Is Tempera Paint Acrylic? Full Paint Comparison Guide

Tempera paint is not acrylic paint—they’re entirely separate art mediums with distinct compositions, properties, and purposes. While both are water-based paints that appear similar when wet, their chemical makeup and performance characteristics diverge significantly once they dry.

What Makes Tempera Paint Different from Acrylic

Composition and Chemical Structure

Tempera paint consists of pigments mixed with water and a binder like starch, cellulose, or calcium carbonate. Think of it as the art world’s workhorse for temporary projects—washable, affordable, and straightforward. The binder acts like glue holding the pigment particles together, but that glue dissolves when moisture reappears.

Acrylic paint takes a fundamentally different approach. It suspends pigments in an acrylic polymer emulsion, creating a plastic-like substance that transforms into a waterproof shield once dry. The polymer binder forms durable molecular bonds with surfaces, cementing the pigment in place permanently.

Permanence and Water Resistance

The permanence divide between these paints reads like a tale of two destinies. Tempera remains semi-permanent and reactivates when exposed to water, meaning a splash or humid day can compromise your artwork. Rain will wash tempera completely off outdoor surfaces like rocks or garden decorations.

Acrylic dries to a waterproof, permanent finish that resists fading, peeling, and moisture damage. Once the polymer emulsion cures, you’d need considerable effort to remove it—making acrylics the preferred choice for murals, outdoor projects, and any work requiring longevity.

When to Choose Tempera Over Acrylic

Educational and Children’s Projects

Tempera dominates classroom art rooms for good reason. Its washable nature means spills clean easily from hands, clothes, and tables—a lifesaver when working with young artists. The non-toxic formula and budget-friendly price point make it practical for schools purchasing supplies in bulk.

Quick-drying tempera allows children to complete projects within a single class period without waiting anxiously for paint to cure. The matte finish also gives schoolwork that characteristic poster-board appearance many educators prefer.

Temporary Art and Craft Activities

Projects destined for short-term display benefit from tempera’s affordability and convenience. Paper crafts, cardboard constructions, and seasonal decorations work beautifully with tempera since permanence isn’t the priority. The paint applies smoothly on porous surfaces like paper and cardboard, creating vibrant, opaque coverage.

However, tempera struggles on non-porous materials. It won’t adhere properly to metal or certain plastics, and it soaks disappointingly into canvas and fabric rather than sitting on the surface.

When Acrylic Paint Becomes Essential

Professional Artwork and Galleries

Artists creating work for exhibition or sale overwhelmingly choose acrylics. The lightfast pigments resist fading from sunlight exposure, maintaining color vibrancy for decades when properly displayed. Museum-quality archival standards favor acrylic’s proven durability over tempera’s tendency to crack, flake, or yellow over time.

Acrylic’s versatility extends across surfaces—canvas, wood, metal, plastic, and even walls accept the paint readily. Professional artists can modify acrylics with gels, mediums, and retarders to achieve specific textures and working times impossible with tempera.

Outdoor and High-Traffic Applications

Any project facing weather exposure demands acrylic’s waterproof protection. Garden art, exterior murals, and patio furniture need paint that endures rain, humidity, and temperature swings without deteriorating. Inside the home, high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways require acrylic’s durability and cleanability.

Wall painting transforms into a long-term investment with acrylics. Unlike tempera that flakes from drywall and reactivates during cleaning, acrylic bonds firmly to plaster and paint surfaces, withstanding regular scrubbing.

Practical Considerations for Paint Selection

Surface Compatibility Matters

Match your paint to your canvas. Tempera performs beautifully on paper and cardboard but disappoints on canvas, wood, or metal without extensive surface preparation. Wood surfaces need sanding and possibly primer before tempera will grip adequately.

Acrylic, conversely, acts like an artistic Swiss Army knife—compatible with nearly any surface including canvas, poster board, wood, metal, and previously painted walls. This versatility justifies the higher price tag for artists working across multiple mediums.

Cost and Accessibility

Budget constraints often determine paint selection for schools, community centers, and hobbyists experimenting with new techniques. Tempera costs significantly less than acrylic, making it accessible for large-scale projects where permanence takes a backseat to participation.

Acrylic represents a moderate to high investment, particularly for artist-grade formulations with superior pigment concentration and lightfastness. Yet that initial expense pays dividends through durability—a single coat of quality acrylic often outlasts multiple tempera applications.

Key Takeaways

• Tempera and acrylic are chemically different paints—tempera uses starch or cellulose binders while acrylic relies on polymer emulsion
• Tempera washes away with water even after drying, making it ideal for temporary projects but unsuitable for outdoor or permanent artwork
• Acrylic dries to a waterproof, permanent finish that resists fading and withstands weather exposure
• Choose tempera for children’s projects and temporary crafts where easy cleanup and low cost outweigh longevity concerns
• Select acrylic for professional artwork, outdoor applications, and any project requiring durability across diverse surfaces

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you paint over tempera with acrylic?

Yes, you can apply acrylic paint over dried tempera, but the tempera layer may reactivate slightly from the moisture in acrylic paint, potentially causing color mixing. For best results, seal the tempera layer with a spray fixative before applying acrylic, or simply start with acrylic if permanence matters.

Does tempera paint work on canvas like acrylic?

No, tempera soaks into canvas fabric rather than forming a surface layer like acrylic does. Canvas requires paint that creates a flexible, binding film on top of the fibers—something acrylic’s polymer formula achieves but tempera’s water-based composition cannot. Stick with paper or cardboard for tempera projects.

Why does tempera paint crack when acrylic doesn’t?

Tempera’s starch or cellulose binder lacks flexibility once dry, causing cracking and flaking especially when applied thickly. Acrylic’s polymer binder remains somewhat pliable, creating a flexible paint film that moves with the surface rather than breaking apart. This fundamental difference in binder chemistry explains acrylic’s superior durability.

Is tempera paint safe for toddlers to use?

Tempera paint is non-toxic and formulated specifically for educational settings, making it safe for supervised children’s activities. The washable formula allows easy cleanup from skin and most fabrics. However, adult supervision remains recommended as with any art supply, and always check product labels for age-appropriate recommendations.

Can you seal tempera paint to make it permanent?

Spray sealants offer some protection for tempera but cannot match acrylic’s natural permanence. Sealants may slow water reactivation and reduce fading, but sealed tempera still remains vulnerable to cracking, flaking, and degradation over time. If your project demands true permanence, choose acrylic from the start rather than trying to retrofit tempera.

Which paint is better for outdoor furniture projects?

Acrylic paint is essential for outdoor furniture due to its waterproof properties and resistance to weather conditions. Tempera will wash away in the first rain or morning dew since it reactivates when exposed to moisture. Multiple coats of acrylic improve water resistance for projects facing constant outdoor exposure.

How do drying times compare between tempera and acrylic?

Tempera dries very quickly—often within minutes—making it ideal for fast-paced classroom projects. Acrylic also dries fast but takes slightly longer than tempera, giving artists a bit more working time to blend colors. Both dry considerably faster than oil paints, though artists can extend acrylic’s workability using retarder mediums.