Canvas Painting Tools 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Stiff hog-bristle brushes are most commonly associated with which medium?
- Watercolor
- Oil and acrylic (Correct answer)
- Ink wash
- Gouache glazing
Correct answer: Oil and acrylic
Hog bristles are stiff enough to move thick oil and acrylic paint and hold textured strokes.
Question 2: What is the 'ferrule' on a paintbrush?
- The wooden handle
- The metal band holding bristles to the handle (Correct answer)
- The tip of the bristles
- A type of brush cleaner
Correct answer: The metal band holding bristles to the handle
The ferrule is the metal sleeve that clamps the bristles to the handle.
Question 3: Which tool supports the canvas upright while you paint?
- Mahlstick
- Easel (Correct answer)
- Palette cup
- Stretcher bar
Correct answer: Easel
An easel holds the canvas at a comfortable upright angle for painting.
Question 4: A mahlstick is used to do what while painting?
- Mix paint colors
- Steady the hand for detail work (Correct answer)
- Stretch canvas
- Apply varnish evenly
Correct answer: Steady the hand for detail work
A mahlstick rests against the canvas to steady the painting hand without smudging wet paint.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a palette cup clipped to your palette?
- Holding water or medium close at hand (Correct answer)
- Storing dry pigment
- Cleaning the ferrule
- Sharpening pencils
Correct answer: Holding water or medium close at hand
A palette cup holds solvent, medium, or water within easy reach while painting.
Question 6: Which brush is best for applying a smooth, even varnish over a finished painting?
- Liner brush
- Wide flat or hake brush (Correct answer)
- Round detail brush
- Fan brush
Correct answer: Wide flat or hake brush
A wide flat or soft hake brush spreads varnish evenly across the surface.
Question 7: What does a 'wash brush' help an artist achieve?
- Tight detail lines
- Broad, even layers of diluted paint (Correct answer)
- Thick impasto peaks
- Stippled dots
Correct answer: Broad, even layers of diluted paint
Wash brushes are large and soft, laying down broad, even washes of thinned paint.
Canvas Painting Tools 3
Stiff hog-bristle brushes are most commonly associated with which medium?