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Why and Why Not to Use Egg Tempera
Panel Prep, Part 1:Rabbitskin Glue
How to Make Chalk Gesso
Panel Prep, Part 2: Gesso Priming
How to Make Egg Medium
Preparing Pigments and Making Paint
Tips for Painting
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TO PREPARE THE PANEL FOR EGG TEMPERA
PART 1: SIZING
Coating or soaking a material -- wood, paper, or cloth --with a gluelike substance which acts as an absorption barrier is called "sizing". The glue is called "size".
You will need:
- A panel of masonite or similar particle board (Older books warn about "tempered" masonite, but there is no such thing any more.) or a well cured and dried hardwood panel, not too large.
- Dry granulated rabbitskin glue
- Distilled water (tap water will probably do, but it's better not to risk mineral contamination causing probems down the line)
- A double boiler
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sandpaper, medium grit
- A dust mask
- A large, inexpensive priming brush
1. Mix the rabbitskin glue: Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons of dry glue granules into one cup of water (This makes an amount suitable for a large panel or several small ones. I regret my appalling American ignorance of the metric system which leaves me at a loss to convert these measurements). Stir briefly, then allow to soak overnight. (In a pinch you can simply proceed, but a soak of at least a few hours makes a better glue.)
2. Sand the smooth side (or both, if they are both smooth) of the masonite until it is no longer shiny.
3. The next day, warm up the glue mix in the double boiler until it is quite hot. Do not allow it to boil. Stir it smooth; this should not take long.
4. Using the priming brush, brush the warm glue onto the panel, wetting it thoroughly but not leaving puddles. I do one side of the panel and the edges, then let it dry overnight and do the other side.
NOTES: The glue, if you have any left over, will cool to a rubbery gelatin. Just warm it up again when you need to use it.
But don't make more than you will use in a few days. It will go bad. Very bad.
You could do more than one coat of glue, but usually one should suffice.
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