How to paint a portrait
  • 1. What is the first step in painting a portrait?
A) Applying the base coat of paint
B) Choosing the background color
C) Sketching the basic shapes and proportions
D) Mixing the colors
  • 2. What type of brush is generally best for blending?
A) Soft, round brush
B) Angular brush
C) Stiff, flat brush
D) Fan brush
  • 3. Which of the following is most important when observing your subject?
A) Paying attention to light and shadows
B) Measuring the subject's height
C) Thinking about the subject's personality
D) Memorizing the subject's clothing
  • 4. What is the purpose of an underpainting?
A) To seal the canvas
B) To add details
C) To create texture
D) To establish values and composition
  • 5. What is a glaze?
A) A type of varnish
B) A thick, opaque layer of paint
C) A thin, transparent layer of paint
D) A primer for the canvas
  • 6. Which color temperature is generally used to portray shadows?
A) Cool
B) Neutral
C) Bright
D) Warm
  • 7. What is 'alla prima' painting?
A) Painting with only primary colors
B) Painting from a photograph
C) Painting in a highly detailed style
D) Painting wet-on-wet in one session
  • 8. What is the purpose of 'sight-size' painting?
A) To match the size of the painting to the subject's perceived size
B) To use a magnifying glass while painting
C) To paint in miniature
D) To paint only what you can see in one glance
  • 9. Which medium is most often used with oil paint?
A) Gesso
B) Linseed oil
C) Water
D) Acrylic medium
  • 10. What is the 'golden ratio' often used for in portrait painting?
A) Composition and placement of features
B) Determining the lighting
C) Choosing the canvas size
D) Mixing colors
  • 11. What is a common mistake when painting skin tones?
A) Using too much pure color directly from the tube
B) Not using enough colors
C) Mixing the colors too thoroughly
D) Using too many colors
  • 12. What is the purpose of using a limited palette?
A) To speed up the painting process
B) To save money on paint
C) To create color harmony
D) To create a more realistic painting
  • 13. What is 'chiaroscuro'?
A) A color mixing technique
B) A type of canvas
C) A type of brushstroke
D) The use of strong contrasts between light and dark
  • 14. What type of lighting is generally most flattering for portraits?
A) Harsh, direct lighting
B) Fluorescent lighting
C) Backlighting
D) Soft, diffused lighting
  • 15. What is the purpose of using a viewfinder?
A) To magnify the subject
B) To protect your eyes from the light
C) To hold your brushes
D) To help with composition and framing
  • 16. What is 'value' in painting?
A) The intensity of a color
B) The lightness or darkness of a color
C) The hue of a color
D) The brand of paint
  • 17. Which of these is important for capturing a likeness?
A) Detailed background
B) Smooth blending
C) Accurate proportions
D) Bright colors
  • 18. What does 'fat over lean' mean in oil painting?
A) Use more expensive paint in the top layers
B) Paint the fat parts of the subject first
C) Each subsequent layer should have more oil than the previous one
D) Each subsequent layer should be thinner than the previous one
  • 19. What is a good way to practice painting portraits?
A) Painting portraits from life
B) Painting portraits from your imagination
C) Painting landscapes
D) Painting abstract art
  • 20. What type of canvas is commonly used for oil painting?
A) Glass
B) Linen or cotton canvas
C) Paper
D) Wood
  • 21. What is the purpose of a mahl stick?
A) To hold your palette
B) To mix paint
C) To steady your hand while painting details
D) To clean your brushes
  • 22. What is a good starting point for mixing skin tones?
A) Only brown
B) A base of red, yellow, and blue
C) Just white and black
D) A single pre-mixed skin tone color
  • 23. Which part of the face is often used as a key landmark for proportions?
A) The ears
B) The eyes
C) The nose
D) The mouth
  • 24. What is the benefit of using a toned canvas?
A) It helps to establish values quickly
B) It makes the colors brighter
C) It prevents the paint from cracking
D) It protects the canvas from moisture
  • 25. What is the purpose of varnishing a portrait?
A) To make the colors brighter
B) To protect the paint and unify the surface
C) To add texture to the painting
D) To allow you to make changes to the painting later
  • 26. When painting hair, what is important to remember?
A) Paint each strand individually
B) Use a very fine brush
C) Use a lot of highlights
D) Paint the overall shapes and values, not individual strands
  • 27. What is the term for the area of sharpest focus in a painting?
A) Focal point
B) Foreground
C) Background
D) Midground
  • 28. What is the purpose of squinting at your subject?
A) To protect your eyes from the light
B) To focus on the details
C) To see the colors more clearly
D) To simplify the values and shapes
  • 29. What is a good way to correct mistakes in oil painting?
A) Use a solvent to dissolve the paint
B) Use sandpaper to remove the paint
C) Wipe away the wet paint or paint over it when dry
D) Start over on a new canvas
  • 30. Which of the following is considered a warm color?
A) Green
B) Blue
C) Purple
D) Red
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