Class Description:

Since ancient times, artists have blended egg yolk, powdered pigment, and water to create delicately luminous paintings of remarkable durability. The great altarpieces of 14th century Siena and the 15th-century masterpieces of the Florentine Renaissance were painted in egg tempera. Four centuries later in this country, the medium was a favorite of the magic realists and many of the figurative artists working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).


Students will discover that egg tempera is quite economical, versatile, eco-friendly, and well-suited for contemporary use. They will learn how to prepare a panel with rabbit skin glue-based gesso, how to transfer drawings to the panel, and how to layer tempera paint using both traditional and contemporary tech- niques. All levels of experience are welcome.


About the Instructor:

Doug Safranek received a B.A. in French from Boston College and an M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin where he studied with Robert Grilley, magic realist John Wilde, and art historian James Watrous who introduced him to egg tempera painting. His work is included in numerous private and public collections, including the Arkansas Art Center, the Norton Museum of Art, the New-York Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Over the course of his thirty-year career, he has received a number of awards and honors, including an Elizabeth Greenshield’s Grant, a solo exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art, and a Gold Medal from the Allied Artists of America. Mr. Safranek is represented by ACA Galleries in New York City.

Artist Website: www.dougsafranek.com