Customer Reviews

Scenic Art for the Theatre, Second Edition: History, Tools, and Techniques

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I've decided to use this book as my primary text for a scenic painting course I'm teaching. The book is chock full of interviews with professionals, has a very nice section on the history of scenic painting, and really goes into depth in explaining why some things are done, why other things are not, and why sometimes you have to make it up. The authors go out of their way to make sure the reader understands the complicated relationship between the designer and the painter, and how the paint shop fits in to the larger context of producing a show. The examples and samples are all in color, and some of them are quite breathtaking. If you have a student thinking seriously about going into scenic design or scenic painting, you should make sure this book finds its way into their hands.

Scenic Art for the Theatre is a book you should own if:

1) You are interested in the history of scenic art.
2) You are a designer who needs to understand painting better.
3) Are interested in a career painting scenery, especially drops.
4) Most of all if you are a designer who needs to "paint their own stuff."

Scenic Art for the Theatre is by far the best painting book on the market. Susan Crabtree is a fabulous painter with years of experience, and also a GREAT teacher. I was very fortunate to take a class of hers at Cobalt studios, and even after designing and painting scenery for 25 years, she definitely improved my knowledge base.

Buy this book!

John Holloway

Love this book. Using it as a reference has saved me on more than one occasion.