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In Renaissance painting, artists frequently used egg tempera with a pigment called terre verte (green earth) as an underpainting color for flesh tones.
According to Smithsonian:
"Tempera was widely used because of its durable, multi-purpose applications. The paint was not affected by humidity or temperature and could be used to create various transparent and opaque effects. Once dried, its satin luster resembles modern acrylic paints. The yolk-based paint is prepared by mixing colored, powdered pigments with a water-soluble binder—in this case, eggs. Then, the paint is finished off with a few drops of vinegar to prevent cracking once the paint dries. Because the paint dries so fast, artists have to keep adding water as they work. Rather than paper or canvas, tempera works best on solid wooden surfaces where it's less prone to cracking. The color is also found adorning mummy caskets of ancient Egypt, wood panels from the Byzantine."
Article in Smithsonian: Egg Yolk Gives Tempera Paint Its Enhanced Coverage and Spreadable Properties
Thanks, Susan Menke
7 comments:
I have read this medium has "limited use" due to drying so quickly; you have to be sure of your paint strokes, etc. Some, I've read, paint egg tempera on /top/ of oil paint, which seems risky - buy if it's safe, I can see it's utility in different effects, or touch-ups.
James, what do you think? I'd also wonder that the paint would smell bad after a while LOL
Why did they use terra verte specifically? I had a painting teacher at an atelier insist on students starting to oil paint first by painting in only terra verte and I wondered why. He was never one to explain much unfortunately!
Waronmars, two main reasons: it helps achieve those elusive and desirable greenish halftones and provides a complementary tempering to the pinkish bloom of healthy skin.
Forrest, I have never tried egg tempera. I always assumed it wouldn't smell too bad unless you leave it around too long, but I don't know from experience.
I started painting in egg tempura about 7 years ago. Most important is making your own gesso. I was cranky about this, no way was I going to do that but as it turned out it is a must. Store bought gesso is acrylic which has a closed surface and the paint will brush off when dried. Making your own surface is actually satisfying and is worth it. When you get around to painting on your carefully crafted surface the paint sucks in rapidly. Tiny strokes. Hundreds of them. The surface is built up gradually. Yes, egg will become putrid over time. The finished paintings do not smell. Trying new media is an adventure and worth the learning curve.
A group at a church here painted icoms with it but had to use 30 layers for the years of Jesus' life. They smelled like some forgotten meal left in the corner of a take-a-way diner.
Using egg tempera is a lot simpler then most people imagine, just a mixture of water, egg yoke and dry pigments plus vinegar and/or alcohol (denatured, isopropyl or vodka) added to keep the yoke water mixture from spoiling. The yoke mixture can last two to three weeks without spoiling if refrigerated between sessions. Egg tempera is the most archival paint known.
A simpler pre made gesso specifically for egg tempera has been developed by Natural Pigments.
Yes, if you don’t add vinegar and/or alcohol to the water egg yoke mixture and leave the mixture unrefrigerated, you’ll raise a stench rather quickly as in rotten eggs.
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