Lead Painter & Dyer for Transformative Costume Design

Oregon-Shakespeare-Festival; Ashland (OR); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, Oregon is seeking a Lead Painter / Dyer to join our Costume Department. This full-time, union position focuses on dyeing, painting, printing, and fabric manipulation for productions, with oversight of dyeing processes and collaboration with designers and production teams.

You will plan, create, and supervise fabric treatments, translate artistic concepts into colors and finishes, and mentor teammates while ensuring safety and deadlines are met.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with at least 5 years of Costume Shop theatre experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Fiber Reactive, Acid, Union, Direct, and Disperse dyes.
• Expertise in color matching, fabric manipulation, painting, printing and distressing.
• Ability to manage a high volume of work and meet production deadlines.
• Proficiency with Photoshop, Illustrator or Canva.

Responsibilities

• Dyeing & Surface Design: Create colors, textures, graphics and treatments with advanced techniques.
• Color & Design Execution: Develop precise dye formulas and color matches under varying lighting.
• Planning & Collaboration: Assess scope, develop work calendars, and prioritize projects with teams.
• Research & Documentation: Test fabrics and document formulas, finishes, and processes.
• Mentorship & Support: Share expertise and mentor colleagues and artisans.
• Shop & Safety Operations: Maintain Dye Shop equipment and comply with safety standards.

Skills

Dyeing

Surface design

Color matching

Fabric manipulation

Painting

Printing

Distressing

Photoshop

Illustrator

Canva

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Canva

Job description

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, Oregon is seeking a Lead Painter / Dyer to join our Costume Department. This full-time, union position focuses on dyeing, painting, printing, and fabric manipulation for productions, with oversight of dyeing processes and collaboration with designers and production teams.

You will plan, create, and supervise fabric treatments, translate artistic concepts into colors and finishes, and mentor teammates while ensuring safety and deadlines are met.