1. Scenic Production and Painting Technique

2. Load-In/Construction Calendar
Load-In: The time when a set is moved in from the scene shop. In professional theatre the set is almost entirely built.
Construction Calendar: Determined by the Technical Director, determines the timeline that things will be built around.

3. Characteristics of Scenic Construction
Can it be quickly built (4-6 weeks)
Can it be re-used in other productions
Can it be built in 1 place and moved to another
Can it be used for short term (2-4 weeks)
Is it safe for actors to use
Can it be built as inexpensively as possible
Is it light weight and able for compact storage
Can it be “finished” on 1 side
What does it have to do during production

4. 2-D Scenery
Flats, Doors, and Windows are considered 2-D or “flat” scenery.
(see previous notes on these)

5. 2-D Soft Scenery
Drop - A painted backdrop that depicts something what might be too difficult to build or needs to be changed quickly.
Scrim - A piece of material that appears to be “solid” when lit from 1 side and can be seen through when lit from another side.

6. 3-D Scenery
Platforms, Step units or Stairs, and Wagons (Platforms on casters) are considered 3-D Scenery, as well as “irregular” items like rocks, columns, and trees.
(see previous notes on what these are)

7. Paint Vocab
Pigment - The coloring matter (dry powder) that creates the color in paint
Filler - The material that allows paint to “cover” materials.
Vehicle - The liquid part of the paint. Can be water, oil, lacquer, latex, etc. Once the paint has dried the vehicle evaporates (and that is what gives off the “smell” of paint)
Binder - The adhesive part in paint that causes the paint to stay or “stick” after the vehicle has evaporated.

8. Painting Tools
Brushes - 2 kinds: natural and synthetic bristles. Size is determined by the width of the bristles and the size of the job.
Sponges - 2 kinds: natural and synthetic. Used most often for detail (like stencils) and texturing (like wood grain)
Rollers - Usually used for paint jobs where a large area is to be covered with paint
Chalk Lines - Used to create straight lines --- usually used in technique
Spray gun or can - Compressed air is used to apply paint. Usually used in the detail or technique step

9. Paint Steps - Prime
Prime coat - First coat put on. Used to create a uniform background of the item being painted and to allow the paint to “bind” better. Most of the time “slop” or “garbage” paint is used -- paint left over from other jobs is mixed together --- or white “primer”.

10. Paint Steps - Base
Base Coat - Second coat of paint put on. The color (or background color) desired for the item --- especially important if a technique or detail coat is desired. A Graded Base Coat is one that gradually changes hue.

11. Paint Steps - Detail/Technique
Detail or Technique Coat - Final step. Item is painted to look like a particular material (wood, marble, etc) or design (wallpaper, stencil, etc). This can be done through a variety of techniques.

12. Painting Techniques
Scrumbling - A blending of paints of several hues to create the appearance of texture - done with brushes
Grid Transfer - Transferring a design from an elevation to the scenery by use of a grid -p 261
Spattering - The process of applying small drops of paint to a surface; done by spraying paint or slapping a lightly charged brush against the heel of one’s hand to throw paint drops - p 259/262
Stippling - Similar to splattering, stippling “bounces” the brush over the surface to deposit small amounts of paint - p 263
Dry Brushing - Painting with a brush that has a very small amount of paint - p 263

13. Painting Techniques
Stenciling - Patterns cut out of paper - used to create repetitive patterns/designs (like wallpaper) p 265
Flogging - Hitting the surface of the item with a specially designed brush
Cloth Rolling - Using rags or other cloth to roll across the surface
Veining - Using a feather to create a marble appearance