Egg tempera is a method of painting in use since the classical period. It was the preferred medium for icon painters during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Vermeer, in the seventeenth century, and Andrew Wyeth, in the twentieth, are perhaps two of the best-known painters in egg tempera. Egg tempera is a mixture of powdered pigment, distilled water and pure egg yolk. The proportions are not fixed, and each artist may develop a unique recipe as the paint is mixed daily. These recipes may also include small amounts of vinegar or linseed oil. Generally translucent, the paint dries immediately on true gesso or clay board. Blending of color on the board itself is not possible. Instead, gradual gradations of color are produced through layering and fine hatch marks with the brush. A good egg tempera painting may consist of dozens of such layers. The final painting should have a soft matte finish with an inner glow emanating from the underlying layers of paint, which is unlike any effect that can be produced with oils. Additionally, the fine detailing made possible with egg tempera is unmatched.

 

The surface of the painting will remain soft for the first six months to a year, during which time the painting should be handled with care. After it has dried fully, it will become as hard as porcelain and should last for at least a millennium.

 

I have known that my style of painting would lend itself well to egg tempera. I first tried the medium in the fall of 2011 with an investment in dried pigments and have been having a great time with it since. Egg tempera is not for all artists; but for those with the requisite patience, the potential for stunning results can make the process well worthwhile. Below are a  few examples of my first forays into egg tempera painting. I greatly look forward to continued exploration of this challenging medium.

 

Please contact me with any questions about a particular work.