DOUG SAFRANEK
Teaching
Since ancient times, artists have blended egg yolk, powdered pigment, and water to create delicately luminous paintings of remarkable durability. The great altarpieces of 14th century Siena and the 15th-century masterpieces of the Florentine Renaissance were painted in egg tempera. Four centuries later in this country, the medium was a favorite of the magic realists and many of the figurative artists working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Students will discover that egg tempera is quite economical, versatile, and well-suited for contemporary use. They will learn how to prepare a panel with rabbit skin glue-based gesso, how to transfer drawings to the panel, and how to layer tempera paint using both traditional and contemporary techniques.