Tempera paint is a water-based paint often in schools for craft projects. They are made with non-toxic pigments, have a creamy consistency, and have an opaque finish. Compared to acrylic paint, it is thinner, not glossy but dries matte- almost like chalk paint. You can use them to make artworks on paper, cardboard, poster board, newspapers, and papier-mâché. It's also a good choice for finger and sponge painting.
This type of paint is not permanent but they great for teaching your little ones how to blend and mix colors. There are several brands available on the market and choosing the best one can be confusing, especially if it's your first time buying. In this article, we aim to make your shopping easier as we've prepared a buying guide and our reviews of 10 recommended tempera paints that you can get online.
Quick List - Top Tempera Paints
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Table of Contents
Tempera paints are somehow similar to acrylic paints in terms of being straightforward in usage for art projects. They are perfect for painting exercises for kids as well as decorating walls and windows. It is more suitable for absorbent surfaces, such as paper and cardboard, but not on wood, canvas, metal, fabric, and ceramic- as the paint will easily crack.
It is made with water, non-toxic pigments, starch or cellulose as the binder that holds the pigment together, and calcium carbonate, which gives it a chalk and matte finish. Tempera paint dries quickly, typically between 5 to 10 minutes, and is easy to wash with a wet sponge. Cleaning the paintbrushes will be easier, too because the paint doesn't dry into hard plastic.
Aside from the brand and prices, we've compiled a rundown of the different aspects to look into when buying tempera paints. Keep reading to gather enough information before you add-to-cart.
To get the most use out of tempera paint, make sure that you're going to apply it on an absorbent surface where it will not flake off easily. Check the label or the product description to make sure that the paint is compatible and will work on the objects that you want to paint.
In general, tempera paint is great for painting on paper, cardboard, poster board, newspapers, and papier-mâché. While you can also use it for decorating wood, canvas, metal, fabric, and ceramic- there's a high chance of it chipping off.
When it comes to choosing the paint color that you will buy, it is necessary to have at least a set of primary colors- red, blue, and yellow, as well as black and white. This way, you or your kids can easily get other colors by blending or mixing.
For example, mixing yellow and blue will give you green. Then, you can add more yellow to make it lime or yellow-green; put more blue paint to achieve turquoise or teal. You can look up color charts and other color mixing cheat sheets to achieve your desired color.
The black and the white paints are helpful if you want to darken or lighten the color. Going back to our example, you can either add white to produce mint green or black to have moss green. With the right paint proportion, you can make any color you can imagine.
Tempera paints are usually available in bottles and small paint pots. Choose the right size according to your kid's needs in order to save money. If you are just working on a few school projects, we recommend getting a smaller bottle of tempera paint. They are more cost-effective than a larger bottle.
The usual size of tempera paint varies for each brand. Smaller sets of tempera paints usually contain about 5 ml to 20 ml. Meanwhile, individual bottles of tempera paint typically weigh 100 ml up to 500 ml. If you're using them as your primary medium, whether your kids enjoy it as a hobby or you're working on a large surface, opt for a larger container of tempera paints.
You may also want to consider getting a set that contains 10 or more colors. Buying them in packs is more practical and cost-efficient than buying individual ones. Also, you can save time because the colors are ready-to-use- no need for mixing.
However, suppose you just ran out of one paint color. In that case, it is more reasonable to purchase the color you lack instead of buying another set. Buying tempera paint per bottle is also great if you have a favorite color. You can get a bigger bottle of the color that you usually go for.
Even though all tempera paints are non-toxic and washable, it's still important to double-check the product description to confirm that the paint you're getting is 100% safe. You can event message the seller directly if the information is not available on the page.
Since tempera paints are often given to kids for their craft projects, it's best to ensure that the paint is gentle on the skin. Make sure you buy only from legitimate online stores, whether official stores or highly-rated sellers with great customer feedback.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Idea Factory PH Washable Tempera Paint Bundle|6-Color Set | ![]() | Start With Primary Colors | |
2 | Crayola Washable Paint Pots With Brush|18-Color Set | ![]() | All-in-One Set for Your Kids | |
3 | Lakeshore Superbright Liquid Tempera Paint|Green | ![]() | Go Big With a Flip-Top Bottle | |
4 | Li'l Hands Watercolor Tempera Paint|12-Color Set | ![]() | Palette Packaging for Easy Color Mixing | |
5 | Mont Marte Poster Paint | ![]() | Stock Up on Your Favorite Colors | |
6 | Focus Tempera Washable Paint|12-Color Set | ![]() | A Dozen of Budget-Friendly Tempera Paints | |
7 | Yalong Neon Tempera Paint|6-Color Set | ![]() | Neon-Colored Tempera Paints for Glowing Artworks | |
8 | Non-Toxic Washable Finger Paint | ![]() | Best and Safe for Finger Painting | |
9 | Happy Bulilit Washable Tempera Paint for Kids | ![]() | Tempera Paint Ideal for Art Classes | |
10 | The Crafty Teacher Washable Tempera Paints | ![]() | Tempera Paint That Works in Wood and Glass |
When you want to start painting or creating art, Idea Factory PH has an excellent set for you! It includes a set of primary colors plus, black and white. Also, the bundle comes with green paint make it a 6-color set. Having red, blue, and yellow paint allows you to mix and produce different hues and shades.
This tempera paint has a smooth consistency, making it easy to apply. It is 100% non-toxic, perfectly safe for anyone, even kids and toddlers. You can use them as-is for more saturated paint, or put a few drops of water to dilute it a bit.
