Question 1: Describe the process of creating a gradient using watercolour paints.

Answer: To create a gradient with watercolours, start by wetting the paper if necessary. Mix a colour with water to achieve a diluted hue. Apply the colour at one end of the area, then gradually add more water or less pigment as you move across, blending the colours smoothly to transition from dark to light.

Question 2: Explain the difference between glazing and scumbling in painting techniques.

Answer: Glazing involves applying thin, transparent layers of paint over dry layers to build depth and richness of colour. Scumbling, on the other hand, is a technique where a dry, opaque layer of paint is brushed lightly over a dried layer, creating a textured, broken colour effect.

Question 3: Identify two tools that can be used to create texture in a painting, and describe how each is used.

Answer: A palette knife can be used to apply thick, textured paint directly onto the surface, creating a three-dimensional effect. A dry brush can be used to drag semi-dry paint across the surface, creating a scratchy, textured appearance.

Question 4: Describe how to create a 'wet-on-wet' painting effect.

Answer: In a wet-on-wet technique, the artist first wets the paper with water, then applies wet paint onto the damp surface. This allows colours to blend softly and create smooth transitions, often used for backgrounds or atmospheric effects.

Question 5: Sketch a landscape scene demonstrating the use of dry brushing to create texture in the trees and foliage.

Answer: A correct sketch would include trees with rough, textured foliage created using quick, short strokes with a dry brush. The background should have softer, blended areas, illustrating contrast between textured foreground and smoother background.

Question 6: Draw a still life composition that uses contrasting painting techniques—such as smooth blending for the background and thick impasto for the foreground objects.

Answer: A successful sketch would depict objects with thick, textured paint application in the foreground, and a smooth, blended background, emphasizing the difference in painting techniques and creating depth.

Question 7: What effect does adding white paint to a colour have, and how can it be used creatively in a painting?

Answer: Adding white to a colour lightens it, creating tints. Creatively, white can be used to soften colours, create highlights, or produce a sense of light and atmosphere within a painting.

Question 8: Explain the purpose of using a palette knife instead of a brush when applying paint.

Answer: A palette knife allows for thick, textured application of paint, creating bold effects and textures that are difficult to achieve with a brush. It also enables the artist to scrape or spread paint quickly and effectively.

Question 9: Identify and describe one method for creating the illusion of depth in a painting.

Answer: One method is to use atmospheric perspective, where objects further away are painted with lighter, duller colours and less detail, creating the illusion of depth and distance in the scene.

Question 10: Design a colour palette for a sunset scene, including at least five colours and their shades.

Answer: A correct design would include warm colours such as deep orange, golden yellow, soft pink, purple, and dark blue for the sky, with labels indicating lighter and darker shades of each to suggest the gradient of a sunset.