Ever wonder what gives those vibrant classroom paintings their rich color? Chances are, you’re looking at tempera paint! This everyday art supply is a staple in schools and homes, but choosing the *best* one can feel surprisingly tricky. Do you need washable? Should you buy it in a liquid bottle or a sturdy pan set? Navigating the differences between brands and formulas often leaves parents and teachers scratching their heads, worried about messy cleanups or dull results.
Don’t let confusing labels stop your creative flow! This guide cuts through the noise. We will break down exactly what makes a great tempera paint, covering everything from pigment quality to safety standards. By the end of this post, you will confidently select the perfect tempera for any project, whether you are tackling a giant mural or small craft.
Top Tempera Paint Recommendations
- Tempera Paint for Kids Bulk Paint Set – Cra-Z-Art features classic finger paint in 10 beautiful colors
- Exclusive Amazon Bundle – This kids bulk pack of poster paint comes conveniently packed with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, and white
- This is a perfect for birthday parties, holiday gifts, and craft time to inspire creativity and self-expression
- Reliable, Quality Paint – Cra-Z-Art has 30 years of experience creating trustworthy, dependable craft supplies. Perfect bukl paint pack for Teachers and Day Care Centers
- Safe and Fun - Cra-Z-Art paints are great for any craft project, made in the USA, are washable, and non-toxic
- ULTIMATE STARTER SET: This Rainbow Pack is the ultimate starter paint set for classrooms and home art projects! This vibrant set includes Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Black and White, 16oz each. Everything you need to unleash creativity.
- WASHABLE PARABEN-FREE PAINT: Our BEST-SELLING washable paint is now Paraben-Free! Certified with the AP Seal for safety and non-toxicity. Rich colors bring any art project to life.
- HIGHLY VERSATILE: These premium paints feature won’t chip, flake, or crack when dry. Ideal for a wide variety of projects, they work well on paper, canvas, wood, cardboard, cardstock, and paper mache.
- INDOOR & OUTDOOR USE: Unleash creativity anywhere, indoors or outdoors! Use with brushes, rollers, and sponges. A great choice for teachers and parents looking for endless art project possibilities.
- KID-FRIENDLY & NON-TOXIC: Made in the USA, Paraben-Free and ASTM-D4236 for non-toxicity. Does not include Latex, Dairy, Casein, Egg, Gluten, Peanut, Tree Nuts, and Soy.
- Kids Bulk Paint Set – Cra-Z-Art features Classic Paint in 8 beautiful, vibrant colors
- Exclusive Amazon Bundle – This kids bulk pack of poster paint comes conveniently packed with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white and black
- This is a perfect for birthday parties, holiday gifts, and craft time to inspire creativity and self-expression
- Reliable, Quality Paint – Cra-Z-Art has 30 years of experience creating trustworthy, dependable craft supplies
- Safe and Fun - Cra-Z-Art paints are great for any craft project, made in the USA, are washable, and non-toxic
- CRAYOLA PAINT SET FOR KIDS: The set includes 12 different vibrant colors in 16-ounce, easy squeeze paint bottles.
- CLASSROOM ARTS & CRAFTS: These paints are perfect for school art projects, birthday parties, and everyday arts and crafts.
- TEACHER SUPPLIES: Stock up on teacher classroom must haves, including Crayola bulk packs of crayons, markers, and more. Great for kindergarten, preschool, elementary school, art rooms, and group projects.
- BACK TO SCHOOL MUST HAVE: This set of kids paints is a must-have for teachers looking to stock up classrooms for back-to-school season.
- LONG-LASTING: The 16-ounce paints go a long way, providing a variety of richly pigmented hues for every art project.
