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How to paint a portrait - Quiz
Contributed by: Sadler
  • 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) Fan brush
B) Stiff, flat brush
C) Angular brush
D) Soft, round 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) Memorizing the subject's clothing
D) Thinking about the subject's personality
  • 4. What is the purpose of an underpainting?
A) To establish values and composition
B) To add details
C) To seal the canvas
D) To create texture
  • 5. What is a glaze?
A) A type of varnish
B) A thin, transparent layer of paint
C) A thick, opaque layer of paint
D) A primer for the canvas
  • 6. Which color temperature is generally used to portray shadows?
A) Cool
B) Warm
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 paint in miniature
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) Linseed oil
B) Gesso
C) Water
D) Acrylic medium
  • 10. What is the 'golden ratio' often used for in portrait painting?
A) Choosing the canvas size
B) Determining the lighting
C) Composition and placement of features
D) Mixing colors
  • 11. What is a common mistake when painting skin tones?
A) Not using enough colors
B) Mixing the colors too thoroughly
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 save money on paint
B) To create a more realistic painting
C) To create color harmony
D) To speed up the painting process
  • 13. What is 'chiaroscuro'?
A) A type of canvas
B) A color mixing technique
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) Fluorescent lighting
B) Harsh, direct lighting
C) Soft, diffused lighting
D) Backlighting
  • 15. What is the purpose of using a viewfinder?
A) To help with composition and framing
B) To hold your brushes
C) To protect your eyes from the light
D) To magnify the subject
  • 16. What is 'value' in painting?
A) The lightness or darkness of a color
B) The brand of paint
C) The intensity of a color
D) The hue 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 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 life
B) Painting landscapes
C) Painting abstract art
D) Painting portraits from your imagination
  • 20. What type of canvas is commonly used for oil painting?
A) Wood
B) Paper
C) Linen or cotton canvas
D) Glass
  • 21. What is the purpose of a mahl stick?
A) To steady your hand while painting details
B) To clean your brushes
C) To mix paint
D) To hold your palette
  • 22. What is a good starting point for mixing skin tones?
A) A base of red, yellow, and blue
B) A single pre-mixed skin tone color
C) Just white and black
D) Only brown
  • 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 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 protect the paint and unify the surface
B) To make the colors brighter
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) Paint the overall shapes and values, not individual strands
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) Foreground
B) Midground
C) Focal point
D) Background
  • 28. What is the purpose of squinting at your subject?
A) To see the colors more clearly
B) To focus on the details
C) To simplify the values and shapes
D) To protect your eyes from the light
  • 29. What is a good way to correct mistakes in oil painting?
A) Use sandpaper to remove the paint
B) Use a solvent to dissolve the paint
C) Start over on a new canvas
D) Wipe away the wet paint or paint over it when dry
  • 30. Which of the following is considered a warm color?
A) Red
B) Green
C) Purple
D) Blue
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