The art of egg tempera
Two-day practical workshop
25 March 2017 10.30am - 5.30pm26 March 2017 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, RA Schools, Piccadilly
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception at the end of the second day.
Terms and conditions
Painter and President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Robin-Lee Hall, leads an exclusive workshop exploring and explaining the traditional medium of egg tempera and its application in painting.
Egg tempera is an ancient medium dating back to the 1st century AD. Popular during the Renaissance period with artists like Botticelli, Raphael and Verrocchio, it was the primary method of painting until around 1500 when it was superseded by the invention of oil paint. The introduction of oil-based pigments and varnishes, coupled later with canvas surfaces, resulted in a great deal of innovation. However in other ways it fundamentally transformed not only artistic practice and process, but ultimately the type of work which could be produced – some would argue with a loss of the subtleties and nuances of tempera-based techniques.
The process of creating an egg tempera painting is unlike any other painting medium and produces unique results. Pure pigment and egg yolk are built up over many layers to create a luminous colour and a saturated finish, yet a matte and stable surface. It is both a painstaking and rewarding medium.
Contemporary painter Robin-Lee Hall, one of the few remaining artists who specialises in this medium today, will lead this exclusive weekend-long specialist course. Under Robin's expert guidance, participants will learn how to make their own paint and handle this remarkable medium. Working from either still-life objects or personal source material, participants will explore different approaches to develop innovative and unusual paintings.
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception at the end of the second day.
Terms and conditions
About the course
In this exclusive weekend-long expert-led course, participants will learn about the fascinating history of the ancient medium of egg tempera as well as contemporary applications – considering artists’ styles past and present for inspiration.
The course will cover an introduction to pigments, methods, tools and techniques, and each participant will receive specialist advice on how to make their own paint. Participants will explore the different properties of the medium and then develop a unique piece of work from either still-life objects or personal source material.
This course is suitable for all levels, preferably with some prior experience of drawing, painting or creative practice in general.
This course is for you if:
• You have some prior knowledge of drawing and/or painting and would like to extend your skills
• You would like a new perspective in your approach to painting
• You are keen and open to experiment with a new painting medium and have a little patience!
• You are interested in the methods and techniques of egg tempera painters past and present
• You would like the opportunity to develop your skills and ideas in a small group setting, with a highly trained tutor and artist in the historical setting of the Royal Academy
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
£420
Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 March 2017
10.30am – 5.30pm on both days
Includes:
• An introduction to the process of egg tempera painting, referencing painters and relevant works in the Collection
• The opportunity to work with a specialist in the medium
• All specialist practical materials
• Lunch and refreshments served on both days
• A drinks reception at the end of the second day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the Tutor - Robin-Lee Hall
Robin-Lee Hall is a practising artist specialising in the traditional technique of egg tempera. She is a portrait painter and President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Her work has varied from exhibiting in the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery to painting a view of the National Gallery standing on top of the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square at midnight, as part of RA Antony Gormley’s One and Other Project. In 2010 she won the Ondaatje Prize for Portraiture and Gold Medal at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition. She has exhibited widely including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition where in 2012 the BBC Culture Show visited her studio and followed her progress into the exhibition. In addition to portraits she paints still-life paintings of British confectionery, toys and cakes.
About the space
The Life Room
The Academy’s historic Life Room is nestled deep in the heart of the RA Schools. This unique and significant space was designed in the 1860s when the galleries and schools were first constructed; purpose-built to accommodate the study of the human form in art.
The semi-circular seating arrangement is based on an ancient design and can trace its British history back to the 1730s and Hogarth’s Academy in St Martin’s Lane. The directional light is also of ancient design and is used (then as now) to aid the delineation of the figure’s musculature – significantly enhancing the use and study of colour and light in art.
Our courses and classes programme
Our programme of short courses and classes offers the opportunity to explore a range of subjects, led by expert tutors and practising artists.
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