- WASHABLE FORMULA: Easily washes off skin and most clothing for a worry-free painting experience; dries quick to allow for a wide range of craft applications such as posters, art and construction paper, plaster, and more
- READY-TO-USE: No shaking or stirring needed with this non-settling formula, so you can begin painting right away
- LESS MESS: Ergonomic design helps prevent messes and spills, so you can focus on the fun and not the clean-up
- SAFE FOR KIDS: Prang paint is AP certified non-toxic; great for kids ages 4 & up
- HIGH QUALITY: Backed by our Prang Promise to replace any product that fails to meet your expectations
- VIBRANT & ASSORTED COLORS - This Nicpro Washable Paint Set comes with 18 vivid colors including white, lemon yellow, orange, peach, red, magenta, violet, ultramarine blue, sky blue, turquoise, sap green, spring green, brown, and mars black
- WASHABLE PAINT FOR KIDS - These water-based tempera paints ensure quick and effortless cleanup from skin, clothing, and surfaces. The large bottles (250ml / 8oz) with flip-top caps are easy to squeeze and use, prevent spills, and reduce mess
- SAFE & NON TOXIC for All Ages - Made with a skin-safe formula that meets ASTM D-4236 standards. Safe for toddlers and young kids to use at home, or school—ideal for finger painting and creative painting
- TEACHER CLASSROOM MUST HAVES - Classroom Supplies for preschool, kindergarten, art rooms, elementary school, middle school—great for back to school season, group projects, preschool learning activities, kids’ birthday parties, parent-child time, everyday arts and crafts
- ENDLESS FUN - This kids art paint holds strong on painting tools like sponges or brushes and dries to a matte finish, perfect for work on paper, cardboard or stone. Ideal for kids on birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Children’s Day and holidays. This paint set comes with a color wheel for color exploration and learning.
- WASHABLE FORMULA: Easily washes off skin and most clothing for a worry-free painting experience; dries quick to allow for a wide range of craft applications such as posters, art and construction paper, plaster, and more
- READY-TO-USE: No shaking or stirring needed with this non-settling formula, so you can begin painting right away; Colors include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, white, brown, black, magenta, peach, and turquoise blue
- LESS MESS: Ergonomic design helps prevent messes and spills, so you can focus on the fun and not the clean-up
- SAFE FOR KIDS: Prang paint is AP certified non-toxic; great for kids ages 4 & up
- HIGH QUALITY: Backed by our Prang Promise to replace any product that fails to meet your expectations
- Endless Creativity: Our vibrant, creamy, & opaque washable paint for kids is designed for versatility. Perfect on non-greasy, absorbent surfaces including construction paper, drawing paper, cardboard, plaster cloth, and papier-mache. Use our tempera paint for kids with brushes, sponges, stamps, rollers, and more for endless creation
- Washable Tempera Paints: Some kid’s paint sets aren't exactly washable, all too easily leaving stains behind. At Colorations, our washable formula is designed to wash from most surfaces easily, so kids can create freely.
- The Possibilities Are Endless: Perfect at home or in the classroom, our 11-count, 16 oz kids painting set has all the vibrant colors kids could want to express themselves: black, blue, brown, green, magenta, orange, purple, red, white, turquoise, and yellow. Whether creating fun self-portraits or magic castles, our kid paint dries to a vivid matte finish and resists cracking, for art your kiddos will be proud of.
- Safe, Bright & Bold: Our kid-safe art paints achieved ASTM-D4236 standard and AP Seal for safety. To help keep our paint supplies accessible to all kiddos, our paints for kids do not have most common allergens including latex, dairy & casein, egg, gluten, peanut & tree nut, or soy. We hope our painting supplies open up a world of creativity
- Teachers & Parents Can Count On Us: At Colorations, we believe in empowering kids through artistic expression by providing quality, safe, and fun paint sets for kids made in the USA that let kids truly express themselves. If for any reason you don’t absolutely love your craft paint, reach out and we will make it right.
Choosing the Best Tempera Paint: Your Complete Buying Guide
Tempera paint is a fantastic, versatile medium. It dries fast and cleans up easily with water, making it perfect for classrooms, young artists, and quick projects. However, not all tempera paints are created equal. This guide helps you pick the right paint for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for tempera paint, focus on these important characteristics:
- Pigment Load: This means how much color is actually in the paint. High pigment load gives you brighter, richer colors that cover surfaces better. Low pigment load results in weak, chalky colors.
- Opacity vs. Transparency: Tempera is usually opaque (you cannot see through it). Check the label; opaque paints cover underlying colors well.
- Drying Time: Most tempera dries quickly. This is a benefit, but very fast drying can sometimes make blending difficult.
- Finish: Dried tempera usually has a matte (non-shiny) finish. Some specialty paints might offer a slight sheen.
