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The Almshouse Tempera Project - The Open College of the Arts

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The Almshouse Tempera Project

Screen Shot 2015-02-17 at 10.50.31

I have recently received funding, from Arts Council England, for a project that will bring together four contemporary artists, to make work using one of painting’s traditional and today seldom used mediums – egg tempera. They will use it to create paintings of almshouses, traditional retirement homes in Nottingham – hence the project’s title; The Almshouse Tempera Project.

Derek Hampson, Professor Charles Watkins, 2014, oil on canvas, 97 x 76 cm
Derek Hampson, Professor Charles Watkins, 2014, oil on canvas, 97 x 76 cm

The project has emerged from my longstanding interest in the egg tempera technique. Until recently I had mainly explored its technical rather than artistic properties; applying it to different surfaces, such as paper, wood and canvas, in order to understand its limitations and its strengths. At the beginning of 2014 I was asked by the University of Nottingham to paint a portrait, in oils, of one of the University’s distinguished professors, Charles Watkins. As part of my research for this, I looked at portraits painted by the 20th century German painter Otto Dix (1891-1969).
Otto Dix, Portrait of Dancer Anna Berber, 1925, oil and tempera on plywood, 119 x 63 cm Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Otto Dix, Portrait of Dancer Anna Berber, 1925, oil and tempera on plywood, 119 x 63 cm
Kunstmuseum Stuttgart

Amongst Dix’s greatest portraits are a number that use tempera, most famously his Portrait of the Dancer Anna Berber from 1925. Dix’s paintings in tempera, their vivid colours and detailed forms, inspired me to revisit the medium in my own work. Following the completion of the portrait commission, I used it to create a number of small panel paintings of diverse subjects, including Nottingham’s recently built tram system.
Derek Hampson, Tramstop at Dusk, 2014, egg tempera on panel, 24.5 x 21 cm
Derek Hampson, Tramstop at Dusk, 2014, egg tempera on panel, 24.5 x 21 cm

Derek Hampson, Shipstone Street Tram, 2014, egg tempera on panel, 12 x 12 cm
Derek Hampson, Shipstone Street Tram, 2014, egg tempera on panel, 12 x 12 cm

On using it, I discovered that the technique cannot be rushed. Tempera colour, made up of pure pigment mixed with egg yolk, needs to be built up in thin layers, applied with a watercolour brush. This process creates great intensities of colour; it also means that tempera does not lend itself to the creation of large paintings. It inspires visual contemplation in both artist and viewer. No wonder that its heyday was during the Middle Ages; when it was used for the production of illuminated manuscripts and paintings with a religious theme.
When I shared images of my work in tempera with fellow artists, a number expressed an interest in learning how to use the medium. This gave me the idea to set up this project, which will enable four contemporary artists to become familiar with the traditional egg tempera technique. They will use it to create contemporary images of an equally traditional subject matter, almshouses; a form of charitable accommodation that has its roots, like tempera painting, in the Middle Ages. The artists will experiment with the medium, with the aim of creating works that update the image of almshouses while demonstrating the relevance of egg tempera to contemporary practice.
During the life of the project, which is scheduled to run from February to July 2015, there will be a series of public events, such as artist talks and workshops, where those interested can learn the technique of egg tempera painting. The project will culminate in an exhibition of the paintings produced, by the artists, with an accompanying publication.
More information on the project, the artists involved and details of project activities, including dates of workshops and artists’ talks will be documented on the project’s website; where you can sign up to have project news and events emailed to you. I will also be posting further blogs on that website, exploring the historical and theoretical thinking behind the project. You can also follow the project on Twitter, by searching for the username @temperanet
I will make two further posts on OCA’s blog site detailing the progress of the project, one half way through and one at the end. If you have any questions you can get in touch with me through the contact form on the project website.


Posted by author: Derek Hampson

2 thoughts on “The Almshouse Tempera Project

  • I have used egg tempera over the past 18 years or so. I think it is a fantastic medium. By the way, I don’t agree with you that it is not suited to large work- just look at The Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca in the National Gallery. I haven’t done anything particularly large myself, though. I really like how egg tempera goes on home made gesso. It gives a lovely pearly sheen. I also use it on top of wet oil glazes as it gives a different kind of detail. I think your project sounds very interesting and I look forward to hearing how it goes. I would put some images on here, but I don’t know how to.

    • Hi, thanks very much for comments on my post. I agree egg tempera is a great medium to use. It is limited in its use today, partly because you can’t buy it ready made in tubes. Art shops do sell something they call egg tempera, but it isn’t the real thing as it has ingredients other than egg yolk and pigment in it. On my comment about it not being suitable for large painting, I’m not saying you can’t paint large pictures with it, just that it would take you ages to complete. Also the qualities of egg tempera are more suited to smaller intense images. The Piero Della Francesco is a great painting and was painted around the time oil paint started to achieve predominance. Have you had a look at the Almshouse Tempera Project website; http://wp.me/5ypVv ? We’re also on Facebook and Twitter

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