“A pounce is used for tracing designs on scenery. It is made by first drawing the design on paper of a reasonable weight. The design in then “pricked” with a pounce wheel or with a pin mounted on a short stick. The backside of the pounce paper is sanded lightly with sandpaper to remove the brr from the holes. Then rubbing with a pounce bag, an impression of the design in made on the scene. Note that the design is drawn once by hand so that the pounce method results in great economy of time. The repeat pattern has a “register” mark to fit the spacing which has been laid out on the scene. When the entire pounce process is completed, the scene is ready for painting.”
Excerpt from Bradford Ashworth’s “Notes on Scene Painting” (1952, page 30)
My professional note: I had pounce bags. They create dust, you inhale it, your hands are covered with charcoal dust, and there is a fine layer of grey everywhere. About twenty years ago, I started a new process that saved time, energy, grime, and money. I trace the pounce outline with a piece of jumbo charcoal, then, with a paper towel or rag, I wipe it off of the surface. Wiping it off of the surface prevents the spread of airborne particles and surface contaminants.
Using jumbo charcoal to trace the pattern and transfer the image is MUCH faster than a pounce bag from a simple time standpoint. The pattern is also transferred directly to the surface without any of the charcoal dust leaking through and spreading on the canvas. Quick, easy, fast and far less messy.
Below is an example of a pounce pattern that remained visible after 90 years. It is from the Fort Scott Scottish Rite scenery collection, ca, 1924.
