Technical Design Solutions for Theatre

Martin Gwinup

Texture Techniques Using Paper and Flexible Glue

 

One of the many problems faced by technicians, painters, and designers is that of achieving believable relief textures on stage. Here is an inexpensive process that can produce textures ranging from stucco to leather and is so simple that anyone — even those without scene-painting experience — can master it in a short amount of time.

MATERIALS

The process uses two basic materials: paper products and flexible glue. The paper chosen depends on the texture to be created. Used paper towels simulate rice mats or leather, toilet tissue resembles floorplanks, and paper doilies work well for wallpaper patterns. Wrinkled wrapping tissue looks convincingly like stained glass, and wadded ...