CA Artist Techniques & Mastery 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which painting technique involves applying thick, textured paint directly from a palette knife rather than a brush?
- Glazing
- Impasto (Correct answer)
- Sgraffito
- Grisaille
Correct answer: Impasto
Impasto is the technique of applying paint thickly to create visible texture and three-dimensional surface effects.
Question 2: In color theory, what term describes a color that has been mixed with black to lower its value?
- Tint
- Tone
- Shade (Correct answer)
- Hue
Correct answer: Shade
A shade is created by adding black to a pure hue, making it darker in value.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of applying a ground (gesso) to a canvas before painting?
- To add texture automatically
- To provide tooth and seal the surface for paint adhesion (Correct answer)
- To prevent color mixing
- To create an underpainting
Correct answer: To provide tooth and seal the surface for paint adhesion
Gesso seals porous surfaces and creates tooth so paint adheres properly without soaking in unevenly.
Question 4: In printmaking, which process involves drawing on a flat stone or plate with a greasy medium, relying on the repulsion of oil and water?
- Etching
- Woodcut
- Lithography (Correct answer)
- Aquatint
Correct answer: Lithography
Lithography exploits the chemical repulsion between oil-based drawing material and water to transfer images.
Question 5: Which compositional principle refers to the arrangement of elements that creates a sense of visual stability and equal weight across an artwork?
- Emphasis
- Rhythm
- Balance (Correct answer)
- Unity
Correct answer: Balance
Balance distributes visual weight — symmetrically or asymmetrically — so the composition feels stable.
Question 6: What does the term 'chiaroscuro' specifically describe in art?
- A technique using only earth tones
- The dramatic contrast between light and dark to create volume (Correct answer)
- Painting in multiple transparent layers
- Using complementary colors side by side
Correct answer: The dramatic contrast between light and dark to create volume
Chiaroscuro, from Italian meaning light-dark, describes the strong tonal contrast used to model three-dimensional form.
Question 7: When creating a glaze in oil painting, which medium is typically added to thin paint and maintain transparency?
- Gesso
- Turpentine alone
- Linseed oil or a glazing medium (Correct answer)
- Acrylic retarder
Correct answer: Linseed oil or a glazing medium
Linseed oil or a commercial glazing medium thins oil paint while preserving its transparency and adhesion.
CA Artist Techniques & Mastery 2
Which painting technique involves applying thick, textured paint directly from a palette knife rather than a brush?