Egg tempera painting is traditionally seen as a difficult medium due to it’s fast drying time. However once you get over the initial learning curve of how the paint handles it can be a very versatile medium for creating luminous works of art. Below are a few guidelines for anyone starting out.
1. Paint Thin and Dry
Egg tempera painting is best applied thinly and a in a dry brush manner. Impasto techniques are not well suited for egg tempera because it is generally brittle and the egg is not a strong binder. By painting thin it allows the paint to dry quickly and make a stronger bond to the traditional gesso surface. Painting dry is also encouraged since a wet brush tends to cause the lifting of layers already applied. A tell-tale sign that you are painting too wet is a noticeable dark dot at the end of all your brush strokes- this is caused by excess paint. Painting dry is accomplished by removing paint from the brush with a paper towel or rag. Artists such as Andrew Wyeth used this technique in both egg tempera and watercolors.
2. Use a Traditional Gesso Support
Egg yolk is not a strong or flexible binder. As a result it is important to paint on a surface that is absorbent and rigid. Pre-primed canvas or panels that you buy at an art supply store will not provide the best support. Those type of supports use either an oil-based or acrylic-based gesso and are flexible. The oil-based or acrylic-based gesso are not absorbent enough to make a strong bond with the egg yolk. Traditional gesso is composed of gypsum(marble dust), whiting(titanium white) and rabbit skin glue. This mixture will yield a very absorbent ground which will ensure your painting does not flake off or have other unexpected results. For information on making your own panels visit: http://www.eggtempera.com/grounds.html. If you prefer to focus on painting you can purchase pre-made traditional panels from www.TrueGesso.com or www.RealGesso.com. I have tried both and are good options for any artist experimenting with egg tempera or the professional artist with little time on his/her hands.
3. Use Watercolor or Soft-Hair Brushes
Egg tempera is a water-soluble paint. Any brush you use with watercolor should work with egg tempera. The king of brushes is of course the Kolinsky Sable but you can get away with a good sable blend brush that holds it’s shape nicely. When choosing a brush for egg tempera ensure that it can hold a point or be shaped into a chisel shape. Also ensure that it can be loaded easily. Additionally Utrecht makes some very good sythentic brushes that I have used and Koo Schadler (www.KooSchadler) also recommends in her book – You can view them here: http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_product.cfm?item=33842.
4. Great Books to Get Started
Getting started can sometimes be a hurdle but with a good book many of the questions can be answered in one sitting. Below are some recommendations:
Egg Tempera Painting – By Koo Schadler
This is a great instructional book on egg tempera. Koo has done an awesome job of distilling the essentials of painting with egg tempera in a way that is easy to grasp and apply.
The Luminous Brush – Altoon Sultan
This book is great for an introduction to egg tempera and a quick history lesson. Altoon has provide good shots of the materials, her approach to painting and a brief look at other egg tempera artists such as George Tooker and Michael Bergt.
The Practice of Tempera Painting – Daniel V. Thomspson
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the definitive book on egg tempera painting – The Practice of Tempera Painting. This is an excellent book for any one interested in the history of traditional egg tempera application. Some of the information seems a little archaic but is very interesting.
5. Websites To Visit
To learn more about egg tempera or get connected to other artists check out the following websites:
www.EggTempera.com
www.EggTempera.org
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=155340124760&ref=nf
www.squidoo.com/eggtempera
www.alexgarciafineart.com/egg-tempera/egg-tempera-demo/
For more great information read Alessandra Kelley’s Tips for Painting with Egg Tempera.
I hope this has provided some encouragement to you as you venture into the world of egg tempera painting. If you ever have any questions feel free to email me.