Introduction to Tempera and Indian Ink
Tempera is a long-lasting painting medium made of colorful pigments and a water-soluble binder, typically a viscous liquid like egg yolk. This fast-drying medium was used long before the advent of modern oil paints. Known as egg tempera, this technique can be traced back to the 1st century BC, when it was used to decorate Egyptian sarcophagi. It was also used to create high-quality art in the Bagh Caves, Madhya Pradesh, India, from the late fourth to the tenth centuries. Artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Duccio, and Carlo Crivelli used tempera in many of their artworks.
On the other hand, black ink is used in the technique of ink painting, also known as Indian ink painting, shui mo hua (Chinese), or ink work. One of its distinctive features is the ability to alter the ink grade with a single brush stroke by adjusting the nib's pressure and position. Artist Wang Wei introduced the method of ink painting during the Tang dynasty somewhere between 618 and 907 AD. It prospered during the Shang dynasty (960-1279), and was traded with ancient India, hence the name Indian Ink. Zen Buddhist monks brought the technique to Japan around 1350. During the Muromachi period (1338-1573), ink painting reached its peak of popularity among Japanese artists and calligraphers. The Shanghai School is known for its modern and contemporary Chinese freehand ink wash painting, with representative artists like Wu Changshuo, Pu Hua, Wang Zhen, Qi Baishi, and Huang Binhong.
Composition of Tempera and Indian Ink
Egg yolk is the primary binder for tempera painting, hence the name egg tempera. Nowadays, synthetic binders with similar viscosity to egg yolk are also used. Traditionally, egg yolk was mixed with powdered color pigments to make the paint, sometimes with milk and plant gums to make it stickier.
Ink painting is a water-based medium but not uniformly soluble in water. The color pigment ink is formed in a colloidal solution in water, with the water serving as a carrier solution for the pigment. Color pigments are produced from a mixture of solid substances, including rocks, metals, minerals, charcoal, and more.
Specific Properties of Tempera and Indian Ink
Using viscous fluids like egg yolk makes tempera art creamy, allowing artists to create smooth strokes on canvas and achieve uniform paintings. Different color pigment powders are blended with the binder (egg yolk) to create paste-like tempera, which is applied using art brushes. It can be applied in thin, semi-opaque, or transparent layers.
Ink provides a less vibrant color but is more durable and less likely to fade. As Indian Ink is a colloidal mixture based on water, different color pigments can be mixed to create colorful inks. To make artworks lighter and for better blending, Isopropyl Alcohol or Alcohol Blending Solution is used. Isopropyl Alcohol gives a matte finish, while Claro Extender adds shine.
Key Features of Tempera and Indian Ink
Tempera is mainly used for descriptive artworks like portraits, such as "Lamentation of Christ" and Sandro Botticelli's portraits. Tempera adheres best to absorbent surfaces with lower oil content than the tempera binder used. The paint's color does not change over time, unlike oil paints, which can darken, turn yellow, and become transparent with age.
Ink painting captures the artist's sudden inspiration after viewing beautiful scenery, focusing on an artistic representation rather than a precise depiction of a real scene or object. This makes it difficult to copy or reproduce ink paintings. Common subjects include trees, flowers, landscapes, animals, birds, and people.
Suitable Surfaces for Tempera and Indian Ink
Tempera painting is water-resistant but not waterproof, so it was traditionally done on wooden panels. Today, medium-density fiberboard or uncured Masonite can also be used. Some painters apply tempera to heavy, thick paper.
The best surfaces for ink painting are water-resistant and don't tear during blending. Common surfaces include papers, ceramics, clay boards, ink stones, and more. Xuan paper is popular for ink painting due to its high tensile strength, smooth surface, pure texture, and resistance to wrinkle, corrosion, moth, and mold.
Other Specialties of Tempera and Indian Ink
Tempera paintings achieve a smooth matte texture with high color intensity, allowing for precise artwork using cross-hatching techniques with various brush sizes. Egg tempera is not waterproof but is water-resistant. Thus, paintings cannot be stored directly. A highly hard board is used, and only a thin layer of paint should be applied. To increase durability, a second layer of translucent liquids like cellulose lacquer is applied to the paint.
Ink paintings or Indian ink paintings may fade over time due to environmental influences, but this can be prevented by using sealant with UV protection. Ink painting techniques can produce a wide range of tones and hues by altering the ink's density. However, once a stroke is created, it cannot be changed or removed. Ink painters spend years honing their brush motion and ink flow by practicing fundamental brush strokes, making ink and wash painting a technically challenging art style that requires high expertise and years of practice.
Toxicity and Vegan-Friendly Considerations
There are two types of tempera paint, some of which are toxic and others are not. Most tempera paints are non-toxic because they are water-soluble, but it is essential to choose the appropriate type for the artwork. Tempera paint is not vegan because its primary ingredient is egg yolk.
The toxicity of Indian Ink is debated, but it should never be applied to the skin or used for tattooing. Modern Indian ink pigments contain a shellac binder for water resistance. Since shellac is an animal product, modern Indian ink is not vegan-friendly, while traditional ink made from soot is.
Conclusion
In summary, both tempera and Indian ink offer unique artistic possibilities and benefits. Tempera provides a creamy texture with smooth strokes and high color intensity, while Indian ink offers durability and the ability to create a wide range of tones and hues. Each medium has specific properties, surfaces, and techniques that artists must consider to achieve their desired results. The choice between tempera and Indian ink depends on the artist's preferences and the effects they wish to achieve.
Additionally, GranNino offers a free art hosting platform where artists can upload unlimited artworks, including tempera and Indian ink paintings. This platform provides a supportive community for artists to showcase their work, receive feedback, and connect with other creatives. For more information and to start uploading your artworks, visit GranNino.
Happy creating! 🎨
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