Brush techniques

The governing concept is selecting the correct tool for a painting medium. A brush holds poster colour and transfers it smoothly onto paper, allowing the artist to make broad strokes or detailed marks according to its size. Therefore, option C is correct. Scissors cut paper, a ruler measures or guides straight lines, and a compass makes circles; none is designed to apply paint. A clean, suitable brush also helps produce an even finish.

The governing practical principle is maintaining clean tools to preserve colour purity. Before applying poster colour, the brush should be clean and free from dried paint, dust, and residue from the previous colour. Therefore, option C is correct. A dirty brush can contaminate the new mixture and change its shade. A broken brush is unusable, and a completely hard brush cannot spread paint smoothly. Rinse it when changing colours and remove excess water before painting.

The governing technique is matching brush size and shape to the area being painted. A broad flat brush carries enough poster colour and covers a large surface evenly with fewer strokes, so option A is correct. A thin round brush and a liner brush are better for narrow lines and small details. A fan brush is mainly useful for texture or soft effects, not for laying an even, solid coat over a large area. The brush should be loaded moderately to avoid drips.

The governing technique is using a narrow, controlled tip for detailed marks. A thin pointed brush holds a small amount of colour and allows the artist to guide the tip accurately, making it suitable for fine lines; therefore, option B is correct. A broad flat brush covers larger areas, while a sponge and cloth are not designed to produce precise painted lines. The brush should not be overloaded, because excess colour can form drops and make a line uneven.

The governing technique is controlled, consistent brushwork. Moving the brush carefully in one direction distributes poster colour evenly and reduces streaks, gaps, and irregular patches. Keeping the paint quantity and pressure fairly steady improves the result. Option A can drag or skip the colour, option C damages the painted surface, and option D has no role in making a layer even. Therefore, option B is correct.

The governing concept is controlled brush technique. A thin brush has a narrow point that can hold a small amount of poster colour and place it accurately on the paper, producing small, round dots. A broad brush usually makes wider marks, while scissors and cloth are not painting tools. Touch the tip lightly to the surface and keep the pressure consistent for similar dots.

The governing concept is brush control: lettering needs a tool that can produce deliberate strokes, clean edges, and reasonably consistent thickness. A thin brush is useful for fine lines, while a small flat brush can fill letter shapes neatly. Therefore, option D is correct. A broom, cotton bundle, or broken pencil cannot reliably control wet poster colour or form clean painted letters.

The governing concept is proper care of painting tools. Brushes should be washed promptly so poster colour does not dry between the bristles and make them stiff or spread apart. After washing, the bristles should be gently reshaped and the brush stored safely. Therefore, option D is correct. Leaving brushes in paint, storing them dirty, or drying them with paint still attached can permanently reduce their control and useful life.

The governing concept is careful brush maintenance. When a brush stands in water, its bristles remain under pressure against the container or become waterlogged, so they may bend, spread, and lose their intended shape. Therefore, option A is correct. Water does not sharpen or strengthen the bristles, brighten paint by itself, or lengthen the handle. After washing, brushes should be dried flat or bristle-side up.

The governing concept is choosing a brush according to the size and purpose of the painted area. A broad, flat brush carries enough poster colour and spreads it across a large surface in an even layer, so option A is correct. A pencil and a dry stick are not suitable painting brushes, while a hard wire brush can scratch the paper and cannot produce a smooth flat finish.

The governing concept is preliminary sketching before applying opaque colour. A pencil can make a thin, controllable outline that guides the placement of shapes and can remain unobtrusive beneath the paint, so option B is correct. Thick charcoal may smudge, a wet brush cannot produce a controlled dry guide, and black poster colour can leave a strong line that may show through the final painting. The outline should be light rather than heavily pressed.

The governing concept is matching brush size and shape to the required mark. A thin pointed brush has a fine tip that allows the artist to control narrow lines, small edges, and delicate details, so option C is correct. A broad brush is designed for larger areas, while a sponge and cloth make soft or irregular marks rather than precise lines. Gentle pressure and a suitable amount of paint improve detail work.