Important Materials and Ingredients
Understanding what tempera is made of helps you judge quality:
Binder Quality
The binder holds the pigment together. Traditional tempera uses egg yolk (egg tempera), which is very durable. Modern craft tempera usually uses a synthetic binder like gum arabic or starch (often called “poster paint”). Synthetic binders clean up easily but are less permanent than true egg tempera.
Toxicity and Safety
For children’s use, always check for certifications like the AP seal (Approved Product) from the ACMI (Art and Creative Materials Institute). This guarantees the paint is non-toxic. Avoid cheap paints that do not list ingredient safety information.
Container Type
Tempera often comes in large plastic tubs or squeeze bottles. Tubs are great for dipping large brushes, but they dry out easily if left open. Squeeze bottles offer better portion control and seal tighter.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality directly affects how your artwork looks and lasts.
What Improves Quality?
- Fine Grind Pigments: When pigments are ground very finely, the paint feels smoother on the paper.
- Archival Rating (If needed): If you plan to keep the artwork for a long time, look for paints labeled as “permanent” or “archival.” Standard tempera fades over time, especially when exposed to sunlight.
- Smooth Consistency: Good tempera flows smoothly off the brush without clumping or leaving streaks.
What Reduces Quality?
- Cracking: If the paint film is too thick or the binder ratio is wrong, the dried paint can crack when the paper bends. This often happens with very cheap, thick formulas.
- Re-wetting Issues: Some lower-quality tempera, once dried, becomes nearly impossible to reactivate with water. You want paint that slightly softens if water touches it later.
- Separation: If you open a container and the water has completely separated from the color pigment, you will have to stir vigorously, and the color may never be uniform again.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use the paint should guide your purchase.
For Young Children (Preschool/Early Elementary)
Choose large tubs or washable liquid tempera. Focus on vibrant colors and easy clean-up. Durability and archival quality are not the main concerns here.
For Classroom Projects and Murals
Buy in bulk gallons. Look for paints that spread easily over large areas, like cardboard or butcher paper. Consistency is key so that every student gets similar results.
For Detailed Work or Hobbyists
If you need detail, use tempera sold in smaller bottles or pans. You can mix a few drops of water to thin the paint slightly for finer lines, but remember that thinning too much reduces color intensity.
Tempera dries fast. This speed is excellent for layering colors quickly, but it means you must work decisively. You cannot blend colors softly on the surface like you can with oil or acrylic paint.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Tempera Paint
Q: Can I use tempera paint on canvas?
A: Yes, you can use tempera on canvas, but it needs a primer or gesso first. Tempera paint soaks into untreated surfaces like paper. The paint will not be as durable on canvas as acrylic paint.
Q: Is tempera paint waterproof once it dries?
A: No, standard tempera paint is generally not waterproof. If you splash water on dried tempera, the color may smear or reactivate.
Q: How do I make my tempera paint permanent?
A: To make standard tempera permanent, you must seal it after it dries completely. Use a spray fixative or a clear acrylic varnish designed for crafts.
Q: Why does my tempera paint look chalky?
A: Chalkiness usually happens because the paint has a low pigment load or too much filler material. It often means the quality is low, or the paint dried out slightly before you applied it.
Q: Can I mix tempera with other paints?
A: You can mix tempera with water-based acrylics, but mixing it with oil paints is not recommended. The two types of paint will not bond correctly.
Q: What is the difference between tempera and poster paint?
A: In modern terms, they are often the same thing. “Poster paint” is frequently used to describe the inexpensive, non-toxic tempera sold in craft stores for school use.
Q: How long does tempera paint last in the container?
A: If the container is sealed tightly, tempera can last for several years. If the lid is left off, it dries out quickly, usually within a few days to a week.
Q: Can I paint over dried tempera with more tempera?
A: Yes, you can easily layer tempera paint. Because it dries fast and matte, you can apply a second coat or a new color right on top without disturbing the layer underneath.
Q: Does tempera paint smell bad?
A: Good quality, modern tempera paint has very little odor. If you notice a strong chemical smell, it might contain harsh preservatives, so handle it with care.
Q: What is the best way to clean up tempera spills?
A: Since tempera is water-based, clean wet spills immediately with soap and warm water. Dried spills can be scraped up and then wiped with a damp cloth, but stubborn dried paint may need a mild cleaner.