Practice Questions Flashcards
A triad on a color wheel can be described as
- a) 3 analogous colors
- b) 3 colors equally spaced apart
- c) 3 colors of equal value
- d) a complementary set
b) 3 colors equally spaced
Which of the following terms refers to the use of distortion to create the illusion of an object extending into space?
- a) Cantilevering
- b) Contrapposto
- c) Sfumato
- d) Foreshortening
D. Foreshortening
In the work referenced, Max Ernst anticipated and manipulated which of the following postmodern design principles as a means of conveying a sense of the irrational and illogical?
- a) Gazing
- b) Hybridity
- c) Appropriation
- d) Juxtapostion
D.) Juxtapostion
Juxtapostion refers to the use of unrelated images, materials, etc to create a new image.
A hard-edge painting is most likely to be characterized by
- a) an even, solid paint application
- b) blurry color mixed on the painting’s surface
- c) scratchy brush marks clearly separated
- d) translucent multiple layers
A) an even solid paint application such as Frank Stella and Ellsworth Kelly
Which of the following statements accurately describes a JPEG compressed digital photograph?
- a) The JPEG format is used only for color photos
- b) a JPEG compression alters the proportions of the original image by rearranging data.
- C) a JPEG Compression sharpens the details in an imag
- D) The JPEG format compresses file size by selectively discarding data.
D) The JPEG fromat compresses file size by selectively discarding data. It can be used for black and white as well as color photos.
JPEG compression DOES NOT sharpen details or alter proportions
Which of the following digital camera settings can be used to keep colors accurate under a variety of light conditions?
- a) White Balance
- b) Aperture
- c) ISO speed
- d) Shutter speed
A.) White Balance
Different lighting conditions (ie daylight, flourescent etc) tend to push the colors in a photograph towards a particular hue, so it is important to be able to adjust the camera to keep unwanted tints out of the photo. White balance refers to the way the camera compensates for variations in light to keep colors constant.
Which of the following terms refers to pottery that has NOT been bisque fired?
- a) Raku
- b) Greenware
- c) Terracotta
- d) Stoneware
B.) Greenware
Bisque firing refers to the preliminary firing that is done to harden the piece prior to glazing and glaze firing. Greenware is a term referring to any pottery that has NOT been bisque fired.
In weaving, the vertical and horizontal threads in a loom are called the
- a) bobbin and quill
- b) shuttle and paddle
- c) ply and twist
- d) warp and weft
D.) Warp and Weft
weaving on a loom involves stringing a series of threads along the loom lengthwise (warp) and weaving other threads crosswise (weft) in an out of the lenghtwise threads
Which of the following terms refers to Archaic Greek statues whose poses - rigidly frontal with clenched fists - recall the stance of ancient Egyptian statues?
- a) Carytids
- b) Telamones
- c) Discoboloi
- d) Kouroi
D.) Kouroi
The layout and design of the temple of Heaven in Beijing, China are intended mainly as a symbolic expression of the
- a) philosophical principles of feng shui
- b) metaphysical teachings of the Buddha
- c) connection between imperial and cosmic orders
- d) emperor’s absolute power over earthly matters
C.) Connection between imperial and cosmic orders
The 19th-century photographic process used to create a daguerreotype was notable for its
- a) quick exposure time
- b) ability to capture sharp detail
- c) capacity to be reproduced multiple times
- d) use of paper negatives
B.) Ability to capture sharp detail
The first comercially succesful photographic process; each image was a direct positive made in the camera on a silver-plated copper plate. It was very fragile, required a lengthy exposure time and reproductions could not be made. Despite those drawbacks it became popular for portraiture becasue of its ability to capture crisp accurate details
Which of the following artists is an English landscape painter who created a poetic sense of changing atmosphereic effects by using tiny applications of local color?
- a) John Constable
- b) William Morris
- c) William Hogarth
- d) Joshua Reynolds
A.) John Constable
Which of the following figures is a contemporary installation artist who uses image projection and videos?
