Quick answer: Acrylic paint is bound with an acrylic polymer that dries into a permanent, flexible, water-resistant film, so it suits canvas, wood and finished artwork. Tempera paint (school or poster tempera) is usually bound with starch, glue or similar binders, dries matte and can rewet, crack or flake, which makes it cheap, washable and ideal for kids’ projects on paper. Egg tempera is a separate fine-art paint made with egg yolk. Choose acrylic for durable art and tempera for classroom and temporary work.
Both paints come in bright colors, clean up with water while wet and are widely available in craft stores. Yet acrylic and tempera behave very differently once dry. Understanding acrylic paint vs tempera paint helps you avoid cracked projects, faded posters and disappointing results on the wrong surface.
This guide explains what each paint is made of, compares them by finish, durability, surface and cost, separates poster tempera from egg tempera, and offers clear recommendations by project. If acrylic sounds like the right fit, our Blick acrylic paint review looks at a budget-friendly line that performs well for students and hobbyists.
What Is Tempera Paint?
The word “tempera” covers two very different paints.
Poster or school tempera
This is the bottled paint common in classrooms. It typically uses binders such as starch, cellulose or glue with pigment and fillers. It is inexpensive, non-toxic in children’s formulas and washes out of many fabrics while wet. It dries matte and opaque but remains somewhat water-sensitive and can crack if applied thickly.
Egg tempera
Egg tempera is a traditional fine-art paint made by mixing pigment with egg yolk. It was used for centuries before oil painting became dominant. It dries quickly, is applied in thin layers on rigid gessoed panels and can last for centuries. It is a specialized medium and very different from school tempera.
In this article, “tempera” refers to poster or school tempera unless noted otherwise.
What Is Acrylic Paint?
Acrylic paint is pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. As water evaporates, polymer particles fuse into a durable, flexible plastic film that resists water once dry. Acrylic comes in many consistencies and can be modified with mediums for gloss, texture, transparency and drying time.
Acrylic Paint vs Tempera Paint: Side-by-Side
| Property | Acrylic | Poster/school tempera |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Acrylic polymer | Starch, glue, cellulose or similar |
| Finish | Satin to gloss; matte options | Flat, chalky matte |
| Water resistance when dry | High | Low; can rewet |
| Flexibility | Flexible | Brittle; may crack |
| Durability | Long-lasting with quality pigments | Limited; may fade or flake |
| Best surfaces | Canvas, wood, paper, many primed surfaces | Paper, poster board, cardboard |
| Cleanup | Water while wet; permanent once dry | Water, even after drying in many cases |
| Cost | Moderate to high | Low |
| Typical users | Artists, hobbyists, crafters | Children, classrooms, quick projects |
Finish and Color
Tempera dries flat and chalky, which gives posters and children’s art a bold, matte look. Colors may appear slightly lighter or duller when dry. Acrylic usually dries with some sheen and slightly darker than when wet, and its colors tend to be richer, especially in artist grades with higher pigment loads.
Durability and Permanence
This is the biggest difference. Acrylic forms a tough, flexible film that bonds to many surfaces and resists water once dry. It can be varnished and displayed for years.
School tempera is designed to be washable, which means it stays water-sensitive. Thick layers can crack and flake, especially on flexible surfaces, and some formulas may fade with light exposure. It is great for temporary projects but not for artwork meant to last.
Surfaces
Acrylic works on:
- Primed canvas and canvas boards
- Wood, MDF and panels
- Paper and cardboard
- Rocks, terracotta and many craft surfaces
- Fabric, when mixed with textile medium
Tempera works best on:
- Paper and construction paper
- Poster board
- Cardboard
- Windows, with washable formulas (for temporary decorations)
Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Windows?
You can, but acrylic is harder to remove from glass than washable tempera. If you want temporary window art, washable tempera or window-specific paints are easier to clean. Acrylic can usually be scraped off glass with a razor blade once dry, but it is more work.
