Priya Kapoor
Traditional egg tempera and tempera poster paints are both types of tempera paint, but they differ in composition, durability, finish, and application. Traditional egg tempera is made from egg yolk, water, and powdered pigments, while tempera poster paints use synthetic pigments and gum-based binders. Egg tempera dries quickly, has a unique slightly glossy finish due to the natural oils in egg yolk, and is known for its durability and luminosity. On the other hand, tempera poster paints dry more slowly and are less durable, with a more glossy finish. Egg tempera was the primary method of painting until around 1500 when it was replaced by oil paint, and it requires meticulous preparation and skill. Tempera poster paints, on the other hand, are more accessible for beginners, students, and educational purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of binder used | Egg tempera: Organic (egg yolk); Poster paints: Synthetic or gum-based |
| Durability | Egg tempera: High; Poster paints: Low |
| Finish | Egg tempera: Matte; Poster paints: Glossy |
| Application techniques | Egg tempera: Requires meticulous preparation with specific grounds like gesso or bole; Poster paints: Easier to apply and manipulate, suitable for beginners |
| Drying time | Egg tempera: Fast; Poster paints: Slow |
| Layering | Egg tempera: Poor layering; Poster paints: Can be layered |
| Shelf life | Egg tempera: Poor; Poster paints: Good |
| Usage | Egg tempera: Historical technique; Poster paints: Casual and educational art-making |
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Preparation and application
Traditional egg tempera is applied in thin, semi-opaque, or transparent layers, requiring skill and practice as mistakes cannot be easily corrected. It is often applied with short, controlled brushstrokes in a cross-hatching technique, building up detail and depth over time. The paint dries quickly, forming a tough film that acts as a protective skin. However, it has poor layering abilities and blends relatively poorly, resulting in flatter colours and less gentle transitions compared to oil paints.
The ground or surface for egg tempera is usually absorbent and rigid, such as inflexible Italian gesso, wood panels, or heavy paper. The traditional process involves preparing the surface with rabbit skin sizing and traditional gesso (rabbit skin glue and chalk), ensuring a smooth finish without air bubbles.
In contrast, tempera poster paints are commercially produced and require less extensive preparation. They use synthetic pigments and a gum-based binder, such as gum arabic, resulting in a glossy finish. These paints are easier to manipulate, allowing for more freedom in application and facilitating colour blending. They dry slower than egg tempera and are less durable, making them more suitable for casual use, educational purposes, and quick projects.
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Finish
Traditional egg tempera paint is made by mixing dry powdered pigments with egg yolk and a small amount of water. The egg yolk acts as a binder, allowing the pigments to adhere to the painting surface. It dries quickly and is applied in thin layers or glazes, requiring skill and practice as mistakes cannot be easily corrected. It is often layered in short, controlled brushstrokes that build up detail and depth over time. The paint dries to a unique, slightly glossy finish due to the natural oils present in egg yolk, although some sources describe the finish as matte.
Tempera poster paints, on the other hand, are modern, commercially produced paints that typically use synthetic pigments combined with a binding agent like gum arabic or gum-based binders. They can be applied more freely and are easier to manipulate. They dry slower than egg tempera and allow for blending of colours, which is convenient for students and beginners. They have a glossy finish when dry but are less durable and may fade or become damaged more easily over time.
The different types of binders used in each paint type affect not only the finish but also the durability and application techniques. Egg tempera, with its organic binder, creates a durable and adherent paint, whereas the synthetic or gum-based binders in poster paints result in less durable paint that may not adhere as well to surfaces.
The finish of egg tempera paint can be altered by adding varnish, which deepens the colour. However, varnishing is also necessary to protect the painting from moisture, which can destroy it.
In terms of preparation, traditional egg tempera requires meticulous preparation with specific grounds, such as gesso or bole, while poster paints do not require such extensive priming, making them more suitable for quick projects.
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Durability
Traditional egg tempera is known for its durability. It dries quickly, forming a tough film that acts as a protective skin over the support. This protective skin is generally unaffected by humidity and temperature. The absorbent nature of the ground used for egg tempera painting, such as gesso or bole, enhances its ability to hold the paint layers, promoting the durability of the artwork.
The fast-drying nature of egg tempera is also related to its poor layering and blending capabilities. It dries too fast for sophisticated layering, resulting in flat colours and visible cross-hatching. This is in contrast to oil paints, which can be layered thickly and blended gently.
The durability of egg tempera is also due to the use of an organic binder, specifically egg yolk, mixed with pigments. This creates a durable and adherent paint. The egg yolk is diluted with water and used with the pigment. The paint is applied in thin layers or glazes, requiring skill as mistakes cannot be easily corrected.
In comparison, tempera poster paints are less durable. They use synthetic or gum-based binders, which provide less adherence to surfaces than egg tempera. Poster paints are also more likely to fade or become damaged over time. They are easier to manipulate and blend, making them more accessible for beginners and educational purposes.
