Egg Tempera Panel Paintings

The class of 2026 panel painting viewing (Photo: Sophie Church)

In Paintings Lab I, first-year fellows make an egg tempera panel painting using traditional techniques. The panels are prepared with a rabbit-skin glue size, followed by multiple coats of a gesso ground. The panels were then sanded with a fine grit sandpaper until smooth. The design was then transferred to the panel, followed by the application of clay bole and gilding. Pigments were hand-mulled in the lab and were mixed with egg yolk to paint the design. Final touches, including stamping, stippling, and shell gold detailing were then applied to the finished painting.

During the semester, I prepared shell gold for detailing on my panel painting. I made this video to demonstrate my process.