BRICK Scene Painting Drama 3315 Gilliam

Did you know that in the 19^th century the city of St. Louis burned to the ground? After that, the city government passed a law that no building or residence could be built out of wood. Therefore, when you go to St. Louis, take note. The majority of all structures are made out of brick and stone. And, what a variety there is.

Brick is a very common paint treatment for exteriors and any show that takes place in St. Louis. It is a quick technique. A crew of semi-inexperienced painters can be successful depending on the detail. It is a great technique for high school students.

Approach brick like you do other techniques. Analysis the elevation for COLOR, PATTERN, and FINISH or TEXTURE.

Audiences read "brick" onstage because of the repetitive pattern. Color comes from the clays used to make the brick. The finish or texture tells us a lot about the life of the structure and the environment. Crisp brick are usually new. Bricks that may be missing edges show age. Some brick have a gloss glaze. There are hundred of different kinds and possibilities. If you are designing a show, select a color and texture to fit your show. The pattern pretty much stays the same.

House bricks are, I believe, 2 1/2" x 8 1/2". However, for the stage and because I often use volunteer help, I make my bricks 3" x 9". It is easier to measure. Mortar is normally 1/2". I tend to make it 3/4", as that is the size of inexpensive masking tape.

There are numerous ways to paint bricks. As you develop as a scenic artist, you can invent your own techniques. I will demonstrate a few techniques but for this assignment you will work on one.

SELECT THREE BRICK DETAILS AS POSSIBLE PAINT ELEVATIONS.

Position and paint your door the long way.

1. Paint the entire door the color of the mortar in your elevation. Note that mortar is NOT FLAT and usually not a consistent flat color. It is broken up. As you apply your mortar, get some motion into it. Do a QUICK wet blend. Spatter it to give it movement and interest. Do not spend a lot of time with this layer, as most of this application will be covered. ALLOW TO COMPLETELY DRY.

2. Measure up 9" and snap a line. This will be the cement or concrete foundation. If you are up for the challenge and depending on your style of brick, you could do a subtle fieldstone.

3. Now, measure up 3" on both sides of your door, then 3 3/4", then 3 3/4" until you are finished. Snap lines across the door.

4. Now on top of the first 3", run 3/4" masking tape across the door. Press it down but make certain IT IS STRAIGHT. Mortar does not curve. An audience will see this detail. Repeat.

5. Then go back and measure over 9", then 9 3/4", etc., on the horizontal. Then stagger the next row.

6. You do not need to snap lines but you must be able to place the vertical mortar perpendicular to the horizontal. Use a framing square if necessary. I use my eyes. Again, press down the tape. Not so hard that when you pull it up, the tape will lift up the paint. But strong enough so the paint will not run under the tape.

7. Now apply your brick color. Most brick have variations within. Do this wet. You can scrubble, dab, wet blend, use your hands, sponge … whatever. Make it interesting. If you are in a hurry, use two colors.

8. Allow to semi dry. Then spatter with fine spatter to give the brick more surface texture.

9. Then while semi dry, pull up the tape. Some paint will probably run under the tape but if it is not too bad, it will have variety to the brick shape. You can always touch it up.

You are not done. Brick stick out from the mortar creating cast shadows. Now you need to shadow and highlight the brick.

Select a direction for the sun. When in doubt, I always seem to have the sun come from stage right. Be consistent.

10. Mix a shadow color. Remember SHADOWS ARE TRANSPARENT. If your mortar is gray, mix a color dark … a Payne's gray or blue gray. It needs lots of water.

11. Attach your 1/2" brush to a bamboo pole. Rest a lining stick on top of the brick on the bottom side to cast a shadow into the mortar, not on the brick. Load your brush with the shadow color getting rid of the excess and then quickly run a shadow line across the entire door.

12. Move up and repeat.

13. Then, do the same on the vertical. If the sun is coming from stage right, the cast shadow will appear on the stage left side of the brick. But, it will not go all the way through the top mortar; rather the shadow will start at a 45-degree angle to the top of the brick and intersect with the bottom shadow. I will demonstrate.

14. Now mix your high light. This should be a super, super, diluted white. It must be transparent. All you are attempting is to create a subtle high value brick color. Paint this onto the brick, NOT THE MORTAR, using your 1/4" brush.

15. Vary the thickness. You may want to skip a few bricks as well to give your painting a sense of randomness.

DRY and then step back. Touch it up.