CDA Surface Preparation & Painting Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When preparing a slick factory-finished wood surface for decorative painting, which step is most critical before applying a base coat?
- Sand lightly with 220-grit and wipe with a tack cloth (Correct answer)
- Apply two coats of gesso without sanding
- Wet the surface with water to open the grain
- Apply a topcoat sealer to lock in the sheen
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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?
- Wet-on-wet blending
- Double loading (Correct answer)
- Sideloading
- Float shading
Correct answer: Double loading
Double loading places two distinct colors on each side of the brush, creating a gradient that transitions across a single stroke.
Question 3: A decorative artist notices streaky brush marks when applying acrylic base coats to a wooden plaque. The most likely fix is to:
- Switch to a fan brush for all base coating
- Thin the paint slightly with water and use a foam roller or wide flat brush (Correct answer)
- Apply the paint thicker to cover the marks
- Use oil-based paint instead of acrylics
Correct 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.
Question 4: What is the purpose of applying a wash coat (very diluted paint) over a decoratively painted design?
- To seal the undercoat permanently
- To add a translucent tint that unifies colors and creates depth (Correct answer)
- To prime bare wood before base coating
- To replace a varnish topcoat
Correct 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.
Question 5: When painting on a terra cotta pot, why must the pot be sealed inside and out before decorative painting?
- To prevent moisture from wicking through the porous clay and lifting the paint (Correct answer)
- To add weight so the pot does not tip over
- To make the surface rough enough for paint adhesion
- To prevent the glaze from bonding too strongly
Correct 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.
Question 6: In decorative painting, 'scumbling' refers to which technique?
- Applying a thick impasto texture with a palette knife
- Lightly dragging or scrubbing a dry, nearly empty brush over a surface to create a broken-color effect (Correct answer)
- Pressing a sponge into wet paint to create a mottled background
- Stippling dots of color with the tip of a round brush
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which grit sequence is correct when sanding bare wood through progressively finer grits before applying a decorative base coat?
- 220 → 150 → 80
- 80 → 120 → 150 → 220 (Correct answer)
- 400 → 220 → 150
- Start and finish with 150 grit only
Correct 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.
CDA Surface Preparation & Painting Techniques 2
When preparing a slick factory-finished wood surface for decorative painting, which step is most critical before applying a base coat?