Praxis II- Art Content Knowledge- Practice Questions II

Using oil pastels over a layer of gouache in a drawing is a process that illustrates what principle?

"Fat over lean" derives from the characteristics of media with a high oil content ("fat") versus media with a lower oil content ("lean"). Because of differences in drying time, the paint with more oil must be painted over the paint with less oil; if the top layer contains less oil than the bottom layer, the top layer will crack. Since gouache paint contains no oil, it is safe to use oil pastels over gouache.

The term "lost wax" refers to

A technique of casting metal in a plaster mold. A metal object made through the lost-wax process begins with a wax model of the finished product around which a plaster mold is made. When the mold is heated, the wax melts and runs out (or is "lost"). Molten metal is then cast in the mold to create the finished work.

What artist created mobiles as a sculptural avenue to explore "freedom of movement, the joy of ceaseless recombination of shapes"?

Alexander Calder. The signature works of Alexander Calder, the inventor of the mobile, are hanging mobiles set into motion by air currents and standing motorized stabiles. Using diverse materials for the free-form shapes, Calder often worked on a monumental scale and considered his work "four-dimensional drawings."

James Abbot McNeill Whistler promoted what aesthetic philosophy that outraged conservative art critics because of its abstract ideas?

Art can be created for the sake of its intrinsic beauty alone. The artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American expatriate living in London, whose aesthetic philosophy was "l'art pour l'art" (art for art's sake). In 1877, Whistler exhibited Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, a semiabstract landscape composed in layers of translucent atmospheric color. This work outraged conservative art critics. The powerful art critic John Ruskin wrote a sharply critical article about the painting. In response Whistler, charging slander, sued Ruskin for damages. Although Whistler won the case in court he was only awarded a farthing (the smallest coin in the realm). Yet he did succeed in making a case for artistic beauty existing independently of realistic subject matter. His belief that art could be created for its intrinsic beauty alone laid the groundwork for the modern art movement.

The concept of the sublime is best defined as an experience that provokes a sense of

Awe. The aesthetic concept concerning the sublime was taken up in earnest in eighteenth-century England. A sublime quality in nature is distinct from beauty and is best defined as an experience that provokes a sense of awe.

The Cornaro Chapel by Bernini is characteristic of which art-historical styles?

Baroque. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an extremely successful seventeenth century Italian sculptor, painter, and architect. His Cornaro Chapel, commissioned by Cardinal Federigo Cornaro, is considered a masterpiece of the Baroque style.

In digital imaging, series of pixels that can be used to compose images are known as

Bitmaps. The term "bitmap" comes from the bits of information (pixels) that are combined to form an image (map).

What is something that should NOT be done when preparing a charcoal drawing for shipping?

Carefully rolling the drawing into a mailing tube. The surface of a charcoal drawing is fragile because of the fine particles of dust that lie on the paper. Rolling a charcoal drawing would present the risk of damage to the surface from the pressure of the tube or the surrounding layers of the drawing.

In jewelry making, what is the process where fine metal wire is used to organize colors that are fused into hard enamel-like surfaces?

Cloisonné. In jewelry making, cloisonné is the process in which fine metal wire is used to create small cellular units that are each filled with a color; the piece is then fired, resulting in hard enamel-like surfaces. Cloisonné has been used as a decorative technique since ancient times both in Asia, particularly China and Japan, and in European cultures.

The Fauves ("wild beasts") were given this name by an art critic, in part because of their striking use of

Color. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Henri Matisse and André Derain led a group of artists who painted with bold, vivid color. In 1905 the Salon d'Automne held an exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris, which included several works by Matisse, Derain, and others in the group. At this exhibition the nickname "les fauves," which means "wild beasts," was coined by art critic Louis Vauxcelles. After viewing the 1905 exhibit, Vauxcelles described the scene as "Donatello au mileau des fauves!" (Donatello among the wild beasts!). The art group was, henceforth, called "fauves," and the first art movement of the modern age became known as "Fauvism."

Pushing and pinching with one's fingers and Digging parallel channels with a comb are two ways that an artists can do what to the surface of a clay project?

Create texture no the surface of a clay project. A moist clay project retains enough elasticity for the surface to be textured either by using one's fingers or by using any of various objects, such as a comb. Slip can be used to press pieces of moist clay onto the project, and since the basic form and the decorative pieces are in a similar state, the whole can be fired without causing problems.

The use of lines, usually in parallel groups that are drawn across a shape to show form and volume.

Cross-contour line.

An artist who wants an orange area in a work to appear brighter and lighter would most likely surround the orange with what color?

