GCSE Art and Design: Fine Art flashcards

Question 1

In art, what are dry media?

Accepted Answer

Art materials that do not use water to activate, such as pencil, charcoal, chalk or pastel.

Question 2

In a drawing, what is contrast?

Accepted Answer

The difference between light and dark areas.

Question 3

In charcoal drawing, what is smudging?

Accepted Answer

Blending the charcoal to create soft edges or smooth transitions.

Question 4

In art, what does it mean to rework a piece?

Accepted Answer

To go back into it to change, improve or fix parts of it.

Question 5

Which type of charcoal is used for light sketching?

Accepted Answer

Vine charcoal.

Question 6

Which type of charcoal is used for deep blacks?

Accepted Answer

Compressed charcoal.

Question 7

In drawing, what is line weight?

Accepted Answer

How thick or thin a line is.

Question 8

In drawing, what is a broken line?

Accepted Answer

A line made of small dashes or gaps instead of being solid, suggesting lightness, softness or something not fully visible.

Question 9

What does the nib size of a fine liner change?

Accepted Answer

The line weight.

Question 10

Are thinner or thicker fine liner nibs better for intricate details?

Accepted Answer

Thinner nibs.

Question 11

In ink work, what is a wash?

Accepted Answer

Ink diluted with water to create lighter values.

Question 12

In ink work, what is dilution?

Accepted Answer

Mixing ink with water to lighten its intensity.

Question 13

In art, what is a gradient?

Accepted Answer

A smooth transition from one shade or colour to another.

Question 14

When can ink still be lightened by diluting it with water?

Accepted Answer

Whilst it is wet; once dry it is permanent.

Question 15

Give one technique that creates dynamic textures with ink.

Accepted Answer

For example splattering, dripping or adding bleach.

Question 16

In painting, what is opacity?

Accepted Answer

How much a paint covers the surface beneath it.

Question 17

In painting, what is viscosity?

Accepted Answer

The thickness or flow of the paint.

Question 18

In painting, what is the ground?

Accepted Answer

The initial layer of paint applied to a surface before the main artwork is created.

Question 19

What are complementary colours?

Accepted Answer

Colours which sit opposite each other on the colour wheel.

Question 20

Give one thing a strong ground can set in a painting.

Accepted Answer

For example tone, mood or unity.

Question 21

Give one type of paint that can produce vibrant, opaque colours.

Accepted Answer

Acrylic or oil paint.

Question 22

In art, what is visual weight?

Accepted Answer

The perceived heaviness of an element, influenced by its size, colour or placement.

Question 23

In a layout, what is asymmetry?

Accepted Answer

Elements are not mirrored but are still balanced through visual interest.

Question 24

In a layered collage, should the main photograph completely dominate the composition?

Accepted Answer

No. It should interact with and complement the background, not overpower it.

Question 25

What is relief printing?

Accepted Answer

A printmaking technique where only the raised parts of a surface are inked.

Question 26

What is reduction printing?

Accepted Answer

A method where the same block is carved and printed in layers, reducing it each time.

Question 27

In printmaking, what is the plate?

Accepted Answer

The surface, such as lino or wood, from which a print is made.

Question 28

Before modern printing, what was relief printing essential for?

Accepted Answer

Reproducing images.

Question 29

What is a monotype?

Accepted Answer

A printmaking process where only one strong impression can be made, so each print is unique.

Question 30

In printmaking, what is a ghost print?

Accepted Answer

A lighter second print made from leftover ink on the plate after the first print.

Question 31

Give one example of a less formal tool artists can use in monotype.

Accepted Answer

For example cotton buds or wooden forks.

Question 32

What is mixed media?

Accepted Answer

The use of two or more artistic materials or techniques in a single artwork.

Question 33

In art, what is actual texture?

Accepted Answer

Texture that can be physically felt, for example rough, bumpy or soft.

Question 34

In art, what is implied texture?

Accepted Answer

The illusion of texture, created using techniques like shading, pattern or collage.

Question 35

Is mixed media just random materials used together?

Accepted Answer

No. It is intentional: each material or technique is chosen for a reason, such as adding texture, creating contrast or expressing an idea.

Question 36

In watercolour, what is masking?

Accepted Answer

Blocking out areas of paper you want to keep white or light, using a barrier that stops paint soaking in.

Question 37

In watercolour, what is glazing?

Accepted Answer

Adding a thin, transparent layer of paint over a dry wash to build colour and depth without covering details beneath.

Question 38

In watercolour, what is blotting?

Accepted Answer

Gently lifting wet paint from the paper with a tissue, sponge or dry brush.

Question 39

In watercolour, what is a wash?

Accepted Answer

A smooth, even layer of watered-down paint applied across a large area.

Question 40

In watercolour, what is wet-on-wet?

Accepted Answer

Adding wet paint into another area of wet paint, so the colours mix and spread naturally.

Question 41

Because watercolour is transparent, which areas do artists paint first?

Accepted Answer

The lightest areas, building up gradually to darker tones.

GCSE Art and Design: Fine Art flashcards

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