Difference between acrylic and tempera paint?

Question

What can they -can't they be painted on? I have seen tempera paint sold as a powder, and like the idea of just making enough to use. Does acrylic paint come in a concentrate like that too? The just add water kind. What brands are trustworthy for kids to work with?

Answer 1

Tempera is an old-time paint, one used before oil paints were developed. It's still good stuff. Improperly formulated or handled it can be very smelly or even foul. It often contains egg yolk.

Acrylic is a modern paint made with synthetic polymers. It does not contain egg yolk. The second link has information on acrylic and latex paints.

Answer 2

As mentioned, the most important difference is that tempera paints are *not permanent* once dry, and acrylic paints are permanent (either can be rinsed or washed off before drying though).

Acrylics don't come in a powdered form, though if you just want the strongest concentration of pigment in your acrylic paint, buy the "artists'" acrylics in tubes instead of the more watered down acrylics in little bottles.

Kids can work with either, but you'll probably want something washable for them (depending on age) like tempera or watercolors.

There is also "washable" "school" glue (Elmers makes one, in addition to their permanent GlueAll) which I guess you could add color to then use as paint, which would be washable. You could probably add tempera to the washable glue as the colorant and still have it end up washable.

There are also other kinds of fun paints for kids (which they can also sponge on or stamp with, etc.) that are made from things like corn syrup (tinted with food colors --but is food color washable?) --those take a while to dry though.
.. or a mixture of equal parts salt, flour, and water with food coloring or tempera for color; mix and have kids squirt out of squeeze bottles onto paper, or paint thickly with it (when dry, it's rock hard and the salt sparkles).

(Tempera won't stick well when painted on things that are slick, so add a bit of liquid soap to them before painting.)


HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 3

Acrylic paint is a more "plastic" feeling paint. It has a stiff texture and can be built up more on paper or fabrics.
I've seen it used on quite a few mediums, on canvas, and also on clothes. I have never seen "just add water" acrylic, but it can't hurt to check out your local craft store and see what they carry! ^_~

Tempera paint is thinner and more liquid--generally the same kind used in elementary school art. For tempera paint, crayola has a nice line for kids. Non-toxic and all :)

Answer 4

the tempera paint washes off, acrylic stains and is permanent, depending on what it gets spilled onto. When working with kids i recommend the tempera, however watch the red tempera, it can stain items sometimes.