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In the 19th
century, a Russian goldsmith called Carl Fabergé
decorated blown eggs with gold, silver, gems and enamel.
The eggs were designed as Easter gifts for the Russian
royal family. |
Real eggs have been decorated for centuries. In ancient times,
eggs were seen as a symbol of life and rebirth and were often
used as part of Spring rituals. Christians adopted the egg
as a symbol of Christ's rebirth, and in many countries it
is traditional to paint eggs for Easter. In Greek Orthodox
churches, children tap red-dyed eggs together. One says, "Christ
is risen", and the other replies "Truly, He is risen."
For centuries, artists have used eggs to make their paints.
Traditional paints are made by combining dry pigments with
binders such as linseed oil, beeswax and egg yolks. Paint
made with egg yolks is usually called egg tempera. The egg
affects the nature of the paint and the way that the artist
uses it. Egg tempera dries quickly, so artists must build
up the paint in thin layers to avoid it cracking. Paint is
usually applied to wood panels or Masonite, as tempera has
a tendency to crack when used on canvas. Varnish is usually
applied to protect the finished artwork. Painting with egg
tempera was particularly popular in Medieval Europe, but recently
many modern artists have revived this technique.
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1.
Make your own egg tempera.
- Mix the dry pigment (you may want to make your
own natural pigments) with water to form a thick paste.
- Add egg yolk - equal to the amount of paste that
you have.
- Thin with more water if necessary.
Experiment to discover: the best thickness of paint;
the best method of applying the paint; the type of brush
stroke; the best type of support.
2. Decorate your own eggs. These can
be hard boiled or you may want to remove the yolk and
white by piercing the egg with a large darning needle
and blowing the contents out into a bowl. Try applying
paint directly to the egg or if you are boiling them,
adding coloured dye to the water to stain the egg before
adding the finishing touches - glitter, coloured thread,
or silver foil. Make sketches of any designs that you
want to draw before you begin. Think about any traditional
patterns or symbols that you want to reproduce - your
family tartan perhaps!
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1.
Look at the work of one Medieval artist who specialised
in egg tempera work (Simone Martini for example). Compare
your chosen artist with one modern artist (such as Ben
Shahn or Mary Jane Parker) who have revived this technique.
(i) Discuss
their works and how they compare. Think about subject
matter, technique, cultural influences. |
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