egg tempera

powdered pigment

Using a glass muller to make a paste of ultramarine blue and distilled water

Pigment paste

Mixing several values of blue with the egg medium

This week I gave a demonstration of the traditional manufacture and use of egg tempera.  I used what is perhaps the simplest formula– just pure yolk blended with distilled water for the medium, and various water-based pigment pastes.  This results in a luminous and durable paint film best employed in quick washes or single strokes.  Perhaps in the future I will experiment with egg-oil emulsions for more versatility in blending.

Now that the demos are over, I am working overtime to finish my current paintings for the upcoming show at Fontbonne University.