Introduction to Egg Tempera Painting
Egg Tempera painting is an exceptionally beautiful and subtle painting medium that is said to date back to ancient Egypt. It was commonly practiced in the 14th and 15th C. in Italy during the Italian Renaissance, notably, by virtuoso painters like Giotto, Fra Angelico, Botticelli and in recent times most notably by Andrew Wyeth.
This week long workshop is a hands on introduction to the methods and materials of the 14th and 15th C. Italian Egg Tempera painter. We will walk in the shoes of the studio apprentice and learn how to do the following.
Advanced students can choose to skip the intro lessons and work on their own personal project or a master copy.
Learn how to make “genuine gesso panels" from scratch using glue and chalk
Prepare homemade toned drawing paper for silverpoint drawing
Grind and emulsify your own egg tempera paint
Practice various egg tempera painting techniques
Make handmade transfer paper
Learn how to grid and scale thumbnail designs to a panel
Use ink on to develop an underpainting on a true gesso panel
Paint your first egg tempera painting
What is Egg Tempera?
Egg Tempera is made by taking an egg yolk and mixing it with pigment. This emulsion is then painted on an absorbent ground of Gesso. Traditional Gesso was made by heating a solution of glue and water and mixing it with chalk/ gypsum. This solution was then applied to a wooden support in successive layers. After a day or so the panel is sanded and ready to be used for painting.
Egg Tempera painting is a patient and meditative process. One achieves a result by carefully building up a form with successive layers of very thin paint. It is a natural medium for those that love drawing and the technical process of painting. A finished Tempera painting has a delicate translucency and radiance that is unparalleled by other painting mediums.
All materials are provided with the exception of brushes.
Brushes: Any professional brushes in the following sizes are fine
Red Sable, Kolinsky Sable or Synthetic Sable (pointed) #0 (x1), #2 (x2) #4 (x1) and couple of flats, 1/4”, 3/8” 1/2”
Tuition: $800