Paintmaking with natural materials

Egg tempera

Egg tempera is made by whisking together water, (linseed oil) and eggs until it emulsifies, ie mixes completely. You then have the base that binds the paint together.

Many artists like to mix binder and pigment directly, during the work process, directly in the painting or on the palette.

1. Whisk one egg yolk (only the yolk, without the white - if you like you can try this separately).

2. The next points can be dropped. If oil and water are to be used, the mixture must be whipped properly. It can be compared to making mayonnaise and other oil-based sauces.

   • Whisk the mixture vigorously so that the whole is well mixed and does not separate (emulsified).

3. Add about 5 ml of linseed oil (may be dropped), and about 5 ml of water.

4. Feel free to hold back some water until you see how the mixture turns out. The paint easily become too thin.

5. You now have a base that can be added to various pigments

   • Add some dry pigment to parts of the base and mix until everything is a smooth paint.

Take samples of the paint to see its opacity.

Casein tempera

Previously, most house paints for indoor use were made with casein (milk protein) as a binder. Today, this type of paint is hardly available for purchase, but casein is available via stores that sell this as a protein supplement - without flavorings.

This recipe, is without oil, which gives a completely matte paint.

• 1 part casein powder

• 3 parts water

• 1/4 part horn salt

• Mix well and let it swell. If necessary, add a little more water to the desired consistency.

Horn salt (ammonium bicarbonate NH4HCO3) is currently manufactured industrially. When we add water, a chemical reaction occurs, the substances react with, among other things, degassing of CO2 and ammonia. Thus, horn salt is a suitable leavening agent. The smell of ammonia disappears when fried.

• Add pigment.

Note that ammonia reacts with many metals, but that this does not apply to iron.