4207 - Egg Tempera Painting

Course Description

From Byzantine icons to Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, egg tempera is one of the oldest and most radiant of painting mediums. The paint, a mixture of fresh raw egg yolk, water and pigment, shares properties of both watercolor and oils. Like watercolor, it allows for thin, transparent washes and rapid drying. Like oils, tempera can be built up in layers of luminous color. Additionally, each layer painted becomes water-resistant, so that one application of paint can be rapidly followed by another. The two layers don't mix -- allowing one color to appear through the other, giving it its unique quality of luminosity. The course includes demonstrations on both preparation of the paint and technical applications including brushwork and sponging. On the first day, students start with practice panels and work from an in-class setup. On the second day, work can be from an in-class setup in class or individual imagery. Pigment origins and their unique characteristics are discussed, and historical examples of work done in egg tempera are shown for students to see its breadth of visual possibilities.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Animation : Electives
• Graphic Design : Electives
• Interactive Design : Electives
• Jewelry Making + Design : Electives
• Natural Science Illustration : Electives
• Painting Studies : Electives
• Photography : Electives