Distressed Walls & Floors - The Art Of Faux Deterioration On Stage

Suet Laam Tsang (Laam) is a scenic artist and painter with a diverse range of skills that includes painting, texturing, drafting, faux finishes, and special effects. She recently used Rosco Supersaturated Paint as a solution for dated and distressed scenic elements designed for a production of Uncle Vanya at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. The set incorporated various techniques, including texturing, aging, wallpapering, stenciling, and distressing – each contributing to the overall atmosphere of the production. Laam shares how she created many of these distressed scenic techniques using Supersaturated paints below.

Uncle Vanya presents a complex narrative centered around a Russian family in the late 19^th century, and with this rich premise, Set Designer Silin Chen crafted a serene yet sentimental depiction of a distressed Russian home. As a scenic artist, I was excited to bring this vision to life, as there’s something uniquely enjoyable about distressing surfaces and creating textures that evoke a sense of decay and nostalgia.

One standout feature of the design is the wallpaper, which was created using a combination of spraying and sponging techniques with a stencil employing Rosco's Supersaturated Magenta paint. I chose this particular paint for its vibrant color and strong pigmentation, qualities that are often difficult to find in other brands. When applied through the touch-up gun, the paint went on smoothly, highlighting the exceptional quality of Rosco paint.

Another intriguing element of the set is the three-dimensional broken plaster wall corner. To achieve this effect, I layered bogus paper and joint compound to create a thin, easily breakable "wall." Once fully dried, I matched the color to the surrounding walls and used a putty knife to create a realistic break. The true authenticity of the distressed wall comes from the multiple color washes applied afterward.

For the distressed walls, I first used a joint compound to establish texture. Then, I applied four colors from the Rosco Supersaturated line – Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, Van Dyke Brown, and Chrome Green – to enhance the distressing effect. These earth-toned colors harmonize beautifully, and the multiple layers of color washes created a rich, saturated scene. One of the best aspects of Rosco Supersat is its versatility when thinned down; it works wonders for color washes and glazes, allowing for endless creative possibilities.

I used the same technique on the floor, where we aimed to recreate a red concrete surface marked by stains and imperfections. The Rosco Supersaturated paints enabled me to create these stains and layer them effectively, giving the floor an aged and authentic look that complements the overall design of the set.

In conclusion, the combination of these techniques and materials not only brought the world of Uncle Vanya to life but also allowed for a deeply immersive experience for the audience. Every detail, from the wallpaper to the distressed walls and floor, contributed to the narrative's emotional depth, reflecting the complexities of the characters and their environment. I am thrilled to share that the set received fantastic feedback, with audience members expressing their love for the show and its visual storytelling. The use of Rosco Supersaturated Paints greatly facilitated the creating process, allowing us to achieve the desired effects efficiently and effectively.

You can learn more about Laam’s scenic art work on her website: laamtsang.com, or follow @laam.tsl on Instagram. If you would like to learn more about the paint line Laam used to create the distressed scenery for Uncle Vanya, please visit the Supersaturated Paint Product Page on the Rosco website

Swipe through the photos below on the @geffenyale Instagram page to see some final stage shots of the design.