EGG TEMPERA PAINTING and GILDING - ancient techniques for contemporary artists

14 - 18 September 2026, 31 May - 4 June 2027, 30 August - 3 September 2027.

price 500€ - does not include accommodation and food.

Egg tempera is a simple and direct medium that can create luminous surfaces richer in colour and transparency than almost any other medium. The excellent condition of the paintings from the fourteenth century demonstrates the durability of this medium.

In egg tempera painting the egg yolk provides a natural emulsion (a stable mixture of oil and water) which when mixed with pigments and distilled water gives a fast drying and highly characteristic painting medium.

The course will start with a presentation on the history of the medium. Students will be taught how to prepare the appropriate gesso ground, then using natural pigments you will learn how to make the egg tempera paint. Working on a detail from a Renaissance panel painting you will learn the painting techniques and the two gilding methods used by Renaissance artists - water gilding onto bole, and oil gilding onto the egg tempera surface. Alongside this project you will be working on your own egg tempera paintings, size of choice, and there will be demonstrations of different methods of using this medium in contemporary painting.

Students have 24 hour access to the studios over 7 days (includes the following weekend) so that you can continue working outside of teaching hours.

During the week there will be a workshop on making pigments from earths and stones, and a visit to a country house to collect eggs and have a vegetarian lunch (included).

A wide selection of books is available to students showing examples of ancient, medieval, Renaissance and contemporary painting.

Travel and accommodation to be arranged by students.

" .... the egg tempera course was a wonderful opportunity to come to grips with this challenging but very beautiful medium. Carey was an encouraging and inspiring teacher who was able to explain, demonstrate and elucidate the various processes and techniques that are key to working with this luminous and uniquely beautiful medium. I would thoroughly recommend this course for anyone, from complete beginner to art-professional, curious and interested in this beautiful ancient painting technique. Carey is a warm and creative individual and time spent working with her in her beautiful studio is a unique Sardinian experience."

Rachel Carmichael