- a) Bill Viola
- b) Betye Saar
- c) Damien Hirst
- d) Rachel Whiteread
A.) Bill Viola
The aesthetic philosophy that claims that the value of a work of art is determined by museums and galleries is known as
- a) captialism
- b) conceptualism
- c) structuralism
- d) institutionalism
D.) Institutionalism
Which of the following is NOT one of the primary elements of art?
- a) Dimension
- b) Unity
- c) Texture
- d) Space
B.) Unity
Dimension, texture and space are all ELEMENTS of art, while Unity is one of the Principles of art.
Ms. Franklin is teaching a second-grade class a lesson on ceramics. The most appropriate activity for students at this grade level would be
- a) making pinch pots and coil pots
- b) throwing pots using a pottery wheel
- c) making and attaching handles to pots
- d) glazing pots using a kiln
A.) Making pinch pots and coil pots
Unlike making attaching handles to pots or throwing pots using a pottery wheel, creatinging this type is appropirate given the fine motor skills of second graders. the teacher could model glazing pots using a kiln, but it would be too dangerous for young students to attempt on their own.
In order for a pigment to reach the desired consistency for fluid painting, with which of the following should it NOT be combined?
- a) Turpentine
- b) Fresco
- c) A tempera
- d) an oil medium
B.) Fresco
A fresco is a painting style, not a medium
To create pottery with a fine, porcelain-like finish, one would use which type of clay?
- a) Kaolin
- b) Raku
- c) Terra cotta
- d) Stoneware
A.) Kaolin
Kaolin clay is fired at very high temperatures to produce fine, translucent pottery used for fine china. Terra cotta clay is an earthenware clay with a brownish-orange color, stoneware clay produces darker opaque pottery and Raku is a japanese method for firing clay, not a type of clay
In print making, a stone plate would be used to produce a (n)
- a) linocut
- b) lithograph
- c) etching
- d) screen print
B.) Lithograph
In printmaking, the original surface (or matrix) that is used dertermines the type of print it is. ie
- stone plate = lithograph,
- linoleum plate = linocut,
- fabric matrices = screen prints,
- metal plates = etching
- wood block = wood cut
Which of the following is not part of the intaglio family of printmaking techniques?
- a) Aquatint
- b) Drypoint
- c) Mezzotint
- d.) Relief
D.) Relief
Mezzotint, aquatint and drypoint are all intaglio printmaking techniques, which means that the ink used in the prinmaking goes underneath the surface of the matrix. In relief prints, the ink goes on the surface of the matrix. Woodcuts are an example of relief prints
Which of the following is NOT ture of traditional African art?
- a) it exhibits a preference for sculpture and three-dimensional representations
- b) it did not typically exhibit visual abstraction
- c) it frequently focuses on the human figure as its subject
- d) its form and style vary regionally
B.) It did not typically exhibit visual abstraction
In fact, visual abstraction is seen much more frequently in African art than its naturalistic representation
Which of the following is true of art from the Byzantine period?
- a) it was strongly naturalistic in character
- b) it frequently exhibited secular themes
- c) it predated the Classical period
- d) Illuminated manuscripts were a major artistic product of this period
D.) Illuminated manuscripts were a major artistic product of this period
Which of the following best characterizes the Rococo style of art?
- a) Minimalist
- b) Romantic
- c) Decorative
- d) Gothic
C.) Decorative
The Rococo style was most frequently seen in ornate interior designs from eighteenth-century France.
The Scream by Edvard Munch is considered the inspiration for which twentieth-century artistic movement?
- a) The Renaissance
- b) Modern Art
- c) Impressionism
- d) Expressionism
D.) Expressionsim
Which of the following terms refers to the relative lightness or darkness of color in a painting?
- a) Hue
- b) Intensity
- c) Value
- d) Texture
C) Value
Value refers to relative lightness and darkness, intensity refers to vibrancy of colors: high-intensity colors are pure while Low-intensity colors are mixed with other colors to suggest a somber mood. hue refers to a color’s actual pigmentation, and texture is a tactile qualitu of the surface rather than a property of color
A photograph of a small child standing alone in an empty room would have
- a) asymmetrical composition
- b) symmerical composition
- c) artistic unity
- d) lots of negative space
D) Lots of negative space
Positive space in a painting or photograph is the space occupied by the subject (in this case the child); negative space is the “empty” part of the composition.
