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