It is not the 'traditional' kind of tempera, but the kind usually sold as 'poster paint' or something... it is called tempera, and a lot of places and art catalogs sell it.They usually have a line of really basic colors, like red, blue, yellow, black, blue, no real 'color' names like cadmium red or ultramarine blue, you know? I bought some, but am unsure how to go about using it...I know this sounds weird. Is it like acrylic, or watercolor or what? Has anyone had any experience with it in a real art type setting? (Not making posters or letting the kids paint with it? ) LOL!!! Does it make brushes hard if left in them? Not that I would do that I am just wondering... Lightfastness? What kinds of paper or surface should I use? Anything on this would be appreciated. I have a million questions about this but I can't think of them all LOL!!! ANything you know, please let me know. Thanks!!! SD :)
2006-08-24 12:32:46 · 6 answers · asked by misteri 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Painting
Tempera (or poster paint) is a water-based paint which uses inexpensive pigments and fillers for the sake of child safety and economy - great for school kids to use but it's not artist-quality. It will certainly wash out of your brushes because they use no staining pigments or polymers.
The fillers in tempera (which make it opaque) use varying degrees of gypsum (chalk), and the pigments are not permanent since lightfast pigments are generally rated unsafe for children. The binders will break down in a short period of time as the paint's application is intended to be temporary.
If you like the effects of using this type of paint, the artist-quality alternative is Designers' Gouache - an opaque watercolour using titanium oxide pigment as the opacifier instead of chalk. The pigments will all be listed on the jar or tube, and rated in degrees of lightfastness. The binder is gum arabic which does not crack like the binder in tempera, while leaving the paint re-soluble with water. Because of this quality, gouache paintings need to be framed behind glass.
Have fun with tempera - use it to plan out other paintings and for immediate expression. It's best used on a porous, non-slick surface - watercolour paper or illustration board are excellent choices. Just be aware that your efforts will not be "forever"... I'm also a framer, and have seen the effects of time on tempera paintings - fading, cracking and peeling.
2006-08-24 17:09:59 · answer #1 · answered by joyfulpaints 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its a little between acrylic and watercolor (consistancy)...
use an acrylic brush when you paint and of course like all paint, you should wash your brush out when your done. I havent used it in "real art" when i was younger I experiemented with it. You can use acrylic paper, becasue watercolor paper is too thick.
goodluck!
2006-08-24 19:45:18 · answer #2 · answered by Cassie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Cassie. The acrylic brush would be your best bet when using the tempera pain in pint bottles.
2006-08-24 20:33:34 · answer #3 · answered by Legsology07 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's water-based. I use it to paint on windows for Christmas. It should wash out of materials if you spill it, but blue is absolutely the worst!!! It won't come out!
It is also known as poster paint, is cheap & fun to use.
2006-08-24 20:34:09 · answer #4 · answered by Da Bomb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can get full of mold! I don't know it's life span, but when it starts smelling bad, do your sinuses a favor and throw it out.
2006-08-25 17:00:33 · answer #5 · answered by artwoman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah its like that stuff kindergarteners use for fingerpaint, but it can be used to do some pretty cool stuff
2006-08-25 03:52:08 · answer #6 · answered by anica 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