How to Paint With Tempera
Every kindergarten finger-painter, high school cheerleader and pep squad member is familiar with tempera paint. One of the oldest types of paint, it was originally a pigment paint thickened with egg yolks. Modern popular tempera paint is now also called poster paint and is more of a gouache, a pigment and water paint similar to watercolor.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Choose either tempera powder or pre-mixed tempera. The powdered form must be mixed with water, but the thickness may be more easily controlled. Pre-mixed tempera is more convenient, but it is more difficult to adjust its thickness.
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2
Chose the correct paper or surface. Tempera works best on paper that works well with a water base, such as watercolor paper. Experiment on other surfaces, such as wood or canvas.
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3
Mix the correct thickness. Tempera paint is flexible in its consistency. Thin tempera paint is almost transparent and can be used in much the same way as glazes. Thicker tempera is more opaque.
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4
Take heed of techniques. Because tempera paint dries quickly, short swift brush strokes are more effective. Thin tempera works well when underpainting. Use numerous layers of paint to build depth of color.
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5
Blend a rainbow of colors. While tempera may only come in basic colors, these colors can be blended to make any shade desired. Use the color wheel to blend primary colors into secondary: red and yellow make orange; blue and yellow make green; blue and red make purple. Use black, white and brown to make variations of colors.
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6
Allow drying time. While tempera paint dries quickly to the touch, it may take much longer to completely cure. Some paintings with many layers may take up to a year.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep the workplace clean. Always use clean water and brushes to keep the tempera paint from becoming muddied.
Tempera paint color does not change over time, unlike oil paint. Do not expect the color to change significantly when completely dry.
