Tempera colors can also be scraped off easily and reworked. When applied in thin layers the results are more transparent than transparent watercolor; when applied thickly, the results are opaque, like gouache. After the tempera painting is complete it can be burnished (polished) with agate to add depth and brilliance and to increase transparency, or it can be varnished to look like an oil painting.
Step-by-step process
The first-recorded recipes for egg tempera called for egg whites and were mainly used for illuminating manuscripts on paperor parchment. Since this mixture was brittle, it was eventually replaced by a recipe that incorporated egg yolks, which contain semidrying oils and produce a tougher, more flexible film.
Today, egg tempera (not to be confused with "tempera" or poster paints), consists of egg yolks, water and pigments. The downside to this composition is that the artist must mix his or her own fresh paint every time. The upside is complete control over the paint: If the paint is too intense or too pale, all one has to do is to add more pigments.
The feel of egg tempera on the brush is very special. Each stroke dries almost instantly, allowing the artist to build up layers of tiny hatch marks. When dry, the paint has a golden luminescence due to the egg yolk.
What you need: a smooth piece of wood for support, some brushes, pigments, whiting (ground chalk, gypsum, marble dust or titanium oxide if you can afford it), animal glue or strong gelatin and some sandpaper.
First of all, make sure your board is nice and smooth. Sand it if necessary. Then, take your glue or gelatin and heat up some water in a double boiler. For every one part of water add 1/16th the amount of glue. (Traditional recipes prescribe 1 ounce of glue to 16 ounces of water.) If you make too much glue, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. After the glue is well dissolved, use it to cover the board. (This process is called sizing.) Apply a few coats, alternating between vertical and horizontal strokes (one horizontal coat, one vertical coat, etc). Let the sticky board dry overnight. Sizing the board prevents it from expanding and shrinking with the changing weather. Once your board is dry, take the leftover glue (or make some more) and heat it up again. This time, add some whiting to it (the amount varies). Apply the whiting like the sizing, letting it dry between coats. You may have to sand the board between coats for a smooth finish. Apply at least three coats.
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