Egg Tempera Painting (2 days) with Amanda Blake
16th and 23rd March 2019
10.30 -16.30
A two day introduction to preparing a natural Chalk Gesso painting ground and painting with Egg Tempera. The focus is on ‘ancient palette’ - working with pure ground raw Earth and Stone pigments and exploring the inherent luminosity and translucency unique to this ancient medium, as well as ideas around the environment and sustainability.
The first day will involve an introduction to the medium, the materials and to making Gesso. You will prepare your own grounds, explore grinding and preparing the pigments, and experiment with the earth and stone pigment palette which will include red, yellow ochres, umbers as well as Lapis Lazuli and Malachite.
The second day will involve finishing off your gesso panels, making your own egg yolk binder and creating the egg tempera paints to work with. It will allow time for layering, scratching in, as well as a demonstration on using the egg white for a different binder known as Glair, used in Medieval manuscripts for its pearlescent qualities and bright colours. You will have time to develop up to two small paintings as well as explore ideas around the nature of the pigments used, the environment, and an understanding of the purity of what is left that goes down the sink at the end!
This is a workshop aimed at adults, no previous experience necessary, so would suit interested beginners, as well as artists wanting to expand their practice and approach.Artists are advised to bring their own sketchbooks and watercolour brushes if you have them, although one set of three high quality brushes are included in the materials cost which you can take home, with some pigments, at the end of the day.
All pigments, and materials for the gesso ground and tools will be provided.