SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

DIVISION OF THEATRE

Dowagiac, Michigan

COURSE SYLLABUS

Fall Semester/Session 2011

COURSE TITLE: Scene Painting COURSE NO.: THEA 230

SECTION NO.: 2344

CREDITS/CONTACTS: Credit Hours: 3

Lecture hours/weekly: 2

Laboratory hours/weekly: 2

Weekly Contact Hours: 4

Final Exam Information: See schedule of exams for final exam time.

INSTRUCTOR: Marc Dombrosky, 212 Lyons Building, 782-1382,

OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

PREREQUISITE: C of higher in THEA 220 and ART 188.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course explores the tools, techniques and terminology used in the craft of scene painting. Topics include the role of the scenic artist in the production process. Additional emphasis will be placed on faux painting techniques and trompe’l oeil painting.

COURSE OUTCOMES: At the end of the course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Effectively use basic scenic artist tools and professional vocabulary necessary to communicate with a “charge artist.”
  2. Execute scenic painting tasks at an introductory level.
  3. Prime and prepare scenic surfaces for painting.
  4. Perform basic two-dimensional techniques.
  5. Mix color.
  6. Perceive and relate form and shape.
  7. Create the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface.

TEXTBOOK: REQUIRED: Beudert, Peter and Susan Crabtree. Scenic Art: History

Tools and Techniques. 2004.

OPTIONAL: Pectal, Lynn. Designing and Painting for the Theatre.

1975

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED RESOURCES:

Notebook

Pencil

Medium toned drawing paper

Sketchpad (no smaller than 8.5”x11”)

Soft white and black Conte crayons

Ebony pencil

Blending stump

Small hand pencil sharpener

Kneeded eraser

White eraser

Tape measure (minimum 12’)

Appropriate clothing for working with paint.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Lecture, discussion, audio-visual, group work, guided practice, and individual conferences.

EVALUATION METHOD:

  1. Students will be evaluated 80% on the successful application of skills through the completion of all homework assignments, written test, and in-class project work.
  2. Students will be evaluated 20% on professionalism and classroom participation as outlined in the SMC Performing Arts Handbook.

GRADING SCALE: The following grading scale will be in effect for this course:

A= 100-95 A- = 94-90 B+ = 89-86 B+ +85-83 B- = 82-80 C+ = 79-76

C = 75-73 C- = 72-70 D+ = 69-66 D = 65-63 D- = 62-60 F = below 60

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are allowed one free absence. You are required to support your second or future unexcused absences with valid documentation or with the consent of the instructor. However, the second and future absences will result in grade reduction, 5% of the attendance points per absences. Late work will not be accepted.

TESTING POLICY: If a student misses a test, they have until the next scheduled class session to make it up in the Testing Center.

NOTICE: Representative student work will be used as a part of SMC’s on-going curriculum assessment program.

OTHER COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

To encourage and enable students to:

  1. Learn the role of the Scenic Artist in theatre and other entertainment industries.
  2. Understand the relationship between the Scenic Artist and other members of the production team.
  3. Develop a basic understanding and familiarity of a wide range of the tools of the trade.
  4. Develop a basic understanding and familiarity of the components of paint.
  5. Understand the different types of paint and painting products used in the painting of scenery.
  6. Learn the methods of preparing and priming the different types of materials used in the construction of scenery.
  7. Understand the process used in painting scenery.
  8. Appreciate two-dimensional texture techniques.
  9. Appreciate three-dimensional texture and other special effects material.
  10. Understand additive and subtractive color theory.
  11. Continue work on drawing skills, specifically rendering form using highlight, shade, and cast shadow.
  12. Understand the theory and practice of trompe’l oeil painting.

ACCEPTABLE USE OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

All phones, iPods, Black Berries, palm pilots, pagers, laptops and other technological devices including devices capable of taking photographs must be turned off or placed on vibrate mode and may not be brought out during class. If you are expecting or receiving an urgent call, you are required to leave the classroom before answering. Violation of this policy will result in your removal from the classroom for the class period. Multiple violations of this policy will be referred to the appropriate dean for disciplinary action. Further details or ramifications of violations maybe found elsewhere in this syllabus. The instructor has the right to modify this policy to meet the needs of your course.

HONESTY POLICY Cheating or plagiarizing will absolutely not be tolerated at Southwestern Michigan College. Any student found cheating or plagiarizing material in any manner may be assigned a failing semester/session grade in this course. A second such incident while at SMC could result in suspension or expulsion from the institution. A student found in violation of this section of the syllabus will not be allowed to drop this course. Additional detail regarding cheating and/or plagiarism may be found elsewhere in this syllabus. For more detailed information consult the SMC Student Code of Conduct.

NOTICE: Information in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. The instructor, however, reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Southwestern Michigan College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques.

COURSE OUTLINE WEEKS

  1. The history of scene painting 1&2
  2. Training and working as a scenic artist 3
  3. The tools of the trade 4
  4. Two-dimensional techniques 5-7
  5. Three-dimensional techniques 8-10
  6. Color theory and paint 11&12
  7. Preparing painting scenery and the painting process 13&14
  8. Trompe’l oeil painting 15&16

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS % of GRADE

  1. Research the history of scenic art in an assigned 25% period and produce a written and oral presentation.
  2. Keep a sketchbook and complete a weekly drawing 20% focusing on rendering form and light.
  3. Mix color and solve a color mixing challenge. 15%
  4. Using traditional scenic artist tools explore two-dimensional 20% painting techniques.
  5. Using scenic painting techniques, recreate a specific 20% surface material and create a trompe’l oeil ornament on that surface.