KJ Bateman

Whenever I go to a play at Theater Schmeater, I make time to visit my friends. I always enjoy seeing them and how well they are holding up. The Doctor needs to control that beak, however. Commedia dell'Arte Parte     The Doctor, Pulcinella and I

My first design planned for figures on the sides but the trick with these kinds of commissions is to balance the design with how long it takes to execute. The end result? Harlequin pattern on the sides and top. Looking down on the top with part of the figures visible. It took two hours to paint all those little triangles. Heads of The Doctor and Pulcinella drawn with Stabilo Aquarellable pencil. It has a soft lead so doesn't leave an indentation and is water-soluble, so melts into the paint.

Ta Da! The big reveal with detail shots! Want to see the mural in person? Attend a Theater Schmeater show; they're terrific. Or attend the Belltown Art Walk on the second Friday of the month. (Gentlemen, you will need an escort because it's in the Ladies' room) And that's how I make a mural. Thanks for following along.

My first idea was to have two figures on the side wall, Harlequin and Columbine who are often played as lovers. As I read more about the characters I decided to create a group setting. Color sketch Final composition on the wall. First color block in.  I am regretting Harlequin's pattern about now. The Captain's golden suit is based on a 15th Century illustration found  here . The red suit is Pantalone, rich and greedy. The white figure in back is Brighella, pugnacious and devious. And still having trouble with all those diamonds, I painted out Harlequin's arm. New arm, add hair and beard. More layers to deepen colors. Change beard color, add Brighella's mask and Pantalone's cape. 

This is the original Doctor. He has many costumes and masks. This is the Plague Doctor's mask. Supposedly, doctors wore masks with long beaks that they stuffed with herbs thought to repel the plague. Finished colored sketch with squares. This is a way to transfer images. Squares are drawn on the sketch and on the wall. In this case the squares are 2" and the ones on the wall are 12".  Whatever is in each square is copied to its corresponding square on the wall. Basic painting done, still needs some details. The Doctor lost his cane and his arm is covered by a cape.    The cane wasn't working and anytime you can eliminate a complicated thing like a hand, do it.  Why the tiny, tiny feet? Because they are cute and funny.

Theater Schmeater is moving into brand new digs. They felt the ladies' room was a little bland and asked me to do a mural with a Commedia dell'Arte theme. I love doing murals. I said, "Yes!" This is how I make a mural.  I took pictures of the space View from entrance Sink wall I made tracings of the photos and transferred them to sketch paper View from entrance Sink wall Off to the library to do research. Pierrot, Columbine and Harlequin were familiar to me. But there are dozens of others. The Doctor, Harlequin and Columbine Pierrot Pierrot