Waszut-Barrett Workshops – Page 2

Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: CITT, August 16, 2018

Jenny Knott and I completed the second day of our scene painting class at CITT. This was one of the most enjoyable classes that I have ever taught. It broke from my standard teaching protocol in a few ways; the class solely focused on techniques without replicating any particular composition. It provided a chance for the students to focus on painting techniques and contrast without getting lost in the details of the composition. It was wonderful to work with such enthusiastic and talented individuals. After final review, went across the street to the Meridian Center for the CITT picnic lunch outside.

The stage expo was in the afternoon and ran from 1:30PM to 5:30PM. For this part of the conference, I was stationed at the training and learning centre. My table was “Looking at the Past.” I had brought a variety of trinkets and historical materials that I had gathered during restoration projects over the years. The afternoon flew by as I chatted with a variety of conference attendees, including my table neighbor, Mary Dupuis. Mary’s table was “Repair Your Draperies Without Using Gaffer’s Tape.” The two of us are planning a fun expo project for next year’s conference for the Expo learning lab.

Part of the CITT Expo experience is also about collecting Bingo cards; they are later used that evening. We gathered at Kulley’s bar to enjoy dinner, swag bingo and the CITT auction. It is a hysterical event as the evening is a combination of stage jokes, social chatter, and juggling as many bingo cards as possible at once.

To be continued…

Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: CITT August 15, 2018

I am taking a brief break from my tales concerning the life and times of Thomas G. Moses to focus on CITT. This year
CITT is in St. Catharine’s, Ontario; this is the Canadian equivalent of USITT (United Institute of Theatre Technology). My company, Historic Stage Services LLC, was co-sponsoring a scene painting class with Rosco paint to explore foliage painting techniques. The class consisted of a diverse group of theatre practitioners interested in painting techniques. The class was scheduled from 9AM-5PM on August 15 and 9AM-12PM.

We focused on artistic process, compositional coloration, contrast and brush stroke. As part of the class, I worked up a quick composition in steps on a 4’ x 6’ flat. My sample was to explain techniques and coloration. The day was not about replicating any particular composition, but examining and practicing various techniques, as each student worked up their own project. We try to share a variety of tools and techniques that may be helpful for future projects.

Wendy Waszut-Barrett leading the scene painting class at CITT. Historic Stage Services LLC and Rosco co-sponsored the 2018 event.

My foliage sample to share various painting techniques and coloration for woodland scenes at CITT 2018.

The group decided to take the last ninety minutes of class to venture over to the Shaw Festival Prop and Scenery shop, as three staff members were taking the class. It was delightful to learn about the process, products and tools used by the artisans in each shop. There is nothing quite like being part of a group who all gasp as a tray of textured paint roller were brought out! After, the tour, some of us stopped by the No. 99 Wayne Gretzky Estates Distillery and Winery on our way back to the reception.

Paint sink in the Shaw Festival scene shop

The rest of our week is action packed as I finish conducting the scene painting class, share historical scenery artifacts as part of the learning lab, and visit the Hamilton Scottish Rite.

To be continued…

Teaching Historical Scenic Art Techniques at Cobalt Studios in White Lake, New York

I am back in Minneapolis!

Wendy Waszut-Barrett with her seven students at Cobalt Studios in White Lake, New York. The three day class focused in dry pigment painting and historical scene painting techniques.

Although a snow storm, rain and ice delayed my scheduled Sunday arrival at Cobalt Studio until the end of the day on Monday, I was able to work with the Cobalt students and out-of-town guests on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday was only a half day, as my flight departed in the early evening.

Over the course of 2 1/2 days, the majority of students completed three dry pigment projects. Immediately upon my arrival Monday afternoon, we looked at a power point presentation on historical scene painting techniques. For the remaining hour of the day, I taught the students how to work with dry pigments and diluted hide glue. They experimented with various colors on test flats to get familiar with this artistic medium, producing a variety of rich color combinations. Dry pigment mixed with diluted hide glue (called size) is a lovely medium to work with, and very different from premixed paint that comes in cans.

Each student had the opportunity to work up a painting from light to dark, with a series of glazes (in the English style that I have been describing in this blog). They also painted a composition that went from dark to light, using more solid colors (European style that I have been describing in this blog). The replicated sections from historic backdrops that I have photographed over the years and historic designs from the University of Minnesota Performing Arts Archives.

For all projects, we worked on speed, layout, color and technique. Rachel requested that the focus of the class this year was rocks, both natural and carved. However, the students had a chance to work on a little foliage and gold ornament as time permitted. For the most part, each student was able to select there project with minimal guidance from me.

Each composition was created from a palette, where the colors were individually mixed up and immediately applied to the canvas. They did not mix individual colors in cans. This is a very economical way to paint, as nothing is wasted or left over at the end. I love not having to worry about disposing any leftover paint.

Below are the students with all of the projects that they completed from Tuesday morning until Thursday noon.