Spring 2024 and Spring 2026 (TA)
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.
Table of Contents – Click to jump to each section
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 (2024)
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!
Wallpaper (2026)
In the spring semester of 2026, I returned to scenic painting as a teaching assistant. During this course (now instructed by Cameron Michalak), I painted several demonstration projects for the class. This wallpaper project was one such demonstration.
This project served as a review of several techniques the class had learned previously, as well as an introduction to stenciling.
I used a scumbling technique to achieve the base coat. Next, I applied the wallpaper pattern with a stencil, and spattered on top with translucent paint to add more texture. Lastly, I dry brushed to create the wood baseboard.
