For What Is Tempera Paint Used?

Hundreds of years ago, artists could not go to a store to purchase paints. They had to create their paints. One type of paint artists made was tempera paint. Tempera paint sold in stores today, sometimes known as poster paint, often has little in common with traditional tempera paints. Actually, calling it tempera at all proves misleading to those seeking to work with a medium having the characteristics of tempera paint. True tempera, as created by artists hundreds of years ago to the present, provides a durable, luminous medium unlike any other.

History

Historically, tempera paint dates back to ancient Egypt as one of the oldest art mediums. Hundreds of years ago, Muslims used tempera paint to decorate their illuminated manuscripts. Tempera glides smoothly from the brush and achieves excellent results with detail work such as that in illuminations. Persians used tempera in their well-known paintings of myths and legends. The brilliant colors of tempera were well suited to depictions of otherworldly subject matter. Tempera paint offers luminous, bright colors however; they present difficulty in achieving realistic colors. One artist, Cennini, documented its use so well in the 14th century that his manual on tempera painting is still used today.

Luminous Effect

As oil paints became widely known, and as subject matter among artists changed from religious and mythological figures to realistic subjects, including human figures, tempera lost favor among artists. Realistic colors, particularly of the human figure, are difficult to recreate with tempera paint. Earlier subject matter, such as religious or mythological figures did not require realistic pigments. The luminous effect tempera acquires as it dries provided an otherworldly effect that suited medieval artists. However, Renaissance artists painted the world realistically and oil paints provided a more cooperative media for mixing colors that would resemble real life. Where a luminous effect is desired, tempera still offers a suitable medium.

Traditional Pigment

If you wish to recreate a traditional, historically accurate paint medium, creating your own tempera paints to use is an easily achievable choice. Traditional tempera, also called egg tempera, requires the use of a binder such as egg, pigment powders and water. The amount of water to yolk and pigment varies with the size of the yolk and the result you desire. As you practice mixing tempera, you will learn what amount of water suits you, based on the project on which you work. Separate the yolk from the egg, add a teaspoon of water and mix. Place a small amount of pigment powder, available in art stores, in a small container. Remember that tempera must be used immediately so you should only mix small amounts. Stir an equal amount of egg mixture into the pigment. Add more water as needed to achieve a thin paint that slides smoothly from the brush as you paint.

Durability

Tempera paint remains a good choice of paint to use today if painting a large piece of artwork needing a durable medium. Tempera panels from the 15th century still exist today in perfect condition. Tempera was the predominant medium during the Middle Ages and well suited to the large panels famous Renaissance painters such as Michelangelo created. As the paint dries, the water evaporates and the egg forms a durable, luminous, water- and fade-resistant film that lasts for hundreds of years. Traditionally, tempera achieves the best results on a firm painting surface such as wood on which a gesso layer has dried. Varnish over tempera does not damage it and may deepen the colors. You must remember when painting with tempera that the paint dries quickly, so achieve any color mixing during the paint creation.

Considerations

Though tempera paint almost became a lost art with the arrival of oil paints, it has endured and seen several recurrences in popularity. Most recently from 1920 to 1950 significant artists such as Paul Cadmus, George Tooker, Jackson Pollock and Andrew Wyeth, to name a few, were part of a tempera restoration movement. Though it remains a popular medium with many professional and historical recreation artists today, tempera should not be used with young children because of pigment toxicity. In fact, adults working with the pigments must be keenly aware of this and keep all items out of the mouth during use as well as take caution not to breathe in the dust of the pigment powders. Though some pigments are more toxic than others, all retain some toxicity. Tempera paints sold in stores for children, particularly in the United States as tempera poster paints, are not traditional tempera paints and are perfectly safe.