Working as a Scenic Artist, and Set Decorator in the Toronto Movie and Television Industry has been a fantastic experience for me.

This business teaches a vast array of different art techniques and multi-faceted skills not taught anywhere else in the real world at the same time.  I am proud to be a member in such a fantastic pool of talented Artists and Designers in the Canadian Film Industry for almost 20 years.

It has enabled me to use my life experience and education in order to produce / reproduce art and specialty finishes “in the style of” and exposed me to the world through reference photographs and travel.

As Scenic Artists, we do many finishes more often than artwork. For example, we produce rusted and worn metals finishes, aged wood, marble, stone, and metallic finishes, peely, crackled surfaces etc, with paint, some of which are shown here. We have to use fast-drying paints and glazes because the Production needs the work done by “yesterday” in order to shoot it “today”.

There have been several professionals along the way who have altered, re-directed, and definitely affected my ‘way’ and I would like to thank them here:

Kathy Jones
Production Manager in Commercials who gave me my first jobs in various departments almost 20 years ago.

Jane Siberry
Musician,- For being critical.

Rebecca Jenkins
Musician & actor, -For being a great support

Stephen Reynolds
Program Director, Canadian Film Centre - For encouraging me to get involved in short films production

Tracy Peters
PM/ Director, For letting me be myself on the job.

Jasna Stefanovic
Production Designer in Film, - for having different ideas, and for trusting me in mine.

Ingrid Jurek
Production Designer in Film - For being tough.

Tim Murton
Key Scenic Artist and accomplished Visual Artist - For ttrusting me.

Charles Sharun
Senior Scenic,- For being passionate about Scenic Art

Jeff Helgeson
Key Scenic,- For his scenic skills and being a great Key.

John Leonetti
DP in Film, -for his exceptional ‘vision’, and a great guy to work for.

And to many many others in the industry who are not forgotten, thanks for the impact!

Susan E. Tanton.