Book excerpt: The Scenic Charge Artist’s Toolkit is a comprehensive guide to managing a theatrical paint shop. This book introduces the many different options available to a scenic charge artist, as well as the fundamental expectations and responsibilities of planning and running a shop. From the pre-production organization, budgeting, sampling, and sealing, to practical lessons in efficiency and shop maintenance, this text provides options to organize a paint shop no matter the size of the shop, show, or company. Filled with templates for labor and time estimation; tips on leadership and collaboration; techniques for painting and planning textures efficiently; and sustainable practices in health, safety, and wellness, this book provides guidance and practices to successfully manage the inevitable changes in theatre planning and production. It also offers tips and reference material on employment options, gaining employment, and excelling in this profession. Written for early career scenic artists in theatre and students of Scenic Art courses, The Scenic Charge Artist’s Toolkit fills in the gaps of knowledge for scenic artists in the budgeting, planning, and running of shops at summer stock, educational institutions, or freelance working environments. The text includes access to additional online resources such as extended interviews, downloadable informational posters and templates for budgeting and organizing, and videos walking through the use of templates and the budgeting process.