How to Paint a Backdrop for Theatre
Painting a backdrop for your theater production can help make it look more professional. Professional backdrop painters stretch the muslin on a large frame to keep it steady while they work. You can create a simple frame in your workspace and tilt it against the wall or keep it on the floor while you work. Professional backdrop painters also use scenic paint which is designed for use on muslin or canvas and that will stretch when you move the backdrop. You can purchase the items you'll need at a well-stocked art supply store and a hardware store.
Things You'll Need
- Four 2 x 4s
- Saw
- Nail gun
- Flame retardant muslin
- Staple gun
- Scenic paint
- Water
- Paintbrushes
- Scenic sealant
Instructions
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1
Make a wooden frame to stretch the muslin across. Cut two pieces of plywood that are the same length as the width of the backdrop. Cut another two pieces of plywood four inches shorter than the height of the backdrop.
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2
Place the long pieces parallel to each other and put the short pieces at either end so that they are in between the long pieces.
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3
Nail the pieces of wood together with a nail gun.
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4
Stretch the muslin across the wooden frame and staple it to the frame with a nail gun.
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5
Water down 3 cups of white scenic paint until it is the consistency of skim milk. The amount of water you need to do this will vary depending on which brand of white scenic paint you use. Use more white scenic paint if your backdrop is very large.
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6
Paint the entire muslin surface with the watered down scenic paint. This is called sizing. It will seal the fibers so that they don't absorb all of the next coat of paint and cause the color to bleed. Allow the sizing to dry completely.
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7
Draw the backdrop scene onto the muslin with a pencil.
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8
Paint the backdrop scene onto the muslin with scenic paint. Scenic paint is designed for use on flame retardant muslin and complies with various safety regulations for theater backdrops. Paint from the top down to avoid drips. Paint the scene's background before painting the foreground. Let the paint dry completely.
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9
Brush a scenic sealant on the surface of the backdrop. Let it dry completely before installing the backdrop and the frame on stage or before taking out the staples.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not apply thick coats of paint as it will crack when dry and the backdrop is moved.
References
- Photo Credit Im Theater image by Alexander Tarasov from Fotolia.com
