NES Profile: Art (503)

Which of the following would be most accurately captured using gesture drawing?

1. the fine details of a cut-glass vase
2. the texture of a rock wall
3. the stance of a figure
4. the contrast of a strongly lit still life

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C. This question requires the examinee to recognize the effect of a particular drawing technique. Gesture drawing is well suited to figure drawing because the focus of gesture drawing is on capturing the essential shape and expressive posture of a figure.

To lighten the value of a color when working with transparent watercolor paints, an artist would typically:

1. reduce the amount of water mixed into the paint.
2. paint a dark color in an adjacent area.
3. thin the paint with water.
4. mix the color with its complement.

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C. This question requires the examinee to understand a characteristic of watercolor paints. Transparent watercolor paints allow the color of the support to show through them. To create a lighter value of a transparent watercolor, an artist would dilute the paint with water, thereby applying less pigment and allowing more of the light color of the support to show through.

Which of the following safety precautions will best help prevent injury during the process of cutting a block for a relief print?

1. wearing work gloves while cutting
2. using a mallet to facilitate cutting the block
3. using a bench hook to secure the block
4. installing a ventilation hood over the area where cutting is done

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C. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of safety issues in printmaking. Because cutting a block for a relief print requires working with sharp tools that could lead to injury, it is important to keep the block secure when gouging. A bench hook keeps the block in place.

Which of the following is an example of a subtractive sculptural process?

1. assemblage
2. relief carving
3. papier-mâché
4. casting

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B. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of sculpting processes. Relief carving is a subtractive process in which the sculptor removes media until the subject projects from the background of the media but remains part of it.

In photography, adjusting which of the following would result in all the objects in the image appearing closer to the camera?

1. aperture
2. shutter speed
3. focal length
4. flash

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C. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of photographic techniques. Focal length is the magnification power of a lens. When focusing on objects for a photograph, increasing the focal length of the lens will make the objects appear larger and, therefore, closer to the camera.

Which of the following poses the greatest safety risk for an artist who is creating a ceramic work?

1. improper ventilation
2. using grog as an additive
3. insufficient wedging
4. inadequate drying time

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A. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of safety issues concerning ceramics. Unintended inhalation of hazardous dust and fumes, when mixing dry clay and working with lead glazes for example, poses the greatest safety risk for an artist who is creating a ceramic work. Adequate ventilation in the studio is essential for preventing the health risks associated with inhaling such substances.