Tempera

Tempera

Tempera is a painting technique that involves using pigments mixed with a water-soluble emulsion, typically composed of water and egg yolk.

Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a durable, quick-drying painting technique that combines pigments with a water-soluble binder, typically a sticky substance like egg yolk. It can also refer to artworks created using this method, which are known for their exceptional longevity. In fact, some egg tempera paintings from the first century AD have survived to this day.

This method was widely used for painting until around 1500, when it was replaced by oil painting. In the United States, the term ‘tempera paint’ often refers to a type of paint used for posters, but it has different binders compared to traditional tempera paint.


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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.