Which of the following artistic elements would be found only in sculpture or decorative arts?
- a) Line
- b) Form
- c) Proportion
- d) Balance
B.) Form
Cross-hatching is a technique that is used to
- a) develop black-and-white photographs
- b) achieve shading effects in pencil drawings
- c) blend water-based paints
- d) attach handles to pottery
B.) Achieve shading effects in pencil drawings
The advantage of drawing with charcoal as opposed to lead pencils is that
- a) Charcoal can be smudged to create shading
- b) Charcoal does not require a fixative
- c) charcoal is available in a variety of hues
- d) charcoal is available in a wide range of different values, ranging from dark and soft to light and hard
A.) Charcoal can be smudged to create shading
A student wants to purchase a sketch pad and lead pencils in order to practice drawing expressive portraits of her friends and family. Which of the following types of lead pencils would best serve her purpose?
- a) 2H
- b) 3H
- c) 2 F
- d) 4B
D.) 4B
B pencils are softer and thus allow for more smudging and shading that are necessary in expressive drawing. H pencils are the hardest and most precise and are typically used for technical drawing. F pencils are in between H and B pencils in terms of hardness, but are still harder than the typical household pencil (2B)
Which of the following statements is ture of perspective in drawing?
- a) in order to achieve realism, a drawing can have only one vanishing point
- b) a realistic drawing must have at least two vanishing points
- c) a vanishing point above the horizon is called the zenith
- d) vanishing points must converge on the horizon
C.) A vanishing point above the horizon is called the zenith
While it is custoomary to have the vanishing point center on the horizon, it can also be above the horizon (zenith) or below the horizon line (the nadir)
In oil painting, paint is traditionally applied
- a) all in one session
- b) with the least oily layers of paint on the bottom and oiliest layers at the top.
- c) to slate or paper
- d) after the paiting surfae had been finished with a layer of varnish
B.) With the least oily layers of paint on the bottom and oiliest layers at the top.
Also known as the “fat over lean” rule, meant to prevent cracking when drying. Oil painting was traditionally done in layers over long periods of time, most commonly aplied to canvas or other fabric surfaces
Drybrush is a technique that is NOT used in
- a) watercolor painting
- b) oil painting
- c) acrylic painting
- d) ceramic glazing
D.) Ceramic Glazing
In watercolor painting, a wash would be used to
- a) darken the color of an area that is already painted
- b) lighten the color of an area that is already painted
- c) create a smooth transition between two colors
- d) create an area with one homogeneous color
D.) Create an area with one homogeneous color
In order to achieve the other effects mentioned, one would use a glaze. This involves applying color over an area that has already been painted and dried, while allowing the original color to show through.
Frescoes were traditionally painted on which of the following surfaces?
- a) Wood
- b) Canvas
- c) Plaster
- d) Paper
C.) Plaster
When creating pottery, the purpose of “wedging” the clay is to
- a) wet it so that is easier to shape
- b) remove foreign objects such as small pebbles
- c) remove air pockets and ensure the clay has a uniform consistency.
- d) ensure that it is properly centered on the pottery wheel
C.) remove air pockets and ensure the clay has a uniform consistency
The fiber art technique that involves condensing, or matting, fibers together is called
- a) flocking
- b) felting
- c) macrame
- d) plaiting
B.) Felting
The threads that are stretched taut across the loom before weaving begins are called the
- a) warp
- b) weft
- c) loom
- d) twill
A.) Warp
The weft threads are the threads that are woven across the warp, and the loom is the apparatus used for weaving. Twill is a weaving technique that produces a weave with parallel, diagnoal lines
Which of the following stements about tapestries and tapestry weaving is false?
- a) The warp threads in tapestries are completely hidden by the weft threads.
