Everything You Need to Know About Painting with Tempera Paint
In brief: Tempera paints aren't just for school days. With the right surface, quality paints, and suitable supplies, they can produce serious painting results. In this guide, you'll learn how tempera paints differ from acrylic paints, how to choose a surface and quality tempera paints, which brushes and supplies you'll need, and whether you need to varnish your painting.
Many of us associate tempera paints mainly with art classes in elementary school. We used them because they were safe and easy to use, and they could produce fairly good results. They are much thicker than watercolors and therefore provide more coverage, making them a logical next step as we learned different art techniques.
Tempera as a technique is a broad subject with a rich history. Today, though, we're talking about tempera paints sold in tubes and jars, ready to paint with. Browse all the tempera paints in our collection.
What Is the Difference Between Tempera and Acrylic Paints?
Although acrylic paints are more popular today, tempera paints still have an irreplaceable place. They do have similar properties, but there are differences. Both can be thinned with water, but acrylic paint is water-resistant once dry, even without varnishing. They dry at a similar rate and in the same way, as water evaporates, but tempera has a matte finish, while acrylic paint has a slight gloss.
What Surface Should You Paint on With Tempera?
You can paint with tempera as an adult, too. Why not? We just recommend changing a few things from your school days. The first, and very important, thing is the surface. As kids, we used paper from our school sketchbooks. Remember how frustrating it was when you applied thinned paint and the paper started to curl? And if you went over the paper with your brush several times, it would start to pill or even tear. With the right surface, you'll experience tempera paints differently and are sure to enjoy using them.
If you want to work on paper, choose thicker paper designed for acrylic paints or mixed media. You can also paint with tempera on a classic canvas or canvas mounted on hardboard. Another option is to prepare a surface used by students at secondary art schools, making it an economical choice for practice. Here’s how: cut 2 or 3 mm thick cardboard into your preferred sizes, then coat it with acrylic gesso, applying two coats to each side in alternating turns and letting the paint dry between coats. Once the cardboard is dry, attach it to a wooden board with masking tape, covering the edges with about 1 cm of tape. This gives your finished piece a polished look when you remove the tape, as the painting will immediately have a mat.
How to Choose the Right Tempera Paints
Avoid the cheapest options and look for tempera paints for students or professional artists. Tempera paints are known to change as they dry, becoming a few shades lighter. The higher the quality of the paints, the stronger and purer the pigment, and the less the color will lighten.
Dilute them with water and paint in thin layers, as extremely thick layers can crack. With tempera paints, it’s important to learn how to mix shades and anticipate that they will lighten once dry. Practice mixing paints and finding the right shade. Experiment, because once you learn this principle of color mixing, you can use it with any painting technique.
Tip: Since tempera paints lighten as they dry, test a shade on a piece of the same surface and wait for it to dry before applying it to your painting. This way, you’ll know exactly how the paint will look when it’s dry.
What Brushes and Supplies Do You Need for Tempera Painting?
For tempera painting, you’ll need a palette for mixing paints, preferably a large white one, brushes, and a container of water. Any type of brush can work, depending on your painting style. If you’re not sure where to start, choose brushes with elastic synthetic bristles. A wide brush for the background, a few medium-sized flat brushes, and a couple of thin round brushes will be enough. You can simply wash all the supplies with water after use.
Should You Varnish a Tempera Painting?
You don’t have to varnish a tempera painting, but if you don’t, it should be framed behind glass for protection. If you varnish it, you can use almost any varnish designed to protect paintings. Just keep in mind that varnishing will darken some shades in the painting, or, in other words, the varnish will restore their “wet paint” appearance.
What Do You Need for Tempera Painting?
- Tempera paints — choose student- or artist-quality paints for stronger pigment (gouache and tempera paints)
- Suitable surface — thicker paper, canvas, or cardboard prepared with gesso (canvases)
- White palette — as large as possible, for mixing shades
- Brushes — elastic synthetic brushes: one wide brush, a few medium-sized flat brushes, and a couple of thin round brushes (brushes)
- Container of water — for diluting paint and washing supplies
- Varnish for paintings (optional) — for extra protection if you’re not framing the painting behind glass
Frequently Asked Questions
How Are Tempera Paints Different from Acrylic Paints?
Both tempera paints and acrylic paints are diluted with water and dry at a similar rate as the water evaporates. The key difference is that acrylic paint is water-resistant once dry, even without varnish, while tempera paint is not. Tempera has a matte finish, while acrylic paint has a slight gloss.
What Surface Should You Use for Tempera Painting?
It’s best to use thicker paper designed for acrylic or mixed media techniques, canvas, or canvas mounted on hardboard. An economical option for practice is 2–3 mm thick cardboard coated with acrylic gesso on both sides.
How Do You Choose Good Tempera Paints?
Avoid the cheapest options and choose tempera paints for students or professional artists. The higher the quality, the stronger and purer the pigment, so the paint will lighten less as it dries.
Which Brushes Are Best for Tempera Paint?
To get started, brushes with synthetic, flexible bristles are ideal: one wide brush for the background, several medium-sized flat brushes, and a couple of thin round brushes. They all wash easily with water after use.
Should You Varnish a Painting Made With Tempera Paint?
It isn't necessary. You can also protect the painting by framing it in a frame with glass. If you varnish it, use a varnish made to protect paintings, but keep in mind that some shades will darken and take on a “wet paint” look.
Keep Reading on Our Blog
- How to Mix Acrylic Paints?
- How to Paint With Acrylic Paints, Tips for Beginners and Advanced Painters
- Which Canvas Is Better for You: Cotton or Linen?
- How Much Do You Know About Brush Anatomy?
It's Time to Return to Tempera Paint
Pick up quality tempera paints, a good surface, and a few brushes, and discover how different tempera painting can be when you paint as an adult rather than as a student.
Ready to create?
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