The most traditional way of mixing egg tempera paint is to use egg yolk. There are recipes where you use the whole egg, and some use oil as well. Here is a brief outline of the traditional egg yolk recipe.

For a more detailed outline of the egg tempera technique, I recommend the excellent book, The Artist’s Handbook, by Ray Smith, available from Amazon.

You will need:

• a fresh egg
• plastic/china palette
• craft knife
• ready to use pigment (see grinding pigments)
• small jar
• brush
• purified (distilled) water

Where can I buy art materials and pigments online?

Dick Blick Art Materials sell a vast range of pigments in various sizes. It is an art supplies company that is based in the US.

If you order over a certain amount, shipping can be free within the US, conditions apply. Orders placed from outside the US will have a different shipping charge and may be subject to import duty. (Click on the shipping information link at the bottom of the page on Dick Blick Art Materials for details.)

If you want to cheat a bit, you can buy Sennelier Egg Tempera Binding Medium to mix with pigments. This is available from Dick Blick Art Materials. I’ve used it and it is just as effective, but beware the tuts of disapproval from egg tempera purists.

Richeson Neatness Jars & Tray are a good method of storing pigments and unused paints.

Traditional egg yold tempera recipe, step-by-step

[Click here for a SLIDESHOW]

One
Separate the egg yolk from the white by cracking open the shell and moving the yolk from one half of the shell to the other.

Two
Remove the remaining white by carefully rolling around the egg yolk in a piece of kitchen paper.

Three
Hold the egg yolk in the paper and puncture a hole with the craft knife. Drain the yolk into a small jar.

Four
Using a brush, dab a small amount of egg yolk onto the palette. Add a small amount of ground pigment from the jar. Mix together until you have the desired consistency. Add more purified water if necessary.

Readymade egg tempera medium
If you want to cheat a bit, you can buy readymade egg tempera medium to mix with pigments. See below for where to buy it from.

Other pages of interest

• You will need to use traditional gesso with egg tempera: Read more about traditional gesso
• Before adding any paint, you will need to create an underdrawing: Read more about underdrawing
• Before you can mix up your paints, you need to grind them: Read more about grinding pigments for use with egg tempera
• Using this recipe gives a paint that is closer to the quality of oil paints:Read more about the whole egg tempera recipe
• A technique that mixes layers of egg tempera with oil paints: Read more about the Mische technique