- b) Tapestries characteristically feature religious, mythological, or hunting scenes
- c) The weft threads in tapestires are always continuous
- d) The art of tapestry weaving dates back to ancient Greece
C.) The weft threads in tapestries are always continuous
If one were making jewelry, one might use a spring-ring clasp for all but which of the following items?
- a) Necklace
- b) Bracelet
- c) Earring
- d) Anklet
C.) Earring
Spring-ring clasps are rings with tiny springs inside that allow the jewelry wearer to connect and disconnect two ends of a chain at will. They are used in chain jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and anklets.
In photography, the amount of light to which film is exposed is influenced by the
- a) depth of field and shutter speed
- b) “rule of threes” and aperture
- c) depth of field and f-number
- d) aperture and shutter speed
D.) Aperture and shutter speed
The aperture (size of the opening through which light enters the camera) and shutter speed (lenght of time during which light is allowed to enter the camera) influence the amount of light to which film is exposed
When developing photographs in the darkroom, which of the following safety precautions is recommended?
- a) using tongs to insert and remove photos from developer baths
- b) wearing gloves, goggles and an apron to prevent injury from acid splashes
- c) covering chemical baths when not in use
- d) All of the above
D.) All of the above
In digital imaging, a pixel is
- a) a mechanical component of a digital camera
- b) the tiniest unit of visual information in an image
- c) a type of paper on which digital images are printed
- d) a special lens used in digital cameras
B.) The tiniest unit of visual information in an image
Which of the following is NOT a concept associated with contemporary performance art?
- a) A hierarchy exists between the performer and the audience
- b) The human body can be used as an artistic medium
- c) the line between performance and daily life should be blurred
- d) characterization and plot are secondary to the experience of the moment
A.) A hierarchy exists between the performer and the audience
In order to create simple animation for a Web site, one would most likely use which of the following?
- a) JavaScript
- b) Adobe Flash
- c) Microsoft PowerPoint
- d) A digital camera
B) Adobe Flash
Which of the following is NOT considered a type of digital art?
- a) Videography
- b) Cinematography
- c) Three-dimensional computer animation
- d) Pixel art
B.) Cinematography
Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of contemporary performance art (happenings, fluxus, and body art)?
- a) Fusing art with daily life and inspiring social change
- b) Creating objects of enduring beauty
- c) Infusing art into daily life by decorating utilitarian objects
- d) Achieving a well-defined political agenda through social commentary
A.) fusing art with daily life and inspiring social change
The influence of Impressionist art can best be described as
- a) ushering in social change through scathing social commentary
- b) conveying its subjects’ intense emotions
- c) introducing a new interpretation of the concept of naturalism in art
- d) triggering a strong backlash in favor of naturalistic depictions of the subject
C.) Introducing a new interpretation of the concept of naturalism in art
Impressionists introduced a concept of naturalism that strived to accurately render light and color, as opposed to concentrating more on line and form.
The Romantic movement in art was primarily a reaction against the
- a) injustices of feudalism during the Middle Ages
- b) minimalism of modern art
- c) rationalism of the Age of Enlightenment and the industrial revolution
- d) collectivism of Communist political philosophy
C.) Rationalism of the Age of Enlightenment and the industrial revolution
Romantic artists emphasized emotion and individual heroism, in contrast to the focus on reason and logic that was the hallmark of the Age of Enlightenment
Propoganda posters are
- a) examples of decorative art
- b) instances of the use of art to achieve political objectives
- c) examples of art intended to achieve social change on a massive scale
- d) always produced by social commentators
B.) instances of the use of art to achieve political objectives
Which of the following is not a universal theme that appears in art from around the world?
- a) scenes from everyday life
- b) sporting events
- c) nature
- d) portraiture
B.) Sporting Events
Which of the following is NOT true of the use of symbolism in art?
