With striking images, practical ideas, and inexpensive innovations, Stage It Right will show you how to create great sets for skits, dramas, and musicals . . . or decorate for presentations of any kind.
Project
Sketch Book
New stuff we've worked on using
ideas from our book,
"Stage It Right"
A Minneapolis Church wanted to update their sanctuary. We put together a color palate that held together better than the gold wood, mauve carpet, and robin's egg blue of the current space.
Looking critically at the front, Arian felt it was a little like "a house without curtains," lacking a few finishing touches. The two crosses were redunant and the one poster seemed orphaned up there.
The wood ceiling is beautiful and warm, so we started with those golden tones . . . .
Before
OPTION 1. WARM & DRAMATIC
Brown walls complement the golden-toned ceiling. The mauve carpet already picks up the rose in the baptistry brick.
We could add rose or burgundy tones elsewhere in wreaths or tree pots to tie the color scheme together.
An artist should help choose the paint color, which would be chocolatey but with a rosy tint to blend with the carpet and brick.
Quality artificial ficus trees add warmth, color, and depth. We'd try some vines or small seasonal plants on the side ledges, too.
Since the paneling is dated, we thought of light sheers to pull the eye away from the walls and toward the cross. Have a church seamstress look for bargain material at a fabric store.
OPTION 2. BRIGHT AND AIRY.
Darker paint hides flaws and helps dated paneling disappear, but a cream wall would give the space a brighter, open feel.
We put a wide gold frame around the baptistry and molding at the base of the wall to give it a finished look. Plants are still good additions and add visual impact.
So . . . which option - dark drama or bright openness? It depends on the personality of the congregation. The photo doesn't show if there are windows on the side walls, which would also effect the color scheme.
For not much too money--a can of paint, maybe some trim, a bolt of sheer fabric and a bit of greenery--you can update your worship area. with a whole new look!
Costumes for a Proctor & Gambel Awards Show
Notes from Andrea VonAllmen, costume designer/performer : ''The theme was "Flourish," so I decided on an earthy and enchanting style--"A MidSummer Night's Dream" meets the Lost Boys from "Hook." The lead singers' costumes were more sophisticated--his a stiff military coat & hers a bold-colored flowy dress detailed with sticks, ivy, & gold.''
Big thanks to
KortneeKate Photography for the wonderful photos.
''The drummers' costumes were rugged: layered, earth-toned, high-texture basics. I tore edges & added patches for the bohemian look and wove in vines and leaves for enchanting, organic touches.
''Most costume pieces were made from items purchased at local thrift & craft stores. We spray painted the plastic masks, let dry, then used a hot glue gun to attach feathers, silk flowers, sequins, & gems.''
''I loved combining the contrasting elements---fairy dust & dirt, gold glitter & grunge. leather & leaf ''
Thanks for sharing your ideas with other creatives,
Andrea! Lena Wood
Fall Project: Basement Floor Re-Do
It's a typical cement block basement. One fun feature is the bathroom door, salvaged from an outhouse. We'd taken up the defunct carpet last year and weren't crazy about putting down more. Not much budget, so . . .
The fam loves vintage and rustic. I went
looking in Dad's shed of collected wood, and what I found there was just the inspiration for a rustic redo. (More on the great find later).
First the floor. Use the "Stage It Right"
method to create a stone floor: two shades of tan and leftover wall color to mix with one of
the tans to create a third color. Duct-tape an old paint brush onto a broom handle, clean the floor, and go!
Fight the urge to make it all neat and blendy. It's rocks!
Do one color at at time, covering roughtly a third of the floor, varying the strokes and patterns. Have photos of what you're wanting the finished product to look like. It will look messy at this staage.
Using dark (or light; your choice) paint, draw the stones. I went for irregular creekstones. As you draw, the texture and contour of each stone will sort of magically appear. Then use a wet brush to spatter on dark textures. Protect your walls; spatter can go anywhere!
[My floor was still too pale. With a cloth I
washed the floor with thin, watery gray.]
Fix any rock shapes that look wrong. Use a narrow brush to outline random stones with thin lines of dark wash to give them more dimension. Let dry for a day or so.
If you like, finish with a clear sealer.
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