Progressive Perspective Drawing For Theatrical Scene Design

Progressive Perspective Drawing for Theatrical Scene Design provides theatrical scenic designers with the tools to create quick and precise perspective drawings. The book explores three methods of perspective drawings at progressive skill levels – the Grid Method, the Frame Method, and the Freehand with References Method – allowing scenic designers to build on their drawing technique consistently. Replete with discussions on pencil techniques, step by step instructions, and set sketches from professional set design projects, this volume guides readers from the basics of the cube system to the more challenging freehand drawing. Progressive Perspective Drawing for Theatrical Scene Design is an excellent resource for students of Scene Design, Stage Design, Set Design, Scenography, Stagecraft, and Design for Theatre, as well as an accessible self-study guide for those with an interest in scene design. The book includes access to downloadable pre-made perspective grids, to help readers familiarize themselves with one and two vanishing point grids.

William H. Pinnell first issues an "invitation to investigate the magic of perspective and explore its wondrous surround," then escorts the beginning as well as the advanced student through the complex process of artistically conveying scene designs via the scenographic drawing. Step by step, he illustrates the principles of perspective that apply to stage design. Starting with a brief history of perspective, he furnishes all of the information designers will need to transform a blank surface into a unique expression of theatrical space. As Pinnell makes clear, a stage setting must be fully planned far in advance of its actual construction. Each designer must have a picture of how the setting will appear when it is ready for opening night. The scenic designer must then be able to render that picture, to communicate his or her ideas through a series of initial sketches that, combined with directorial consultation, eventually evolve into an approved plan for the actual setting. Many of these plans take the form of working drawings--floor plans, elevations, and the related schematics necessary for the shop staff to construct the design. Pinnell insists that as closely as possible, the model--the graphic and tangible rendering of the designer's vision--must reflect what the actual stage set will look like when the audience sees it in the performance. His concern is to show how one faithfully and accurately represents the actual, finished stage design through theatrical rendering. Pinnell achieves this goal through an introduction and six chapters. He provides the historical background in a chapter titled "The Perspective Phenomenon," which covers preclassical Greece, Greek and Roman notions of perspective, and the concepts of the Italian Renaissance. "The Perspective Grid: Learning the Basics" deals with drafting tools, drawing the perspective grid, and the basics of measuring on the perspective grid. "The Perspective Grid: Expanding the Basics" discusses transferring a simple interior setting, plotting curves, and creating levels. "The Perspective Grid: Variations" analyzes the thrust stage, the raked stage, and the two-point perspective grid. "Coloration and Form" explains varied backgrounds, color media, and rendering with gouache. Finally, "Presentation" explains protection, framing, duplication, and the portfolio. Except for the intricacies of the human anatomy, there is nothing a designer must draw scenically that is not covered in this book.

Scene Design: Rendering and Media is intended to help students or practitioners improve their skills at making finished renderings of scene designs for theater. The book demonstrates the process of creating the renderings through real world methods and techniques. Chapters are dedicated to a detailed discussion of various tools including drawing, light and shadow, color mixing, painting, figures, and other media, and the book is rife with colorful and inspirational examples.

Drawing and Rendering for Theatre, A Practical Course for Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Designers is designed for those of you who are theatrical designers and want to improve your drawing and rendering skills. This gorgeous full-color book includes many examples of student drawings, analyzed and critiqued for areas that need improvement. It also includes numerous examples of design renderings by professional theatrical designers. In addition to the general sections on drawing and painting, it includes separate chapters on costume, scenic, and lighting rendering that include information specific to these design areas.

The Craft and Art of Scenic Design: Strategies, Concepts, and Resources explores how to design stage scenery from a practical and conceptual perspective. Discussion of conceptualizing the design through script analysis and research is followed by a comprehensive overview of execution: collaboration with directors and other designers, working with spaces, developing an effective design process, and the aesthetics of stage design. This book features case studies, key words, tip boxes, definitions, and chapter exercises. Additionally, it provides advice on portfolio and career development, contracts, and working with a union. This book was written for university-level Scenic Design courses.

This invaluable guide for amateur and semi-professional groups, high school students, and even puppeteers offers completely practical and specific design and construction instructions for sets, scenery, stage furniture, and props. Handy tips show how to cut down on wasted materials, save time, and work out sightlines. Includes 110 drawings and diagrams.

"For a scenic designer the need to represent and experiment with design ideas on paper as well as the need to realize those ideas on stage makes a working knowledge of perspective an essential tool. Geared primarily to those who wish to develop their understanding of the "visual rules" of perspective in order to facilitate scenic rendering and scenic execution, this text thoroughly details the development of a perspective drawing; drawing tools and their use ; the development of a perspective grid and the use of the grid in perspective drawing ; and the development of a lan perspective grid and it's use in perspective drawing."-- Back cover.

The Art of Theatrical Design: Elements of Visual Composition, Methods, and Practice addresses the core principles that develop the student designer into a true artist, providing a foundation that ensures success with each production design. This text concentrates on the skills necessary to create effective, evocative, and engaging theatrical designs that support the play contextually, thematically, and visually. It gives students the grounding in core design principles they need to approach design challenges and make design decisions in both assigned class projects and realized productions. This book features: In-depth discussions of design elements and principles for costume, set, lighting, sound, and projection designs Coverage of key concepts such as content, context, genre, style, play structure and format, and the demands and limitations of various theatrical spaces Essential principles, including collaboration, inspiration, conceptualization, script analysis, conducting effective research, building a visual library, developing an individual design process, and the role of the critique in collaboration Information on recent digital drawing tool technology, such as the Wacom® Inkling pen, Wacom® Intuos digitizing tablets and digital sketching, and rendering programs such as Autodesk® Sketchbook Pro and Adobe® Photoshop® Chapter exercises and key terms designed to provide an engaging experience with the material and to facilitate student understanding

Veteran theater designers Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer have consulted with a broad range of seasoned theater industry professionals to provide an exhaustive guide full of sound advice and insight. With clear examples and hands-on exercises, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design illustrates the way in which the three major areas of theatrical design--scenery, costumes, and lighting--are intrinsically linked. Attractively priced for use as a classroom text, this is a comprehensive resource for all levels of designers and directors. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.