- a) Artists must use symbols that transcend time and space
- b) Even persons who do not understand the symbolism can enjoy symbolic paintings
- c) Symbols are present in both traditional and modern art
- d) symbols may have poltical, social or religious significances
A.) Artists must use symbols that transcend time and space
The primary difference between Pointillist and Impressionist paintings is the
- a) artitsts’ intent
- b) technique used by the artists
- c) medium used by the artists
- d) function of the artwork
B.) Technique used by the artists
Islamic art primarily depicts
- a) Arabic calligraphy
- b) portraits of Mohammed and his family
- c) scenes from teh Qur’an
- d) portraits of Islamic leaders
A.) Ariabic calligraphy
Since many Muslims believe that depiction of the human form and religious figures is a sin, much Islamic art features calligraphic renderings of the Arabic script instead of religious scenes featuring humans
Which of he following countries features an abundance of Islamic art due to a centuries- long occupation by the Umayyad caliphate?
- a) Italy
- b) Brazil
- c) Spain
- d) Greece
C.) Spain
Which of the following is NOT an art from associated with China?
- a) The production of porcelain pottery
- b) Calligraphy
- c) Landscape paintings
- d) Noh costume
D.) Noh Costume
Noh costuming is associated with traditional Japanese Noh plays
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of indigenous Australian (aboriginal) art?
- a) Uses media found in nature
- b) Uses art to tell stories and record history
- c) Often contains symbolism and iconography
- d) Is no longer produced
D.) Is no longer produced
The best-known artistic tradition of indigenous Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island is
- a) Basket weaving
- b) Stone Sculptures
- c) Murals
- d) Clay Pottery
B.) Stone Sculptures
The Red Tree illustrates the use of which of the following principles of design?
A. Radial symmetry with a central emphass
B. Dynamic balance around a vertical axis
C. Complex figure on a simple ground
D. Exaggerated proportion
Option (B) is correct. The tree’s trunk and the branches that extend to the right create an arc. A vertical axis placed at the highest point of the tree would show balanced left and right halves of the image. They are not symmetrical, because the shapes on either side are not the same, but the thick trunk is balanced by the greater area of lighter branches on the right.
The use of color and shape in the sculpture reflect its association with
A. Neo-Expressionism
B. Formalism
C. Cubism
D. Art Deco
B. Formalism
Formalist art plays down content and instead emphasizes the principles of design and the elements used to express them. In this sculpture, though the title refers to recognizable objects, the objects are represented by simple, geometric forms; the content could not be discerned simply by looking at the work.
Of the following, the decorative motifs of the eighteenth-century architect Robert Adam are most similar to those found on
A. Wedgwood pottery
B. Roman fresco
C. chinoiserie furniture
D. Art Nouveau glassware
A. Wedgwood pottery
It is no coincidence that the decorative motifs of the eighteenth-century interior design of Robert Adam are similar to those found on Wedgwood pottery. Josiah Wedgwood was a personal friend of Adam and a great follower of contemporary taste and fashion. After the Neoclassical style was popularized by architects like Adam, Wedgwood went to work in order to develop a new ceramic body that would harmonize with the pastel shades of Adam’s interior walls and delicate white plasterwork. After nearly 3,000 tries, he succeeded in creating Wedgwood pottery’s signature pastel-colored jasperware with white relief ornamentation.
The sculpture shown is an example of which art-historical style?
A. Classical Greek
B. Roman Republican
C. Hellenistic
D. Imperial Roman
D. Imperial Roman
In the 1800s, the painting shown created a controversy among art critics primarily because the artist painted
A. a young man dressed in a military uniform
B. an unflattering political image
C. a portrait in a limited primary color range
D. a flattened figure with few shadows and little modeling
D. a flattened figure with few shadows and little modeling
Édouard Manet’s painting The Fifer, while now recognized as a masterpiece of early modernism, was not well appreciated in the artist’s own time. The painting depicts a teenage musician from a ceremonial military band. Rather than model his subject conventionally using Renaissance chiaroscuro, the artist shocked critics by choosing to render the figure brightly lit from the front with little modeling and only a hint of shadow behind, giving the painting a curious flatness. The painting was refused at the Paris Salon of 1866 under the pretext that the modeling was flat. The painting was exhibited in 1867 and included in the major retrospective exhibition of Manet’s work after his death in 1883. The Fifer currently resides in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
