The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-24

in the Past Ten Years-Not Drop of
OIL Used" Taking Up n Scene New
Ideas to the Front.
"Cau I tell You anything new about scenic
artists and scene painting.' echoed promi-
ncnt member of that most important and
essential order Of persons whose work is 50
necessary to the success Of any theatrical pro
ductiun, III response to a question put to him
hy a reporter. The scene, the paint room of
Il popular theatre. The artist was busily en-
GageI il painting a handsome stained glass
tran~"m ia a drawing room set to be used in
the play u Ie presented shortly.
"N,'f " continued the artist as he deity ap-
pIied tIr necessary colors, you know there's
ava olI -tvir, that there's nothing new under
III" .uH- Int perhaps | may bc able to give
yoU -..-..taiug that hasn't become n chest
mt. great advance has been made in the
art 4. -.aee painting in the past ten years.
Ton y.sr- ago the people took scenic artists
for ordinary house painters, and our work
was uDl .aHb,j upon as an art, but now il IS
Regarded u, yIlat light, and art critics are tax
ing uu Interest III our efforts, The young
artists 'f fi.. present time don't believe in the
conventional ideas Of the old artists of a dozen
year a-. III the young men who Were
brought mp by the old heads got their inspira-
ton from them, and then improved upon
their methods.
Some people think that scenic artists are
very ordinary individuals who know nothing
about artistic work This Is an erroneous
impre-sl"n, the majority of rs are as ac-
CcmUii-.r.. rs the best class of oil or water
color painters pG course there are all grades
of Serui' ar -. ranging from tho trIe artist
who talk. g. Ia what he docs down To-
th.-n .r ji.ir brushes in q loose AMI
haI'!'.i manner without regard to Finish
or c-ttH..ivcUoss.
.-gttIS az SCENE PAINTING.
"t,'s .,ls+ ago the scenic painters depended
upon iH. .rinrs for effect but now thy
paint ta .rn and depend upon the value OF
the tiuf~, H.. same n a landscape or marine
artist. II 81" newspapers, instead of saying
that ti:2 management Of n theatre deserved
credit for the manner IN which piece was
m"uHfs ], would cri,icisc the scenery, the art
it would fg,l that there was something to
T. work for and apply himself more earnestly
and carefully To his task Many people wLo
arr not familiar with the details of scene
painting imagine that the work IS done in oil
Not drop Of oil is used, as, in the first place,
it would Lc too expensive. Then, again. IL
would be in greater danger from fire, and the
scenes would be 50 difficult 70 handle. The
only materials used Icy the artist are glue,
water, alum, soap and the coIorS, the latter of
which are Of good quality.
The canvas TO he painted IS suspended by
Tpp--, anil can be raised or lowered 50 that
any portion of IL win be handy for the artist
to apply The rolors. The palette consists of a
solidiy built table about six or eight feet long.
of ordinary height, and mounted on rollers
so that i Tan he moved to any part of the
painters bridge most convenient to the
artist. The top Of the table IS filed with
gooi siZ"d tim plates, which contain the
Necessary r"lrrS. In the center IS q plate used
for mixing mp IN. required tints. The artist
works rapidly, and produces striking and
hand-Du.. effects with few quick strokes OF
his brush. Close at hand, or in the daylight
the scenes present q coarse appearance, but
when in use on the stage tho brilliant light
thrown upon them produces Il softoning and
smooth effect
~FNKING UP \ SCENE"
y great lell Of what is known rs taking
up s''"r' Is INDUCED in, especially where
no intricate or elaborate scenery is required,
AMI when The manager does not wish to GO
To any unnecessary expense. For instance,
the back scene ot parlor set with folding
doors ully b. il use one week, and the next
1t viii hc turned around and painted on the
back Up represent an archway or an entrance
TO "A prison Nearly all the ordinary scenery
used IH g theatre Is painted on the front
and i.1"E. H' Is thus mad" 70 10 double ser
vice
Av..s ns TWO before the opening Of a play
tho ~.... artist of 4 theatre receives what is
KNOWN a tHs scene plOtS-miuiature fac-sim-
il,~s -. b merry required for the play-so
THAI r.. .. know Just what Is desired of him,
ant ". ..-o. goaS ahead with his work, in
ou.ar 'H ..sEa everything in readiness for the
hrs u-l. "t ;hc production. In cases of
cEt' -r -Ivctarular productions he fire.
qUss'.. 'E~ ~.yrrai months given him in
wA-- ai..-r- a-J the production full
ju-t.- Single i;.,r &c scenery alone i
quite -- vi. -.-' 10 theatre, and at first class
h.ir.~ .a.is.- combinations run up into
thy'rrE.I 4. dollars in a year Chicago
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