Dark, dull blue. The effect can be seen most strikingly when a color is surrounded by its opposite in hue and value. In this case, where the complement of orange is blue, dark blue would make the orange look lighter and a dull blue would make it look brighter.

Although Kazimir Malevich's "Dynamic Suprematism" contains strong colors and asymmetrical groups of shapes what contributes to the dynamic nature of the shapes in Malevich's composition?

Diagonal placement.

In general, two-dimensional art that is being exhibited in a gallery should be

Displayed at a comfortable eye level. Although there are exceptions to this principle, such as installations and extremely large works, two-dimensional art is generally hung in a single row at a comfortable viewing height for most adults.

What is an extruder in ceramics?

Extruder. To extrude means to shape a material by forcing it through an opening. A clay extruder is used in this way to create desired clay forms.

What is Forging?

Forging is a traditional method that blacksmiths have used in which metal is heated and then shaped with a hammer. Each of the other terms refers to a process that is used to join metal pieces.

The Modernist art movement that glorified the machine by stating that "a speeding motorcar ... is more beautiful than the Nike of Samothrace" was

Futurism. Futurism, which began in Italy in 1909, brought to art the motion, noise, and power of machinery. The Futurists issued several manifestos putting forth the idea of adding mechanized movement to the Cubist ideals of showing multiple points of view.

In Ravenna's church of San Vitale, the richly colored Empress Theodora and Her Attendants was created in which of the following media?

Glass tesserae. This representation of Empress Theodora and Her Attendants is a Byzantine wall mosaic created using tiny glass tiles called tesserae.

When using an acid bath for etching what is an extremely important safety procedure that is required?

Good ventilation. The acids used for etching produce fumes that can cause health hazards. An acid bath must be used in a well-ventilated space.

The Porch of Maidens was first built for use as a

Greek temple. The Porch of the Maidens occupies the southwest corner of the large Ionic temple known as the Erechtheum, built in the late fifth century b.c.e. on the acropolis in Athens, Greece.

Goya's The Disasters of War can be seen as the prototype for which work by Pablo Picasso?

Guernica. Both Goya's The Disasters of War and Picasso's Guernica are passionate expressions of anguish at the brutality of war. None of the other Picasso works mentioned is related to war.

What is the most professional way to display two- and three-dimensional artwork groupings?

Hang the matted and framed two-dimensional works on the wall and place the three-dimensional works on bases. The most professional way to display artwork groupings is to mat, frame, and hang the two-dimensional works on the wall and put the three-dimensional works on bases.

In the bronze Benin plaque depicts a King (oba) in ceremonial hard surrounded by attendants. Compared to the other figures, the king is shown abnormally large. What conventions of representation is used in the Benin sculpture?

Hierarchy of scale. This bronze plaque from Benin in Africa depicts a king (oba) in ceremonial garb surrounded by attendants. Compared to the other figures, the king is shown as abnormally large, which signifies his high social status. Intentional enlarging of more important elements is characteristic of what art historians call "hierarchy of scale."

What term refers to the analysis of the symbols, themes and subject matter in the visual arts?

Iconographic. Iconographic analysis specifically concerns itself with symbols, themes and subject matter of works of art in order to establish the meaning an artwork had at the time it was created.

The application of thick paint in such a way that the surface of the painting become heavily textured and shows the marks of the brush or other tools used to apply paint.

Impasto.

In what kind of art do both time and space directly contribute to a viewer's experience?

Installation. Time is an element of all installations. In some cases, the installation itself changes with time; in all installations, time is involved in experiencing the installation because the viewer generally walks around or through it. Any installation occupies and transforms space.

Immersive virtual reality art that uses sensors within an installation can best be described as

Interactive. Immersive virtual reality art that uses sensors to connect viewers to the installation is designed to make the environment of the installation feel real to viewers. Viewers can respond to the installation's environment in a way that feels natural. In so doing, the viewer interacts with the immersive virtual reality.

What term is used to describe putting two dissimilar elements together often to compare or contrast them. René Magritte used this term as can be seen in his The Red Model.

Juxtapose. The verb "juxtapose" means to place two dissimilar things together often to compare or contrast them. Belgian artist René Magritte was a Surrealist painter who is famous for fantastic images produced by means of unnatural and irrational juxtapositions. In creating The Red Model, Magritte juxtaposed the top of the boots with the feet that would be inside the boots. The realistically depicted image blends human feet with inorganic boots, creating an unsettling effect for the viewer.

