What Is Egg Tempera Paint?
Photography of Meg Buick by the Jackson's Team in the Jackson's Studio
Egg tempera is a semi-opaque, watersoluble, and permanent painting medium. It is excellent for fine art, restoration, and icon painting. Before the rise of oil painting, egg tempera was the most common painting medium. Much of the religious panel painting from the 12th and 15th centuries was done in this delicate and subtle medium.
Egg tempera is perfect for oil painters who need a highly pigmented alternative to oil paint and its solvents. Its archival properties are excellent. Paintings in egg tempera do not age or yellow like oil paints. This is evidenced by the lasting luminosity and beauty of Renaissance paintings.
One thing to keep in mind is that egg tempera is not suitable for use on canvas. This is because it is less flexible than, for example, oil or acrylics once dry. It is best when painted on a gessoed wood panel or a board (Masonite or MDF). If paper is used, it should be thick (at least 300 gsm) watercolour paper, preferably backed with board or cardboard.
What Do I Need to Start Painting with Egg Tempera?
Photography of Meg Buick by the Jackson's Team in the Jackson's Studio
- Egg tempera paint. Either prepared egg tempera colours (such as Sennelier Egg Tempera) or the materials to make your own. This includes pigment, egg yolk, and distilled water. Some artists use white wine vinegar, some use 1 part water:1 part alcohol.
- Rigid support such as a wooden panel or board. You can also use thick watercolour paper.
- A set of brushes. Watercolour brushes work well with egg tempera.
Photography of Meg Buick by the Jackson's Team in the Jackson's Studio
Colours
The binding agent for egg tempera is egg yolk, a natural emulsion that imparts a slightly glossy sheen to the paint. The paint can be diluted with water to form a thinner consistency. Once dry, the paint film becomes very hard and durable. If you are mixing your own paints, it is best to only make up what you require for each painting session, because eggs decompose rapidly.
When painting with egg tempera, the paint dries very quickly after it has been applied (in a matter of seconds). This means that colours cannot be blended on the support as they can with other techniques. Tones and colours are built up with thin glazes or hatched strokes. Repeated layers of translucent colour can create a luminous quality.
Sennelier Egg Tempera
Sennelier makes their egg tempera paints with an authentic formulation used since the Renaissance. Much of the religious panel painting done between the 12th and 15th centuries was with this delicate and subtle medium. It is capable of detailed and complex effects. Sennelier Egg Tempera is known as the medium used by Marc Chagall in many of his works.
This ready-prepared egg tempera paint is a watersoluble and archival painting medium. It is commonly used in fine art, restoration, and icon painting. It is perfect as an underpainting for oil painters. Egg tempera is also popular as a highly pigmented, professional alternative to oil paints and solvents.
Sennelier uses the same high quality pigments in this line of egg tempera as they do in their oil paints. This ensures the same vibrancy and brilliance as in the Sennelier oils. The pigments are bound with a centuries-old egg emulsion recipe, giving a satin-matt finish that is water-resistant when dry. Sennelier egg tempera has working qualities and a finish that is only found in authentic egg tempera made in the traditional manner. These delicate colours hold their brushstrokes and do not change when dry. Egg tempera can be worked with a brush or a palette knife (diluted with water). It is popular for use on non-greasy supports like boards, acrylic primed canvas, or paper.
Impasto techniques are not recommended for egg tempera. It is better to paint in thin layers. Use varnish over egg tempera paintings for an oil painting-like appearance. Sennelier recommends giving a finished egg tempera painting a coating of charcoal or pastel fixative before applying a final oil paint picture varnish.
Support
The best support for egg tempera is a rigid panel or board. It should be prepared with many coats of genuine gesso ground. An acrylic gesso won’t be absorbent enough. The genuine gesso ground has an absorbent surface, taking in the first layers of paint to create a bond between paint and ground.
Ampersand Museum Claybord is an ideal surface for egg tempera. It has a kaolin clay ground formula that is similar to the clay gesso grounds used during the Renaissance. The surface is sanded to an ultra-smooth, highly absorbent finish.
Read more about gesso and grounds in our article 'Size, Primer, Gesso and Ground Explained'.
