Scenic Painting - Study Task 2

Scenic Paintshop

Royal Academy of Art

Full Disclosure - I lost the sheet I did the work on so I went on Jamie's Blog to refresh my memory. I double checked everything and changed what I thought was incorrect. There were also a few I thought fit both. For example, it is both a requirement that the workspace has electrical sockets but it is an electrical component, 

Every Scenic Paintshop requires two distinct areas, one for the painting to take place and the other for correct storage.

The Workspace

2) Adequate ceiling height, which will exceed the highest pieces of scenery when standing up. 

3) Large, smooth, wooden-floored space devoid of any obstructions such as pillars or low ceilings 

4) A permanent or fold-away drawing table in a clean and dry environment for looking at technical drawings and displaying the set model/art work 

5) Ideally situated close to the stage area if in a Theatre environment

6) Plenty of space to move scenery around easily and view work in progress.  

7) Good number of power points and a system of power points suspended from the ceiling is ideal. 

8) First Aid Kit, Fire Extinguishers & Waste Disposal 

9) A pneumatic system for air supply or portable compressors. 

11) Scenic Paintshops often have multiple projects going on at the same time, for this reason it is important for there to be plenty of space to move the scenery around and look at it.

The Sink and Paint Mixing requirements
 
1) Large sink with excellent drainage.

2) Hot and cold water supply. 

3) A large mixing table placed in a position of excellent light and situated near the sink. 
Paint manufacturers colour charts and information for visual reference.  

4) System for hanging up wet brushes and rollers. 

5) A supply of gentle detergents for cleaning brushes, particle soaps, gels and barrier creams for hands.

Wall Space

1) Storage for built scenery to be stacked. 

2) Wooden paint frame fixed to the wall. 

3) Space to build a wooden frame for smaller canvasses/backdrops where an actual paint frame is not present.

Paint & Equipment Storage requirements: 

1) PPE (Personal protective equipment) including respiratory equipment, ear defenders/plugs, gloves and safety goggles.

2) Essential Health and Safety Equipment to be worn in work-space when specified: Overalls/Protective Clothing, Knee-pads, Steel toe-cap shoes/boots and Hard hat

3) COSHH Information and Safety Data Sheets.

4) Plenty of shelving units, containers and a labeling system.

5) Lockable metal cabinet  necessary for the storage of certain paints and any substance known to be potentially hazardous.

6) Ideally a separate room for storing stock paints & equipment.

7) Stock-check lists & Supplier catalogs.

Working at Height requirements

1) A paint gantry or a paint bridge if required

2) Scaffolding paint tower if required A-frame ladders (preferably a selection of sizes)

Lighting and Electronics requirements
 
1) Natural light source for colour matching and mixing paints

2) Artificial lighting in the form of tungsten, halogen or daylight-simulation bulbs
   
Heating, Air and Ventilation requirements

1Good system of ventilation especially vital when using potentially hazardous materials, such as certain glues and paints.

Fan heaters to rapidly heat up a space as well as cool down, when required.  

What is a Scenic Artist

Jose Lerma

Scenic Artist

Scenic artists are primarily responsible for the creation of scenic textures and backdrops for use in theatrical performances. During a production they may be asked to recreate expensive or impractical authentic materials such as marble, brickwork, cobble stone and bark among many others. They often work from design briefs given to them by the production designers of a project. Other responsibilities may include purchasing the paint the paint they to use, base coating/ priming the the scenery, creating aging effects and maintaining the paintwork throughout the performance. Every scenic painter will regularly come into contact with potentially hazardous chemicals, which means that good knowledge of health and safety regulations is required, as well as some basic knowledge of chemistry.

Some of their duties may include

Purchasing the supplies and colours needed for the job

Creating the texture

Priming and base coating

Gridding and marking out the flats

adding in the block colours

Maintaining the paint work for a set

References
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/746_scenic_artist
http://theatre.uoregon.edu/production/scenic-artist/