Practice Test Geeks(CDA) Certified Decorative Artist Practice Test
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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

  1. What does 'floating' a color mean in tole and decorative painting?

    Answer: Loading one side of a damp flat brush with paint and blending it so color fades to water on the other side

    Floating uses a water-dampened flat brush loaded on one corner so color transitions to a transparent edge, ideal for shading and highlighting.

  2. Before applying acrylic paint to a galvanized metal surface, an artist should:

    Answer: Wipe it with white vinegar to etch the zinc coating, then apply metal primer

    White vinegar etches the zinc oxide layer on galvanized metal, giving primer and paint a surface they can bond to.

  3. A 'dirty brush' technique in decorative painting means the artist:

    Answer: Uses an unwashed brush still carrying the previous color to blend subtly into the next color

    The residual color in an uncleaned brush merges with the new color on the canvas, creating a natural, painterly transition.

  4. When using transfer paper to transfer a decorative pattern onto a dark surface, which color of transfer paper should be used?

    Answer: White or light-colored chalk transfer paper

    White or chalk-based transfer paper produces lines visible against dark backgrounds where black graphite lines would be invisible.

  5. Which medium is added to acrylic paint to slow drying time and extend the blending window on the palette?

    Answer: Retarder medium

    Retarder medium reduces the evaporation rate of water in acrylics, keeping paint workable longer for blending techniques.

  6. What is the recommended way to 'open' or condition a flat brush before floating a color?

    Answer: Dampen it with clean water and blot on a paper towel until it holds moisture but does not drip

    A brush that is damp but not dripping carries just enough water to create the transparent fade needed for a clean float.

  7. When painting on glass for a decorative project, which surface preparation method improves paint adhesion the most?

    Answer: Cleaning with rubbing alcohol to remove oils and fingerprints

    Oils and fingerprints prevent paint from bonding to smooth glass; wiping with rubbing alcohol leaves a clean, contaminant-free surface.