Set Design & Scenic Painting

Tips, Tricks, & Tromp L’oeil

Kat Wexler
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A Bit About Me

Scenic Painting &

Designing 12 years

18 Spaces / Stages

85 Shows Have My
Fingerprints In Them (so far!) 3
Why put so much time
and e ort into set design?

Simple:
The set is the
most important character.
True or False?
“If anyone notices a
mistake with the set,
then the actors aren’t
doing their job.”
False!
It is not the actor’s responsibility
to cover for your mistakes.

Take the time and do it right.

Let’s Explore
● Elements of Good Set Design
● Opportunities to Make
Your Set Design Stand Out
● Ways to Save Money
● Painting Techniques
Elements of Good Design

Research! - Be historically accurate!

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1887
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1846
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Elements of Good Design

Does the director want a literal

translation or can you provide
an essence or abstract?

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Elements of Good Design

Match the tone of the show -

Extended reality
Dark & disorienting
Cartoonish
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Elements of Good Design

Can you break the typical

symmetry and still keep balance?

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Elements of Good Design

Incorporate
Layers
Levels
Depth
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Opportunities to Stand Out

Identify the important elements,

especially the emotion of the
show and build on that.

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Opportunities to Stand Out

Production meetings!

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Opportunities to Stand Out

What lighting
opportunities are there?

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Opportunities to Stand Out

Can you have any

set pieces transform?

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Opportunities to Stand Out

Don’t forget the floor!

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Opportunities to Stand Out

Add some detail.

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Great Ways to Save Money
CHEAP Latex Paint
Contractor Grade
Flat
Lowe’s - Valspar Express Coat
Home Depot - Glidden Essentials
Menards - Conco 1000
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Great Ways to Save Money

Use available items.

What can you repurpose?

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Great Ways to Save Money

Think outside the box.

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Great Ways to Save Money

Invest in good tools and

Keep good care of them.

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Great Ways to Save Money

Can you have any

set pieces transform?

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Great Ways to Save Money

Rental Can Be A Lifesaver!

Unique/period piece
antique cash register-1800s wheelchair-printing press

Saves time from searching

No storage or repairs
Tabatay o ers delivery/pickup
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Great Ways to Save Money

Reach out to others in

your community.

Creative set dressing.

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Great Ways to Save Money

Become acquainted with free section

Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace

Visit lots of garage sales.

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Painting Techniques

Don’t be afraid to
try di erent techniques

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Painting Techniques
Tromp L’oeil - French - To fool the eye.

An art technique that uses realistic

imagery to create the optical illusion
that the depicted objects exist in three
dimensions.
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Teatro Olimpico
Veneto, Italy

1585
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Painting Techniques
Start with the local color - Color of the object or surface

Highlight - Area of the object directly facing the light

Shade - Part of the object that is not facing the light

Cast Shadow - Area where object blocks the light

and casts a shadow
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Time To Paint!
Summary:
● Remember the good elements of design!
● Make room for that WOW factor!
● There are lots of ways to keep set design
enjoyable AND affordable!
● Take your time: Treat each new set as
an opportunity to grow in your craft!
 You can do this!

Take chances. Make mistakes. Get messy!

How can you implement some of these

techniques on your upcoming shows?