Behind the Scenes with the Grade 10 Art Class

Scenic painting, as an artistic form used to enhance the setting for plays or musicals, has existed for centuries. The process itself remains largely unchanged. Heavy canvas is used, with a primer coat applied to ensure the final layer of paint adheres well and maintains its saturated colours.

 

There is a process involved. First, the initial illustration is drawn, scaled up from a small reference painting agreed upon with the director. Next, the large areas, typically the sky and background are painted. Finally, the foreground and finer details are added. Colour plays a crucial role, as it’s important to account for the stage lights, which will inevitably wash out some of the saturation. Bright white is avoided, as it can be too intense under the lights. Instead, creamy whites are used for a softer effect.

 

The Grade 10 art class helped me in creating the backdrop for the Junior School musical Mary Poppins Jr., which opens on February 28. You can get your tickets here, we hope to see you there!