Brushes for Egg Tempera
Brushes for watercolour painting are ideal for use with egg tempera. They have shorter handles than oil and acrylic brushes. Small brushes are useful when painting detail, applying glazes, and other intricate marks. They are available in flat, round, and filbert shapes.
A brush set with a variety of shapes and sizes is a great way to get started. As you paint more you will discover which brushes are your favourites. You can then build on your collection with the right shapes and sizes for your way of working. Starting with a set of at least three brushes is ideal. The highest quality natural hair brushes (such as sable or squirrel) are the most expensive, while synthetic brushes offer a sturdy alternative.
To learn more, read our Guide to Watercolour Brushes here.
Photography of Meg Buick by the Jackson's Team in the Jackson's Studio
How Do I Clean Up After Using Egg Tempera?
Cleaning up only requires hot water and soap. To learn more, read 'Brush Cleaning Tips for Painters'.
Varnishing An Egg Tempera Painting
Egg tempera paintings are highly durable. Egg tempera painters often leave their works unvarnished to maintain the medium’s unique, matt quality. However, egg tempera paintings remain somewhat porous and delicate compared to oil paintings. Applying a varnish can enhance depth, unify surface sheen, and provide a level of protection against dust and moisture.
A light coat of charcoal or pastel fixative is recommended before varnishing. This helps to stabilise the surface and prevent smudging or disruption of delicate glazes during varnish application. Egg tempera requires a non-yellowing, removable varnish. Always test your varnish on a separate surface or a small, discreet area.
If you plan to paint over your egg tempera work with oil paints, avoid varnishing it beforehand. Oil paint requires direct adhesion to the tempera surface, and a varnish layer can interfere with this process.
Glossary
A
Absorbent Ground
A surface that readily takes in liquid. This is essential for egg tempera painting. Genuine gesso is the most suitable absorbent ground.
B
Binder
A substance that holds pigment particles together. In egg tempera, the binder is egg yolk.
Brushing Technique
A method of applying egg tempera in fine, linear strokes or hatching, rather than blending.
C
Claybord
A rigid panel with a kaolin clay ground. Designed for egg tempera painting.
Cross-Hatching
A shading technique used in egg tempera. Created by layering fine, intersecting lines to build up tone.
D
Distilled Water
Used to thin egg tempera paint. Prevents impurities from affecting the stability of the paint.
Dry Brush
A technique where a brush with minimal paint is dragged over the surface. This creates a textured effect.
E
Egg Tempera
A watersoluble painting medium. Made from pigment and egg yolk. Known for its quick drying and luminous quality.
Egg Yolk Binder
The natural emulsion used to bind pigments in egg tempera paint.
G
Glaze
A thin, transparent layer of egg tempera. Used to create depth and luminosity.
Genuine Gesso
A traditional ground. Made from rabbit skin glue and chalk. Provides an absorbent surface for egg tempera.
H
Hatching
A technique of drawing fine parallel lines to create shading and depth.
I
Icon Painting
A traditional religious painting technique. Most icon painters used egg tempera on a gessoed wood panel.
L
Layering
Building up colour through multiple thin applications. Creates depth and richness.
Lightfastness
The resistance of pigments to fading over time.
M
Matt Finish
The soft, non-glossy appearance of dried egg tempera paint.
Medium
A substance that alters the consistency or drying time of paint. In egg tempera, the medium is water and egg yolk.
P
Panel
A rigid support, usually made of wood or MDF. It is prepared with genuine gesso for egg tempera painting.
Pigment Paste
A concentrated pigment mixed with water, ready to be combined with egg yolk for painting.
R
Rigid Support
A solid, non-flexible surface. This is essential for egg tempera painting. A rigid support helps to prevent cracking over time.
S
Sennelier Egg Tempera
A professional quality, pre-mixed egg tempera paint. Used for fine art and restoration.
Short Brushstrokes
A technique in egg tempera where small, deliberate strokes build form and shading.
T
Tempera Grassa
A variation of egg tempera. A small amount of oil is added to increase flexibility and gloss.
Transparency
The ability of egg tempera to allow light to pass through layers. Creates depth in paintings.
V
Varnish
A protective layer applied to egg tempera paintings. Helps to enhance depth and protect the surface.
W
Watersoluble
Egg tempera is watersoluble while wet. This allows for easy clean-up and thin, controlled washes.