Observation

The question is on decorative effects, which is practically inclined. This limited the candidates’ performance because of little or no practical experience. Notwithstanding, a few were able to answer the question. The candidates were expected to provide the following answers in order to score good marks.

(a)        (i)         Rag rolling:  This is a method of a broken colour effect in tinted glaze
medium whereby a piece of absorbent material is rolled over a scumble  to reveal part of the ground.              

(ii)        Broken colour:  This is the use of multiple colours stippled together to form a decorative pattern.

(iii)       Bleaching:  This is a method of graduating the tone of a scumble from dark to a higher tone with the addition of transparent glaze and stippling brush.

(iv)       Graining:  This is the reproduction of the grain of any timber achieved by manipulating semi-transparent glazes over a painted ground of solid colour. (undercoat/egg shell.)

(b)        (i)         Process of producing rag rolling:

-           prepare a solid ground surface coated with under coat or eggshell.
-           apply glaze medium on the prepared solid ground surface.
-           when still wet wrung a tightly twisted non-lint rag or chamois leather already dipped in spirit between the fingers.
-           roll the rag over the wet glaze medium in irregular motion from                                           bottom to top.

(ii)        Process of producing broken colour:

-           prepare a solid ground colour painted in undercoat or eggshell.
-           apply transparent glaze on the ground colour.
-           when the glaze is still wet, drop patches of colour in different shapes and size on it.
-           blend together the patches with stipple brush by stippling the colours in different direction.

(iii)       Process of producing graining:

-           Prepare the solid ground colour coated with eggshell or undercoat.
-           apply the scumble with a flat brush over solid ground colour.
-           while it is still wet, use a comb to etch an open grain pattern into the colour scumble.
-           draw the comb across the surface tipping and rolling it from one end to the other.
-           rock the comb from side to side to produce wider patterns.
-           use stippling brush to reduce comb marks.

(iv)       Process of producing blending:

-           prepare the solid ground colour coated with undercoat or eggshell.
-           apply the scumble on any area of the surface depending on the direction of the blending work.
-           add glaze in measured quantity to the scumble at various stages of the blending work and stipple until a higher tone is produced.