I was first introduced to this old medium while at the Museum school in Boston. I was walking by a class in traditional painting techniques. My interest was piqued. While I never took that class, I was intrigued by it. I didn’t explore and learn about it for many years afterwards. Reading books and learning on line.

It is basically the addition of a pigment into an egg yolk diluted with 50-70% water. This is sometimes mixed with a little drying oil to become Tempera Grassa. It can be the basis for a lot of experimental mediums

As egg tempera is an emulsion, it bridges the line between oil and water. So, as a result, it can be mixed with either dry pigments or watercolors or oil paints.

The paint is applied traditionally on a ‘true gesso’ ground. However today there are watercolor “gessos” that can serve well too.

The resultant look of egg tempera is somewhat jewel-like with a satiny finish. Each layer is translucent and the colors are built up in fine layers

The medium is extremely archival having been used since the Egyptian era.