The governing concept is choosing a brush according to the size, shape, and edges required in lettering. A suitably sized flat brush can make broad, even strokes, while a pointed brush can form narrow lines, corners, and smaller details. Thus option C is correct. A dry broad brush gives broken marks, a wire brush can damage the paper, and a sponge cannot provide precise letter strokes.

The governing brush-technique principle for a flat area is consistency: strokes should generally follow a steady direction with even pressure and a suitably loaded brush. This produces a smooth, uniform layer and reduces visible streaks, so option B is correct. Irregular strokes look untidy, dry strokes leave gaps, and circular strokes are not required for every flat area.

The governing concept is selecting a tool according to the required mark. A thin pointed brush has a narrow tip that holds and releases colour in a controlled path, making it suitable for fine lines and small details. Thus option A is correct. A broad brush makes wide strokes, while a sponge and roller are designed for dabbing or covering larger areas rather than drawing precise lines.

The governing concept is preventing unintended colour mixing. Pigment left in the brush can contaminate the next colour and change its intended hue, brightness, or value. Washing and gently removing excess water keeps the new colour clean, so option A is correct. Cleaning is not intended to stiffen bristles, dry paint faster, or wet the paper; those effects do not explain the practice.

The governing concept is visual hierarchy in poster design. A title should be noticed quickly, so large, legible lettering and a colour that contrasts with its background give it emphasis. A clear position and adequate spacing can strengthen this effect. Option A is therefore correct. Very small lettering, hiding the title, or removing all colour reduces attention and weakens communication rather than making the title prominent.

The governing concept is brush control and correct paint loading. Dripping indicates that the brush contains more liquid colour than the paper can receive neatly. Touching or drawing the brush lightly along the palette edge removes the excess while retaining enough paint for controlled strokes. Option A is correct. Adding water usually makes the paint run more, and throwing away the brush or folding the paper does not solve the problem.

The governing tool-selection principle is to match brush size and shape with the detail being painted. A thin round brush has a pointed tip and flexible hairs, allowing the artist to make narrow curved strokes for small petals. Thus option A is correct. A broad flat brush is intended for larger areas, while a wire brush or a brush without bristles cannot produce controlled, smooth poster-colour details.

The governing brush-control concept is that line width depends on pressure, angle, and steady movement. Holding the brush securely but comfortably and using light, even pressure keeps only the tip or a narrow part of the bristles in contact with the paper, producing a thin straight line. Therefore option C is correct. Excessive pressure spreads the bristles, while a loose, tilted, or inverted grip reduces control.

The governing technique is consistent repetition: the amount of paint on the brush, the brush angle, and the pressure should remain nearly the same for each mark. Loading a similar amount each time is therefore the best choice, making option A correct. Different colours do not control size, heavy pressure spreads the paint and enlarges dots, and wetting the paper can make edges bleed.

Brush shape controls the size and precision of a mark. A thin round brush has a fine point that can hold a small amount of poster colour and place it accurately, making option A correct for small dots. A broad flat brush creates wider marks, a wall roller is intended for large surfaces, and a dry sponge produces a textured patch rather than a precise dot.

The governing skill is steady brush control. For a long straight line, the hand should move continuously at a comfortable, even speed while maintaining a consistent angle and pressure on the brush. Therefore option A produces the cleanest, most uniform stroke. Jerky movement, repeated stopping and circular motion interrupt the stroke and commonly create waves, gaps or uneven thickness.

A large flat area needs an even application of paint. If brush direction, pressure, or paint loading changes from one stroke to another, some parts receive more pigment than others and visible streaks appear. Thus, option A is correct. A clean palette supports good work, while thick paper and a suitable colour scheme do not by themselves create brush streaks.

Brush selection should match the shape and width of the area being painted. A broad flat brush holds enough poster colour and presents a wide, straight edge, making it suitable for a broad, even band. Therefore, option B is correct. A thin round brush is better for details, a dry broken brush makes uneven marks, and a pencil cannot apply poster colour.