ABSTRACT
Critical scenic painting skills are gained in part by a thorough knowledge of the tools of scenic art. Tools are the link between the scenic artist, the paint, and the surface. The basic tool of the scenic artist is the paintbrush. Brushes are the most important part of a painter's kit of tools. Brushes designed for detail work that requires more finesse need to be held and controlled in the same manner as a pencil and therefore have long, narrow handles similar to the handles found on watercolor brushes. Oval-ferrule brushes are excellent for laying in color, wet blends, and broad detail work because the bristles in these brushes maintain a tight edge. Brooms manufactured for floor scrubbing are also useful for starching and priming drops. Wooden dowel extensions are used with paint rollers, push brooms, and some styles of priming brushes that have handles that unscrew from the ferrule so that it can be fitted onto a dowel extension.
