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How to paint a portrait
Contributed by: Sadler
  • 1. What is the first step in painting a portrait?
A) Mixing the colors
B) Choosing the background color
C) Sketching the basic shapes and proportions
D) Applying the base coat of paint
  • 2. What type of brush is generally best for blending?
A) Angular brush
B) Soft, round brush
C) Fan brush
D) Stiff, flat brush
  • 3. Which of the following is most important when observing your subject?
A) Memorizing the subject's clothing
B) Measuring the subject's height
C) Thinking about the subject's personality
D) Paying attention to light and shadows
  • 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 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) Bright
B) Cool
C) Neutral
D) Warm
  • 7. What is 'alla prima' painting?
A) Painting in a highly detailed style
B) Painting wet-on-wet in one session
C) Painting from a photograph
D) Painting with only primary colors
  • 8. What is the purpose of 'sight-size' painting?
A) To paint in miniature
B) To match the size of the painting to the subject's perceived size
C) To use a magnifying glass while painting
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) Choosing the canvas size
B) Composition and placement of features
C) Determining the lighting
D) Mixing colors
  • 11. What is a common mistake when painting skin tones?
A) Not using enough colors
B) Using too many colors
C) Mixing the colors too thoroughly
D) Using too much pure color directly from the tube
  • 12. What is the purpose of using a limited palette?
A) To create a more realistic painting
B) To create color harmony
C) To speed up the painting process
D) To save money on paint
  • 13. What is 'chiaroscuro'?
A) A type of brushstroke
B) A type of canvas
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) Harsh, direct lighting
C) Fluorescent lighting
D) Soft, diffused lighting
  • 15. What is the purpose of using a viewfinder?
A) To magnify the subject
B) To help with composition and framing
C) To protect your eyes from the light
D) To hold your brushes
  • 16. What is 'value' in painting?
A) The lightness or darkness of a color
B) The intensity of a color
C) The brand of paint
D) The hue of a color
  • 17. Which of these is important for capturing a likeness?
A) Bright colors
B) Accurate proportions
C) Detailed background
D) Smooth blending
  • 18. What does 'fat over lean' mean in oil painting?
A) Each subsequent layer should be thinner 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 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) Glass
C) Wood
D) Paper
  • 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) A single pre-mixed skin tone color
B) Just white and black
C) A base of red, yellow, and blue
D) Only brown
  • 23. Which part of the face is often used as a key landmark for proportions?
A) The eyes
B) The ears
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 protects the canvas from moisture
D) It prevents the paint from cracking
  • 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 make the colors brighter
D) To allow you to make changes to the painting later
  • 26. When painting hair, what is important to remember?
A) Paint the overall shapes and values, not individual strands
B) Paint each strand individually
C) Use a very fine brush
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) Focal point
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 simplify the values and shapes
D) To see the colors more clearly
  • 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) Use a solvent to dissolve the paint
D) Start over on a new canvas
  • 30. Which of the following is considered a warm color?
A) Green
B) Blue
C) Red
D) Purple
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