To convey mood in a time-based medium, an artist would most likely manipulate what two aspects?

Light and motion. Time-based media such as video, film, slide shows, audio, or computer-based technologies all use duration, a dimension that unfolds over time for the viewer. Time-based contemporary artworks are composed of sequences in time and space that use elements of light, sound, and motion. Light can be manipulated through time to create changing emotional contexts (e.g. a quickly darkening sky). Motion can also be manipulated to convey mood or express emotion (e.g., a person strolling along a road compared with a person running and panting along the same road).

In her painting Judith and Holofernes, Artemisia Gentileschi drew attention to the painting's focal point, the beheading of Holofernes, primarily through the use of

Lines created by the figures' limbs. Although Artemisia Gentileschi used dramatic illumination similar to the light in Caravaggio's painting of the same subject, it is her masterful use of dramatic composition that best helps the viewer focus on the decapitation of Holofernes. The limbs of the two women direct attention to that focal point.

The style of El Greco's paintings can best be described as

Mannerist. El Greco employed the Mannerist conventions of portraying elongated figures in strained poses and using strong artificial color. Also typical of Mannerism, El Greco's work was intensely spiritual, emotional, and restless.

Manufacturers' information about the toxicity and safety of art supplies they produce can be found in

Material Safety Data Sheets. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide information about any possible danger associated with the use of an art product as well as information about how to handle accidents, recognize symptoms of overexposure, and so on. MSDS are important in school art because they alert the consumer to any possible problems

Areas that are not occupied by objects

Negative Space

What development during the fifteenth century allowed artists greater ability to record fine detail, mix colors freely, and portray minute gradations of light?

Oil Paints. The development of oil paints by fifteenth century Northern European artists like Jan Van Eyck led to its adoption as the major European painting medium by the sixteenth century. The versatility of slow drying oil paint offered artists opportunities for new painting techniques. Painters could now record fine detail, blend colors freely, and depict gradations of light in contrast to the previously traditional medium of egg tempera. Oil painting afforded Renaissance artists the ability to refine their striving for realistic illusionism.

In a nonrepresentational work of art, what element is most likely to contribute to a sense of spatial depth?

Overlapping shapes. Although any of the others might contribute to a sense of space, overlapping shapes are tied to the basic human perception of space: if a shape or form that a person sees is interrupted by another shape or form that overlaps it, the brain interprets this to mean that the interrupted shape is behind the overlapping one. Artists make use of this fact of perception to create the illusion of space through overlapping shapes.

Daguerreotypes are a type of

Photograph. Daguerreotypes are early photographs produced by an obsolete photographic process named for Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, the primary inventor. The highly detailed daguerreotype image is formed on a metal sheet with a highly polished silver surface without the use of a negative. Daguerreotypes were the first practical form of permanent photography.

A Baren and squeegee are two tools commonly used in what?

Printmaking. A baren is a tool used in relief printing and a squeegee is a tool used in serigraphy (silk-screen printing).

What color model is used in most computer monitors?

RGB. The term "RGB" stands for red, green, and blue and refers to an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are mixed together to form any color. The electronic display screens of televisions and computer monitors use RGB to generate the colorful images you see on the screen.

A visual key that ties a piece of art together, unifies it, and controls the viewers eye by having multiples of the same object. Example is Eva Hesse's artwork

Repetition.

In digital photography, image sharpness is determined by

Resolution. In digital photography, resolution refers to the amount of detail an image can hold. Since more detail results in more sharpness, it is resolution that determines image sharpness in digital photography.

To serve their function as places of spiritual renewal, classical Japanese Zen gardens typically contain what forms of media?

Rocks encircled by raked patterns in white gravel. Classical Japanese Zen gardens are dry gardens that feature arrangements of prominently placed rocks surrounded by raked water-like patterns in sand or gravel. The flowing patterns represent water and, consequently, the still waters of the mind.

What ancient civilization produced highly detailed portrait sculptures that emphasize individualized likenesses and features?

Roman. In contrast to the sculpture of other ancient cultures, ancient Roman sculpture is known for portrait sculptures that emphasize individualized likenesses and features.

Using a wet mop to remove clay dust along with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner is an example of what practice?

Safe studio practice. Long-term exposure to clay dust can lead to silicosis, a serious lung ailment. Best studio practices for clay dust include wiping down surfaces with a wet mop or sponge and vacuuming with a HEPA-filter-equipped vacuum that captures particles 0.3 micron in diameter and larger.

What artist was strongly influenced by Freud's writings on psychoanalysis?

