NYSTCE Visual Arts UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER - An early drawing material made from slowly burned
wood. It was used for cave drawings, when burnt sticks were rubbed on cave walls.
Red Chalk - CORRECT ANSWER - This is made from iron oxide pigment and refined
clay. It was popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Leonardo da Vinci used it for many
sketches.
Black Chalk - CORRECT ANSWER - This is carbonaceous shale, and it is softer than red
chalk. It was used in 15th-century Italy for underdrawings for ink or metalpoint artwork.
Albrecht Dürer and Anthony van Dyck used this for portraits.
White Chalk - CORRECT ANSWER - This is calcium carbonate or soapstone, and it is
used for highlights on drawings.
Conte Crayons - CORRECT ANSWER - These were developed in the early 1800s. They
are made in red, black, and white. They are harder than chalk and produce smoother lines.
Graphite - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a form of carbon, and it was first discovered in
the 1500s. It was later cut into strips and encased in wood for pencils.
Ink - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a liquid pigment that can be used with a pen or a
brush. It was also commonly used for writing.
Pens - CORRECT ANSWER - These were first made with bird feathers (quills) and reeds,
and later they were created with metal tips.
Pencils - CORRECT ANSWER - These are made from graphite encased in wood. They are
available in a range of hardnesses, from 10H to
, 10B. A 10H has the hardest lead, and it will stay the sharpest and leave the lightest mark on the
paper. A
10B has the softest lead, and it will wear down quickly, leaving the darkest mark on the paper. In
the
middle are F and HB, which are a medium hardness and darkness.
Compressed Charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a hard charcoal stick made from
lightweight carbon.
Vine Charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a thin, delicate stick of charcoal made
from lightweight carbon.
Tortillon - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a piece of paper wrapped up tightly, ending in a
point, that can be used to blend pencil and charcoal
drawings.
Maulstick/Mahlstick - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a stick with a padded head used to
rest and support your hand to keep it steady while drawing or painting.
Kneaded Rubber Eraser - CORRECT ANSWER - This is an eraser that can be
manipulated and rolled into smaller sizes to erase small areas, and it will not leave eraser crumbs
behind.
Gum Eraser - CORRECT ANSWER - This eraser is yellowish and will crumble quickly. It
is best for larger areas.
Pink Eraser - CORRECT ANSWER - This eraser is firmer and more precise, but it will
still leave crumbs on the paper.
Dry Cleaning Pad - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a fabric bag filled with pieces of eraser
that can be used to clean up fingerprints, smudges, and dust from larger areas of paper.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER - An early drawing material made from slowly burned
wood. It was used for cave drawings, when burnt sticks were rubbed on cave walls.
Red Chalk - CORRECT ANSWER - This is made from iron oxide pigment and refined
clay. It was popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Leonardo da Vinci used it for many
sketches.
Black Chalk - CORRECT ANSWER - This is carbonaceous shale, and it is softer than red
chalk. It was used in 15th-century Italy for underdrawings for ink or metalpoint artwork.
Albrecht Dürer and Anthony van Dyck used this for portraits.
White Chalk - CORRECT ANSWER - This is calcium carbonate or soapstone, and it is
used for highlights on drawings.
Conte Crayons - CORRECT ANSWER - These were developed in the early 1800s. They
are made in red, black, and white. They are harder than chalk and produce smoother lines.
Graphite - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a form of carbon, and it was first discovered in
the 1500s. It was later cut into strips and encased in wood for pencils.
Ink - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a liquid pigment that can be used with a pen or a
brush. It was also commonly used for writing.
Pens - CORRECT ANSWER - These were first made with bird feathers (quills) and reeds,
and later they were created with metal tips.
Pencils - CORRECT ANSWER - These are made from graphite encased in wood. They are
available in a range of hardnesses, from 10H to
, 10B. A 10H has the hardest lead, and it will stay the sharpest and leave the lightest mark on the
paper. A
10B has the softest lead, and it will wear down quickly, leaving the darkest mark on the paper. In
the
middle are F and HB, which are a medium hardness and darkness.
Compressed Charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a hard charcoal stick made from
lightweight carbon.
Vine Charcoal - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a thin, delicate stick of charcoal made
from lightweight carbon.
Tortillon - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a piece of paper wrapped up tightly, ending in a
point, that can be used to blend pencil and charcoal
drawings.
Maulstick/Mahlstick - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a stick with a padded head used to
rest and support your hand to keep it steady while drawing or painting.
Kneaded Rubber Eraser - CORRECT ANSWER - This is an eraser that can be
manipulated and rolled into smaller sizes to erase small areas, and it will not leave eraser crumbs
behind.
Gum Eraser - CORRECT ANSWER - This eraser is yellowish and will crumble quickly. It
is best for larger areas.
Pink Eraser - CORRECT ANSWER - This eraser is firmer and more precise, but it will
still leave crumbs on the paper.
Dry Cleaning Pad - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a fabric bag filled with pieces of eraser
that can be used to clean up fingerprints, smudges, and dust from larger areas of paper.
