NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Origins of drawing -
correct answer ✅-first was created on cave walls as early as 10,000
B.C.
-by Egyptians starting in 3,000 B.C.
-originally used to express ideas and scenes in cave paintings
-In the Middle Ages, drawings were mainly completed on animal
skins, wood, wax, or slate
Drawing in the Renaissance Era -
correct answer ✅-became more widely used due to availability of
paper
-artists would learn to draw before painting or sculpting
-used to study and record nature and anatomy
-artists used pen and ink, as well as black and red charcoal
Charcoal -
correct answer ✅an early drawing material made from slowly
burned wood. Charcoal was used for cave drawings, when burnt
sticks were rubbed on cave walls
,NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Red chalk -
correct answer ✅-made from iron oxide pigment and refined clay
-popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Leonardo da Vinci
used it for many sketches
Black chalk -
correct answer ✅-carbonaceous shale, and it is softer than red
chalk
-used in 15th-century Italy for underdrawings for ink or metal point
artwork
-Albrecht Dürer and Anthony van Dyck used black chalk for portraits
White chalk -
correct answer ✅-calcium carbonate or soapstone
-used for highlights on drawings
Conté crayons -
correct answer ✅-developed in the early 1800s
-made in red, black, and white
-harder than chalk and produce smoother lines
,NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Ink -
correct answer ✅-liquid pigment that can be used with a pen or a
brush
-commonly used for writing
Pens -
correct answer ✅-first made with bird feathers (quills) and reeds,
and later they were created with metal tips
Pencils -
correct answer ✅-made from graphite encased in wood
-available in a range of hardnesses, from 10H to 10B
-10B pencil 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
Mahlstick -
correct answer ✅stick with a padded head used to rest and
support your hand to keep it steady while drawing or painting
, NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Kneaded rubber eraser -
correct answer ✅can be manipulated and rolled into smaller sizes
to erase small areas, and it will not leave eraser crumbs behind
Gum eraser -
correct answer ✅-yellowish and will crumble quickly
-best for larger areas
Pink eraser -
correct answer ✅-firmer and more precise, but it will still leave
crumbs on the paper
Parchment -
correct answer ✅-commonly used drawing surface used in the
Middle Ages
-animal skin
Paper -
correct answer ✅-first created in A.D. 105 in China
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Origins of drawing -
correct answer ✅-first was created on cave walls as early as 10,000
B.C.
-by Egyptians starting in 3,000 B.C.
-originally used to express ideas and scenes in cave paintings
-In the Middle Ages, drawings were mainly completed on animal
skins, wood, wax, or slate
Drawing in the Renaissance Era -
correct answer ✅-became more widely used due to availability of
paper
-artists would learn to draw before painting or sculpting
-used to study and record nature and anatomy
-artists used pen and ink, as well as black and red charcoal
Charcoal -
correct answer ✅an early drawing material made from slowly
burned wood. Charcoal was used for cave drawings, when burnt
sticks were rubbed on cave walls
,NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Red chalk -
correct answer ✅-made from iron oxide pigment and refined clay
-popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Leonardo da Vinci
used it for many sketches
Black chalk -
correct answer ✅-carbonaceous shale, and it is softer than red
chalk
-used in 15th-century Italy for underdrawings for ink or metal point
artwork
-Albrecht Dürer and Anthony van Dyck used black chalk for portraits
White chalk -
correct answer ✅-calcium carbonate or soapstone
-used for highlights on drawings
Conté crayons -
correct answer ✅-developed in the early 1800s
-made in red, black, and white
-harder than chalk and produce smoother lines
,NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Ink -
correct answer ✅-liquid pigment that can be used with a pen or a
brush
-commonly used for writing
Pens -
correct answer ✅-first made with bird feathers (quills) and reeds,
and later they were created with metal tips
Pencils -
correct answer ✅-made from graphite encased in wood
-available in a range of hardnesses, from 10H to 10B
-10B pencil 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
Mahlstick -
correct answer ✅stick with a padded head used to rest and
support your hand to keep it steady while drawing or painting
, NYSTCE Visual Arts 167: Artistic
Processes & Materials Exam Actual
Questions and Answers 2026
Kneaded rubber eraser -
correct answer ✅can be manipulated and rolled into smaller sizes
to erase small areas, and it will not leave eraser crumbs behind
Gum eraser -
correct answer ✅-yellowish and will crumble quickly
-best for larger areas
Pink eraser -
correct answer ✅-firmer and more precise, but it will still leave
crumbs on the paper
Parchment -
correct answer ✅-commonly used drawing surface used in the
Middle Ages
-animal skin
Paper -
correct answer ✅-first created in A.D. 105 in China