Salvador Dalí. Salvador Dalí, a prominent member of the Surrealist movement, was greatly influenced by Sigmund Freud's theory of psychoanalysis, particularly Freud's conception of the unconscious and the importance of dreams.

What digital camera setting controls the length of time during which light can enter the camera?

Shutter speed.

The eighteenth-century painter and graphic artist, William Hogarth produced a series of pictures that functioned chiefly as

Social satire. William Hogarth examined the mores and activities of the social and economic classes in his satirical moral works, which were painted and later engraved. In A Harlot's Progress (1732) he shows the downward spiral in the life of a prostitute. A Rake's Progress (1735) looks at the newly prosperous middle class, and Marriage à la mode (1745) portrays upper-middle-class society.

What is a clear, famous, example of post-and-lintel construction?

Stonehenge. A lintel is a flat beam that spans posts; the stone construction at Stonehenge is a clear application of this system. None of the buildings mentioned in the other choices employs this construction system.

What architectural structure is characteristic of early Buddhist sanctuaries in South Asia?

Stupa. Stupas are an architectural form characteristic of early South Asian Buddhism. They are round structures, typically bell-shaped or pyramidal.

If a primary color is mixed with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel, the resulting color is called

Tertiary.

When painting "Europe After the Rain II", Max Ernst created the foreground by placing a piece of paper on the painted surface and then pulling the paper away, creating accidental patterns and textures that provided the Surrealist artist with what inspiration?

The basis for form inspired by free association. Max Ernst often used automatic techniques to free his unconscious imagination and provide inspiration for new subject matter. In some of his later work, evident in Europe After the Rain II, he experimented with a process called decalcomania to create the foliage-like patterns that provided the basis for this strange and dreamlike landscape.

Print resolution, or print quality in a digital image printed on paper is achieved by a greater number of pixels, or dots, within the same area that produce prints that are sharper and capture more detail. This is called what?

The dots per inch (dpi) of ink or toner on the paper.

What is a distinctive feature of Hokusai's Japanese landscape that would distinguish it from a European landscape painting or print created prior to 1850 ? (Hokusai's View of Konodrai)

The flat use of color and abstract shapes. Hokusai is one of the Japanese printmakers whose work was imported to Paris in the mid-nineteenth century and strongly influenced artists such as Degas and Cassatt. One of the aspects of the imported ukiyo-e prints that most impressed European artists was the way representation of space was changed by using areas of relatively flat color to compose an image. Because they are not modeled as required in European tradition, many of the color areas, such as the cloud formation and the triangular roofs of the buildings, read as abstract shapes.

To create intricately patterned batiks, Japanese artists work in stages using what technique?

They work with progressively darker dye colors. Batik is the traditional textile art form of Indonesia. The design traditionally begins with a wax design applied to a piece of white cotton fabric. Artists paint with hot melted wax on the dry fabric using a tool called a tjanting. The fabric is then placed in a light-colored dye bath. After the fabric is dry, a new layer of wax pattern is applied and the fabric is dyed with a new color. As each new layer of wax pattern is applied, the fabric is dipped in progressively darker dyes (or left in dye baths for longer periods of time for a darker result) resulting in elaborate patterns.

The gauge of a wire refers to the wire's

Thickness. In wire gauge systems the larger the number, the smaller the gauge or thickness. For example: 6 gauge wire is thick and 22 gauge wire is fine, like thread.

What is the type of ceramic product that requires the highest firing temperature?

True porcelain. To obtain its optimum density, true porcelain is fired at temperatures above 2,300º F, which is higher than the firing temperatures required for any of the other types of ceramic wares listed

What paint thinner is a health risk for absorption through healthy, unbroken skin?

Turpentine. In addition to emitting harmful vapors, turpentine presents a second risk because it can be absorbed through healthy, unbroken skin.

What type of cable provides the most common interface between a computer and a printer?

USB. USB (Universal Serial Bus) cables are the industry standard for connecting personal computers with peripheral devices like printers.

The focal point of Lilly Martin Spencer's portrait drawing is created primarily through the use of

Value. As with many portraits, the focal point of the drawing is the subject's eyes. Spencer has used gradually darker values moving toward the left side of the face to focus attention on the darkest area, the eyes.

What is a feature of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling that was revealed after the ceiling had been cleaned, altering critical understanding of the ceiling?

Vibrant colors. Many consider Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, finished over five hundred years ago, to be the greatest work of art in the Western world. In 1980, the Vatican announced restoration plans for this famous work. Although still controversial, the cleaning of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes revealed vivid colors that surprised people. Arguably the greatest art conservation project of the twentieth century, the project cost millions of dollars, took twelve years to complete, and brought together an international team of the greatest conservationists and art historians of the time.

