Surface Preparation & Painting Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real CDA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Surface Preparation & Painting Techniques flashcards as text
When preparing a slick factory-finished wood surface for decorative painting, which step is most critical before applying a base coat?
Answer: Sand lightly with 220-grit and wipe with a tack cloth
Lightly sanding a slick surface scuffs it enough to give the base coat mechanical tooth for adhesion, and the tack cloth removes all dust.
Which painting technique involves loading two colors on opposite sides of a flat brush and blending them on the palette before applying to the surface?
Answer: Double loading
Double loading places two distinct colors on each side of the brush, creating a gradient that transitions across a single stroke.
A decorative artist notices streaky brush marks when applying acrylic base coats to a wooden plaque. The most likely fix is to:
Answer: Thin the paint slightly with water and use a foam roller or wide flat brush
Slightly thinned acrylic flows more evenly, and a foam roller or wide flat brush reduces visible brush strokes on flat surfaces.
What is the purpose of applying a wash coat (very diluted paint) over a decoratively painted design?
Answer: To add a translucent tint that unifies colors and creates depth
A wash coat tones the entire design with a sheer layer of color that ties elements together and can suggest shadow or atmosphere.
When painting on a terra cotta pot, why must the pot be sealed inside and out before decorative painting?
Answer: To prevent moisture from wicking through the porous clay and lifting the paint
Terra cotta is highly porous; sealing it stops moisture migration that would cause paint to peel or bubble.
In decorative painting, 'scumbling' refers to which technique?
Answer: Lightly dragging or scrubbing a dry, nearly empty brush over a surface to create a broken-color effect
Scumbling uses a stiff, nearly dry brush worked in irregular circular or scrubbing motions to deposit broken, airy color over a dried layer.
Which grit sequence is correct when sanding bare wood through progressively finer grits before applying a decorative base coat?
Answer: 80 → 120 → 150 → 220
Sanding moves from coarse (80) to progressively finer grits (120, 150, 220) so each stage removes the scratches left by the previous grit.