Spring 2024
This course, taught by Russ Borski, was one of my favorites at CSU. Over the semester, we made several projects using a range of painting techniques. Due to the size of the class, our color options were limited.
Wooden Crate
This wood grain texture was created using a dry brushing technique.
Brick
The base of this wall is a gradient and splatter, with stenciling on top to create the bricks. Highlight and shadows were glazed on for depth.
Wallpaper
This design was inspired by the citrus wallpaper from the Animal Crossing games. For this project, I created my own stencil.
Marble
This marble affect was achieved by heavily diluting paint with water – drying time was a big limiting factor here! To make the veins, we used feathers.
Final Project – Playing Card
Our final in this course was to translate a 2.5″x3.5″ playing card to a 4’x6′ flat. This deck, purchased by our professor from the Cleveland Museum of Art, featured a different artist’s work on each card.
I chose the ten of clubs because the colors and textures really spoke to me.
This project posed two significant challenges that scenic artists regularly encounter: accurately scaling up an image, and replicating a different artist’s style.
After transferring the grid to the flat and mapping out the design, I began adding layers of color. To replicate the texture, I used a natural sea sponge.
LOTS of sponging.
I added the border, title, and my signature, and then it was done!
