Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1988 - 28

the examples pictured, despite being
in color, are not as skillfully rendered
as the earlier illustrations. Similarly,
the lesson on drapery is particularly
disappointing in its execution. There
is also an over-emphasis on the use of
black, white, and gray to mix and neutralize bright colors, instead of the use
of complementary colors. In addition,
there is a confusing statement which
advises the reader to "neutralize" analogous colors with a like (or common I
root color.
On the other hand, there are many
strong points to the book, such as the
"Table of ine Mixtures" which is a
useful device for understanding and
creating different tint and shade
values in color mixing. Pilmell's discussion of mixing and applying starch
size is a clear and complete discussion
of the subject. Also, the section dealing with wood graining is perhaps the
best in the book, both ill ternlS of text
and illustrations. Overall, this work
can be useful by amateur theatre
groups and in beginning scene painting classes.
The Art of Scene Painting is a very
brief, highly personalized discussion
of scene painting techniques by a man
who was the Chief Scenic Artist for

the Royal Shakespeare Company for
more than twenty years. Written
largely in the first person, the book
provides a reasonably detailed description of basic materials and tools, with
an emphasis on dry pigment and size
techniques. After detailillg the preparation and layout of a drop, Collills
moves quickly and cursorily through
architectural layout, opaque and glaze
painting, painting on the floor (most of
the book is geared to vertical paillting),
aniline dyes, several types of modem
materials including textural substances, methods of achieving repeated patterns and ornaments, perspective, and a brief potpourri of
improvised techniques and design approaches. With such extensive experience in the trade, CollillS has an impressive knowledge of the field, yet the
book is written in such a way that the
reader must have some familiarity
with scene painting in order to fully
understand what is being said. Such
terms as "fi tch," "Pel met border,"
"splatter," "rag rolling," and "scumble," for example, are presented with
no further explanation. Surely such a
passage as, "In repeatillg wallpaper you
should use the 'half-drop method' ...
make sure that the register on both

pattern and background is indicated
correctly by the bleed-marks," is going
to completely confound the uninitiated and cause some head scratching
among the veterans. or do the illustrations, which are all in black-andwhite and a trifle fuzzy at times, add
much to clarify such obscuri ties.
Yet, for those familiar with the craft
of scene painting, there are scattered
gems to be found in the book, gleaned
from the extensive experience of the
au thor - such comments as "Any
treatment to suggest antiquity must
be part of the under-painting and not
superimposed with a spray as an afterthought," or, "when paimillg dye on
plush material it is advisable to use a
li ttle flour to lessen the spread of the
color." Another example of helpful advice is that "very effective spray-work
can be achieved by maskillg out, usillg
Cut-out shapes of cardboard (or, if
working flat, by newspaper and maskillg tape) and building up the overall
picture ill sprayed layers." With such
useful hints as these scattered
throughout the text, the book has
some value. ot particularly useful as
a primary text on scene paillting, Collills's work does become useful as a
secondary source, and the nominal

LEKOIELLIPSOIDALS * COLOR FRAMES *
RESNELS * STAGE PLUGS * SMOKE MACHINES
PAR CANS * ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS
HTS * SOCKETS * MIRROR BALLS * SCOOPS
LENSES * BLACK LIGHTS * FOLLOW SPO
DISTRIBUTORS * BEAM PROJECTORS * PIPES
SWITCH & PLUG BOXES * RAIN LIGHTS *
GHTS * SNOOTS * COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
FOOTLIGHTS * BARNDOORS * LASER SYS
GHTS * TEM
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LEKOI. LEPRECON AMES * For
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PAR CANS * ELh
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SWITCH & PLUG BOXtS * RAIN LIGHTS * BASES *
"",oFT LIGHTS * SNC
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FOOTLIGHTS * BARNDOORS * LASER SYSTEMS * CYCLORAMA LIGHTS * TEMPLATE HOLDERS * COLOR WHEELS
Q LITES * CABLE REPLACEMENT PARTS * ROPE LIGHTS * CONTROLLERS * CABLE * TWOFERS * CONSULTATIONS

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1988