CDA Surface Preparation & Painting Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'floating' a color mean in tole and decorative painting?
- Spraying paint from an airbrush at a distance
- Loading one side of a damp flat brush with paint and blending it so color fades to water on the other side (Correct answer)
- Applying paint with a sea sponge for texture
- Thinning paint until it is as fluid as ink
Correct 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.
Question 2: Before applying acrylic paint to a galvanized metal surface, an artist should:
- Spray it with a rust-inhibiting primer designed for galvanized metal
- Wipe it with white vinegar to etch the zinc coating, then apply metal primer (Correct answer)
- Sand it with coarse 40-grit sandpaper and paint immediately
- Apply gesso as the only primer needed
Correct 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.
Question 3: A 'dirty brush' technique in decorative painting means the artist:
- Uses an unwashed brush still carrying the previous color to blend subtly into the next color (Correct answer)
- Intentionally mixes pigment with fine sand for texture
- Applies paint without cleaning the palette between colors
- Paints over a still-wet base coat without rinsing the brush
Correct 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.
Question 4: When using transfer paper to transfer a decorative pattern onto a dark surface, which color of transfer paper should be used?
- Black graphite paper
- White or light-colored chalk transfer paper (Correct answer)
- Red carbon paper
- Blue carbon paper
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which medium is added to acrylic paint to slow drying time and extend the blending window on the palette?
- Retarder medium (Correct answer)
- Glazing medium
- Matte medium
- Gel medium
Correct answer: Retarder medium
Retarder medium reduces the evaporation rate of water in acrylics, keeping paint workable longer for blending techniques.
Question 6: What is the recommended way to 'open' or condition a flat brush before floating a color?
- Dip it in rubbing alcohol and wipe on a cloth
- Dampen it with clean water and blot on a paper towel until it holds moisture but does not drip (Correct answer)
- Load it fully with paint on both sides, then wipe one side clean
- Soak it in linseed oil for 10 minutes
Correct 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.
Question 7: When painting on glass for a decorative project, which surface preparation method improves paint adhesion the most?
- Heating the glass in an oven before painting
- Cleaning with rubbing alcohol to remove oils and fingerprints (Correct answer)
- Sanding with 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper under running water
- Applying a coat of white gesso
Correct 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.
CDA Surface Preparation & Painting Techniques 3
What does 'floating' a color mean in tole and decorative painting?