What art material can be used safely in any room, regardless of its ventilation?

Watercolor. Watercolor does not pose any danger to artists through inhalation and is the one material listed that does not require good ventilation.

What piece of safety gear is important when using power tools to protect your eyes?

Wear safety glasses. Safety glasses are among the most important pieces of safety equipment in a wood shop or art studio. They prevent serious eye injury by protecting the eyes from the resulting dust, debris, and wood shavings that power tools like drills or saws may produce.

What is an apropriate adhesive that is archival and safest to use when hinging a two-dimensional artwork to museum board?

Wheat paste. It is important for artwork mounting systems to provide sufficient strength, age well, have no tendency to discolor, and be easily removed (reversible). The safest archival mounting choice for two-dimensional artwork, according to museum conservators, utilizes a starch-based adhesive with acid-free paper hinges.

A traditional way to create patterns on the surface of a three-dimensional object is to use

Wood pieces inlaid into a contrasting wooden surface. A traditional way to create patterns on the surface of a three-dimensional object is to use wood inlay. In this process, small pieces of wood (of one or more colors) are inlaid into a wooden surface of yet another color or value. Through this process, elaborate designs can be created, from geometric patterns through various kinds of more linear, elaborate patterns.

Is Rubber cement a hazardous material? Yes or no? Why?

Yes. Rubber cement is labeled as a hazardous material. Rubber cement is potentially fatal if swallowed and may cause respiratory, skin, and eye irritation as well as allergic reactions. The solvents in rubber cement are also dangerously flammable.

When a kiln is being used indoors, the best way to keep the room it is in safely ventilated is to have

a downdraft ventilation system. Indoor kilns require mechanized ventilation for adequate safety. Harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide, metal fumes, and sulfur oxides can degrade indoor air, posing health and safety risks. A downdraft ventilation system mounted underneath the kiln gives the most extensive exhaust ventilation by capturing fumes from inside the kiln before they enter the room and venting them safely outdoors.

The objects depicted in Willem van Aelst's painting An Oyster Breakfast symbolize the

brevity of life. The painting An Oyster Breakfast by Willem van Aelst contains symbolic references to the theme of vanitas, which emphasizes the brevity of life. In vanitas still lifes, an abundance of food can be seen as a symbol of luxury but at the same time has a double meaning: food does not last forever and life does not, either. This is emphasized through the representation of highly perishable food such as oysters.

Pug mills, slab rollers, and wedging tables are used in what type of art?

ceramics. Pug mills, slab rollers, and wedging tables are all used in ceramics. Pug mills are used to mix or knead clay; slab rollers, as the name suggests, are used to roll out even slabs of clay; and wedging tables are used to wedge clay in order to remove air bubbles.

In ceramics, "slip" is a term used to describe

clay suspended in water. In ceramics, "slip" is a liquefied suspension of clay particles in water. It is used for a variety of processes in ceramics.

To dispose of oil-based painting and printmaking products safely, all such materials should be

deposited in an approved container. Safe disposal of oil-based products, such as paint and ink, is linked to a variety of hazards that these products pose, such as inhalation and flammability. They should never be thrown into general trash, stored indefinitely, or placed in general recycling bins. Approved containers, such as covered metal trash cans, provide safe short-term disposal for oil-based products.

A designer who carefully selects a particular typeface to use in a design is likely to be most concerned with the

exact shapes of the letters. The shapes of the letters in a typeface necessarily have a critical impact on the overall look of the design. Depending on the content, the designer might want to be bold, delicate, simple, decorative, and so on. In addition, the letter shapes together comprise the overall shape of each word.

The safest way to use aerosol propellants such as fixative is to apply them

in a spray booth. Using spray paint and other types of aerosol spray present serious health and safety risks. The safest way to use aerosol propellants is to apply them in a specially constructed, enclosed area called a "spray booth."

A natural colorant traditionally used to dye cotton fibers a deep blue is

indigo. A bright and deeply blue color, indigo is among the oldest dyes used for textile dyeing and printing.

Electric mixers, window screens, lint from a clothes dryer, deckles, and couch sheets are typically used for

making paper. All of the equipment listed is often used for papermaking but not for the other processes mentioned.

It is safe to unload bisqueware from the kiln when

the outside of the kiln is cool to the touch and the pieces can be easily touched by hand. t is never safe to open a kiln at any temperature over 200°F.