The durability of egg tempera also contributes to its longevity. Examples of egg tempera paintings from the first century AD still exist, showcasing the technique's detail and durability.
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Composition
Traditional egg tempera is made by mixing dry powdered pigments with egg yolk and a small amount of water. The egg yolk acts as a binder, allowing the pigments to adhere to the painting surface. The paint dries quickly and is applied in thin layers or glazes, requiring skill as mistakes cannot be easily corrected. It is often layered in short, controlled brushstrokes that build up detail and depth over time. The final surface is typically matte, and the paint is known for its durability and luminosity.
The preparation process for traditional egg tempera is meticulous and time-consuming. It requires specific grounds, such as gesso or bole, and the artist must carefully mix and prepare the paint. The ground used for egg tempera painting is usually an absorbent material with a lower oil content than the binder, such as Italian gesso, which is a mixture of plaster of Paris (or gypsum) with size. The substrate is typically rigid, and historically, wood panels were used.
Tempera poster paints, on the other hand, are modern, commercially produced paints that typically use synthetic pigments combined with a binding agent like gum arabic. These paints are designed to be easy to use and accessible for casual and educational purposes. They dry slower than egg tempera, allowing for more time to blend colours and make corrections. Poster paints are also easier to manipulate and apply, making them suitable for beginners and students.
The finish of tempera poster paints is typically glossy, in contrast to the matte finish of egg tempera. They are less durable and may not adhere as well to surfaces as egg tempera. Poster paints do not require extensive priming or preparation of the painting surface, making them convenient for quick projects.
Overall, the key distinction between traditional egg tempera and tempera poster paints lies in their composition, application techniques, and the type of binder used. Egg tempera employs an organic binder (egg yolk), resulting in a durable and long-lasting paint with a unique finish. Poster paints, on the other hand, use synthetic or gum-based binders, creating a less durable paint that is easier to work with and more suitable for educational and casual art projects.
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Historical usage
Tempera, or egg tempera, is an ancient medium, having been in constant use in most of the world's cultures until it was gradually superseded by oil paints in Europe during the Renaissance. Tempera was the original mural medium in the ancient dynasties of Egypt, Babylonia, Mycenaean Greece, and China, and was used to decorate the early Christian catacombs. It was employed on a variety of supports, from the stone stelae or commemorative pillars, mummy cases, and papyrus rolls of ancient Egypt to the wood panels of Byzantine icons and altarpieces, and the vellum leaves of medieval illuminated manuscripts.
In the European Medieval and Early Renaissance periods up to 1500, tempera was the primary panel painting medium for nearly every painter. Most surviving panel paintings attributed to Michelangelo, for example, are executed in egg tempera. Oil paint, which may have originated in Afghanistan between the 5th and 9th centuries and migrated westward in the Middle Ages, eventually replaced tempera. Oil paint replaced tempera as the principal medium used for creating artwork during the 15th century in Early Netherlandish painting in northern Europe.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, there were intermittent revivals of tempera technique in Western art, among the Pre-Raphaelites, Social Realists, and others. Tempera painting continues to be used in Greece and Russia, where it is the traditional medium for Orthodox icons.
The colours in tempera paintings do not change over time, unlike oil paints, which darken, yellow, and become transparent with age. Tempera adheres best to an absorbent ground that has a lower oil content than the tempera binder used. The traditional ground used is inflexible Italian gesso, and the substrate is usually rigid as well. Historically, wood panels were used as the substrate, and more recently, un-tempered masonite or medium-density fibreboard (MDF) have been employed; heavy paper is also used.
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Frequently asked questions
The key distinction between the two types of paint is the type of binder used. Egg tempera uses an organic binder, specifically egg yolk, while poster paints use synthetic binders. This difference impacts the paints' durability, finish, and application techniques.
Egg tempera dries to a matte, durable finish due to the natural oils in the egg yolk. It is known for its longevity, with examples from the first century AD still existing. Tempera poster paints, on the other hand, have a glossy finish and are less durable, prone to fading or damage over time.
Traditional egg tempera requires meticulous preparation with specific grounds, such as gesso or bole. In contrast, tempera poster paints do not need extensive priming, making them more suitable for quick projects.
Egg tempera dries quickly and is applied in thin layers or glazes, requiring skill as mistakes are hard to correct. It is often applied in short, controlled brushstrokes to build up detail and depth. Tempera poster paints, on the other hand, can be applied more freely and are easier to manipulate. They dry slower, allowing for colour blending, making them ideal for beginners and students.
Egg tempera is a traditional method that demands practice and skill, while tempera poster paints are designed for casual use and educational purposes. Egg tempera was the primary method of painting until around 1500 when it was replaced by oil paint. Tempera poster paints are commonly used in schools and for poster painting, catering to educational art-making.
