Our show last night about the Renaissance was so much fun to prepare for. I had a great time rereading about it, listening to the music of the time, and trying out some of the art techniques I learned about.
Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine Alexandria, 1379, Giovanni del Biondo (egg tempera painting)
I shared about how the Renaissance saw a move from the use of egg tempera paints by nearly all artists through the Middle Ages (and in fact dates back to Ancient Egypt) to widespread use of oil paints. 
Game Stall at Market, around 1625, from the studio of Frans Snyders, oil painting
During the Middle Ages, the primary subjects for artwork were topics of a religious nature. In these, the artists weren’t striving for realism but rather attempting to convey the essence of the subject symbolically. As the Renaissance movement began to grow, more and more artists started seeking to depict realism in their work, drawing from scenes around them and using live models for their paintings. Oil paints were much more suited to this purpose than egg temperas and the translucent nature provided by the oil in them allowed for rich vibrant colours.
More details about all of this over here: http://creativeedventures.blogspot.com/2011/05/in-zone-renaissance-may-30-2011.html
And, if you want to make your own egg temperas and try them out for yourself? Want some hints on painting with oils? Want to learn more about the Renaissance and its artists? Check out the recording of our show and you’ll find lots more information and ideas there! http://www.linqto.com/PlaybackRoom.aspx?roomname=creativeedventures&name=SingleExplicit_2011_05_30_20_00_44_826
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