks

Application here is being done in a cross-hatch pattern working from the top down in a

vertical painting situation




Painting Techniques

Graded Base Coat

One that generally changes hue or value over the height or width of the painted surface.

Common to ‘fake’ a sense of age or being well-worn

Requires speed – blend must be done while paint is wet – small areas at a time Look at the images from

top to bottom to see the stages of creating a graded

base coat




Painting Techniques

Scumbling

Blends several hues together – creates illusion of texture

Two guidelines –

1. Use a separate brush for each color to maintain integrity

2. Work rapidly – paints must be wet for blending to take place

Textures – rough plaster / wood / stone / dirt / etc.

1.Sharply textured, high-contrast curvilinear

2.Softly textured, low-contrast curvilinear

3.High-contrast linear scumble

4.Low-contrast linear scumble

1 2

3 4




Painting Techniques

Aniline Dye

Different due to type of color produced – high, intense, transparent color

Mix in boiling water (vinegar or alcohol as a potential way around boiling – still requires hot water!!!)

Dye – Penetrates rather than covers!!!

Dye must be mixed with a binder – or fabric must be sized

Difficult surfaces to penetrate – 8 parts water to one part vinyl

Non-porous surfaces – 3 parts water to one part clear vinyl




Spraying Techniques

Fastest method of applying paint

3 Parts:

1. Spray gun – A pistol-like device that shoots out a cone of paint

2. Spray cone – The pattern of paint emitted from the nozzle of a spray gun.

3. Compressor – A pump, typically electric- or gasoline-powered, that drives air into a tank, output pressure from the tank is controlled by a valve called a regulator.




Cartooning

The process of transferring detail to the scenery after prime and base coats are applied.

Combination of technical transfer using scale measurements and grids to freehand sketching

Painter’s elevation provides the information on the details to be transferred




Grid Transfer

In scale a 1’ sq grid is drawn on the elevation

In full-scale, 1’ sq grid is placed on the surface

Painter makes transfer of information using grid for placement




Projection Transfer

Uses an opaque projector to project the painter’s elevation onto the scenery

Design is then traced in charcoal or chalk

Drawbacks – 1. Shop must be dark for this process2. Projector must be placed perpendicular

to the center point or keystoning occurs

**Computer technology is changing and improving this method which is more efficient than grid transfer




Standard Texture Coats

Spattering

Process of applying small drops of paint to a surface

Age the paint job, alter the hue, smooth out irregularities of base coat

Can be done by hand or with a garden sprayer

(Hudson is the brand preferred by many professional scenic artists)





Stippling

Applies a heavier texture than spattering to the scenery

Uses an applicator loaded with paint in a random pattern With a brush With a sponge With a feather

duster





Dry Brushing

Painting with a brush that holds very little paint

Tip of brush is dipped in paint, scraped across the lip of the bucket, then dragged across the surface of the work

Most commonly used to create wood grain





Lining

Painting narrow, straight lines of varying widths – creates the appearance of depth

Uses highlight and shadow to ‘trick’ the eye




Applications of Painting Techniques

FoliageFoliage

WoodWood

StoneStone

MarbleMarble




Specialized Finishing Techniques

Texturing – Use of additives in paint to give depth and texture

Stenciling – Large cut patterns used to apply paint in detailed, intricate patterns like wallpaper

Front-Back Painting – a.k.a. translucent painting – Paint / Light the back AND the front of a muslin drop

Glazing – Applying a clear top coat to an existing finish

Metallic Finishes – Generates the illusion of metal or provides accent

Wallpapering – Alternative to painting – costly and should be done on hard flats




Drop Painting Techniques

Drops must be stretched and framed before being painted

Horizontal vs. Vertical – once stretched this is the orientation painting will occur in

If being painted horizontal – may require bogus paper to absorb excess paint

If no existing frame, one will need to be built Temporary drop stretcher




Scenic painting relies on the talent and ingenuity of the artist

There are no true ‘rules’ for the painter

Experimentation Trial and error

& learning from happy accidents

are the main guidelines for scene painting

Scenic Painting: The crowning touch Creates character in the set 2 Main Areas: 1.Materials

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Transcript of Scenic Painting: The crowning touch Creates character in the set 2 Main Areas: 1.Materials