This bundle is a great starter kit as previous buyers attest to the paint's premium quality. Idea Factory PH tempera paints are also available in 30-ml bottles, and in sets of 3 (primary colors), and 9.
When it comes to trusted brands in art supply, Crayola is the always go-to choice for most people, especially for kids. So, for guaranteed prime tempera paints, look no further because Crayola offers them too! The sky is the limit as this paint pot set comes with 18 colors.
As expected in Crayola products, these tempera paints are non-toxic, perfect for preschoolers who are just learning how to draw or paint. Don't worry about the mess because these are washable and very easy to clean. It also comes with a handy paintbrush to make it an all-in-one set.
While tempera paints in paint pots are great small craft projects, if your little one has taken great interest in painting, going for a large easy-squeeze bottle is a good idea! Because they are typically sold per bottle, you can choose the color that you really like.
This Lakeshore Superbright Liquid Tempera comes in a flip-top bottle. There's a wide range of colors to pick from including green, red, black, blue, violet, yellow, orange, white, and brown. These are bright and washable- suitable for kids 3 to 11 years old. You can easily transfer an ample amount of paint onto a small cup then keep the rest for your kid's next painting session.
Looking for a kid-friendly tempera paint but on a tight budget? Li'l Hands curated this tempera-watercolor paint set that includes unique colors, such as lemon yellow, peach-orange, and cerulean blue. So if your kids is an aspiring artist, this set is a great addition to his tempera paint in primary colors.
Each tempera paint is opaque, non-toxic, and water-soluble. It comes in a palette packaging, so mixing and blending colors will be easier. Keep in mind to cover the paint with its cap when not in use, so they won't get dry quickly.
Fond of using your favorite colors that you always run out of supply? Then it is best to get those in individual bottles from another trusted paint brand, Mont Marte. It offers a whopping half-liter of tempera-style paint that is sold per bottle. This is perfect if you just need specific colors to finish a craft project or an artwork.
Mont Marte tempera paints are suitable for kids and adults - they are completely washable and non-toxic. It is available in vibrant colors, such as magenta, scarlet red, purple, ultramarine blue, gold, and many more. This poster paint is easy to blend but also dries quickly- wherein it gives a matte and opaque finish.
Another affordable tempera paint set, Focus, has an incredible combination of classic neutrals, mellow pastels, and bright colors. Not to mention, Focus is a locally established brand here in the Philippines, known for art, school, and office supplies. So, it is no surprise to see tempera paints in their range of products.
Despite the budget-friendly price, these paints did not skimp in terms of quality. Their tempera paint is water-soluble, and washing them off with soap and water can be done in a breeze. They also don't contain any toxins, making them safe for kids and toddlers. Add-to-cart this little jar set, which is a perfect gift idea for your little ones.
If you are looking for neon-colored tempera paints, the long wait is over because this set is for you. With these pigments, you get to create something beautiful and glowing, perfect for futuristic or space-themed artworks, props, and even DIY costumes!
Each paint is made from natural ingredients and topnotch pigments, sealed in plastic jars to maintain the moisture and fluidity of the product. All colors can be blended to form new hues. The paint's high saturation has the ability to patch up mistakes in your artwork. It is easy to clean and is 100% toxic-free.
Do you and your kids love to draw and paint using bare hands? If so, then let them try these washable and non-toxic tempera paint. With this, you don't have to worry about stains and getting dirty as they can be easily removed and cleaned with soap and water. They are ideal for hand and footprint art posters.
Tempera paints are known to dry very quickly when left out in the open, so do not forget to put the cap back on after use and to store them in a cool and dry place. Keep in mind that each 120-ml bottle is sold separately, you can buy additional colors as your budget permits it.
If you are looking for tempera paint to use in your children's arts and crafts classes, then this low-priced tempera paint is a suitable item for you. They are non-toxic, making them ideal even for toddlers. You can teach your kids how to mix primary colors to come up with secondary colors, and so on.
This tempera paint is sold per bottle, you can just get your preferred color combinations if you're not in the mood for blending shades on your own. It is easy to remove from your little one's hands with soapy water. The pigment applied will not easily chip off once dried, as long as you're painting on absorbent surfaces like paper and cardboard.
Two things that make this product worth including in the top 10: it is kid-friendly and versatile. This tempera paint is non-toxic and washable. It is sold individually, so you can pick your preferred colors in just one click. The paint is easy to use and comes in a flip-top lid. You'd just have to know how to properly store your tempera paint, so it'll last long.
They come in vibrant solid colors, but you can play with the neutral ones, such as white and black to create options with lighter or darker shades. Paint on anything with high moisture absorption including paper, cardboard, and newspaper.
You can also use the paint on woodwork and glass! With favorable reviews and star ratings, this product is credible and highly recommended.
When you have the right art tools and a creative mind, you can hone your artistic skills and broaden the horizon of your imaginations. Here are some of our buying guides about art essentials items that you might find interesting. We're sure you will love them, so click the links below and check out our recommendations!
Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
No. 1: Idea Factory PH|Washable Tempera Paint Bundle|6-Color Set
No. 2: Crayola|Washable Paint Pots With Brush|18-Color Set
No. 3: Lakeshore|Superbright Liquid Tempera Paint|Green
No. 4: Li'l Hands|Watercolor Tempera Paint|12-Color Set
No. 5: Mont Marte|Poster Paint
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