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) Mixing the colors
D) Sketching the basic shapes and proportions
  • 2. What type of brush is generally best for blending?
A) Soft, round brush
B) Stiff, flat brush
C) Angular brush
D) Fan brush
  • 3. Which of the following is most important when observing your subject?
A) Measuring the subject's height
B) Paying attention to light and shadows
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 establish values and composition
C) To add details
D) To create texture
  • 5. What is a glaze?
A) A thick, opaque layer of paint
B) A thin, transparent layer of paint
C) A primer for the canvas
D) A type of varnish
  • 6. Which color temperature is generally used to portray shadows?
A) Warm
B) Cool
C) Neutral
D) Bright
  • 7. What is 'alla prima' painting?
A) Painting in a highly detailed style
B) Painting with only primary colors
C) Painting wet-on-wet in one session
D) Painting from a photograph
  • 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) Water
C) Acrylic medium
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) Mixing the colors too thoroughly
B) Not using enough colors
C) Using too much pure color directly from the tube
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 type of canvas
B) A type of brushstroke
C) A color mixing technique
D) The use of strong contrasts between light and dark
  • 14. What type of lighting is generally most flattering for portraits?
A) Backlighting
B) Soft, diffused lighting
C) Fluorescent lighting
D) Harsh, direct lighting
  • 15. What is the purpose of using a viewfinder?
A) To help with composition and framing
B) To magnify the subject
C) To hold your brushes
D) To protect your eyes from the light
  • 16. What is 'value' in painting?
A) The brand of paint
B) The intensity of a color
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) Smooth blending
B) Bright colors
C) Accurate proportions
D) Detailed background
  • 18. What does 'fat over lean' mean in oil painting?
A) Paint the fat parts of the subject first
B) Each subsequent layer should be thinner than the previous one
C) Use more expensive paint in the top layers
D) Each subsequent layer should have more oil than the previous one
  • 19. What is a good way to practice painting portraits?
A) Painting portraits from your imagination
B) Painting abstract art
C) Painting landscapes
D) Painting portraits from life
  • 20. What type of canvas is commonly used for oil painting?
A) Linen or cotton canvas
B) Wood
C) Glass
D) Paper
  • 21. What is the purpose of a mahl stick?
A) To mix paint
B) To clean your brushes
C) To hold your palette
D) To steady your hand while painting details
  • 22. What is a good starting point for mixing skin tones?
A) A base of red, yellow, and blue
B) Only brown
C) A single pre-mixed skin tone color
D) Just white and black
  • 23. Which part of the face is often used as a key landmark for proportions?
A) The eyes
B) The nose
C) The ears
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 add texture to the painting
B) To protect the paint and unify the surface
C) To allow you to make changes to the painting later
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) Paint each strand individually
D) Use a lot of highlights
  • 27. What is the term for the area of sharpest focus in a painting?
A) Background
B) Foreground
C) Midground
D) Focal point
  • 28. What is the purpose of squinting at your subject?
A) To protect your eyes from the light
B) To see the colors more clearly
C) To focus on the details
D) To simplify the values and shapes
  • 29. What is a good way to correct mistakes in oil painting?
A) Use sandpaper to remove the paint
B) Wipe away the wet paint or paint over it when dry
C) Start over on a new canvas
D) Use a solvent to dissolve the paint
  • 30. Which of the following is considered a warm color?
A) Red
B) Purple
C) Blue
D) Green
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