Acrylic Paint vs Regular Paint
“Regular paint” often means house paint. Many house paints are also acrylic or latex-based, but they are formulated for walls, with fillers and additives that affect color intensity and flexibility on art surfaces. Artist acrylics usually have higher pigment concentration and better color mixing for artwork.
Acrylic Ink vs Acrylic Paint
Acrylic ink is a very fluid, highly pigmented acrylic designed for pens, airbrush and fine lines. Acrylic paint has more body. Both share the same permanent binder, unlike tempera.
Acrylic vs Oil Based Paint
Acrylic dries quickly and cleans up with water. Oil paint dries slowly, allowing extended blending, and traditionally uses solvents for cleanup. Tempera is far less durable than either.
Can You Use Polycrylic Over Acrylic Paint?
Water-based polyurethane finishes like Polycrylic are often used over acrylic painted crafts and furniture. They can add protection on wood surfaces. On fine art, artist-grade varnishes are generally preferred because they are designed for art surfaces and some are removable for future conservation. Test first, since some clear coats may yellow or change sheen over time.
Can You Varnish Tempera?
Sealing school tempera is possible with spray sealers or acrylic mediums, but it may reactivate the paint if brushed on. Light spray coats are safer. For permanent results, starting with acrylic is usually better.
Cost and Value
Tempera is inexpensive and sold in large bottles, making it practical for classrooms and big group projects. Acrylic costs more, especially artist-grade, but lasts longer, covers more surfaces and holds up over time. Student-grade acrylics offer a middle ground for beginners.
How to Apply Acrylic Paint for Best Results
- Prime or prepare the surface as needed.
- Use synthetic brushes designed for acrylic.
- Squeeze small amounts onto a palette, since acrylic dries quickly.
- Mist the palette or use a stay-wet palette to extend working time.
- Build in thin layers, letting each dry.
- Clean brushes promptly with water and soap.
- Varnish finished work for protection and even sheen.
How to Paint Realistically With Acrylic
Acrylic’s fast drying can feel challenging for realism, but it also allows rapid layering.
- Start with an underpainting to set values.
- Use glazes of transparent color to adjust hues and deepen shadows.
- Add retarder for smoother blending.
- Work from general to specific, saving details and highlights for last.
- Use reference photos and check values often.
Tempera’s matte finish and limited blending make realism harder, which is another reason acrylic is preferred for serious work.
How to Paint With Acrylics Kits
Many beginners start with acrylic kits that include a set of colors, brushes and canvases. Get the most from a kit by:
- Learning basic color mixing with a limited palette.
- Practicing value scales and simple still lifes.
- Upgrading brushes and key colors (like white) first as you progress.
Which Should You Choose?
| Project | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Preschool and young children’s art | Tempera |
| School posters and quick projects | Tempera |
| Temporary window decorations | Washable tempera |
| Canvas paintings | Acrylic |
| Wood crafts, rocks, outdoor decor | Acrylic |
| Artwork meant to last or sell | Acrylic |
| Fine-art traditional panel painting | Egg tempera (specialized) |
Common Mistakes
- Using tempera on canvas for display: it may crack and flake as canvas flexes.
- Using acrylic with young kids without protection: it can permanently stain clothes once dry.
- Mixing tempera and acrylic: results are unpredictable and durability suffers.
- Applying thick tempera: encourages cracking.
- Confusing egg tempera with school tempera: they are completely different materials.
Egg Tempera in More Detail
Because the name causes so much confusion, it is worth a closer look at how egg tempera differs from both school tempera and acrylic.
- Binder: egg yolk mixed with water and pigment, usually prepared fresh for each session.
- Surface: rigid panels coated with traditional gesso, because the dried film is not flexible enough for stretched canvas.
- Technique: thin layers applied with small hatching strokes, building color gradually. Blending is done optically rather than by smoothing wet paint.
- Finish: a soft satin glow that can be polished lightly once cured.
- Durability: very long-lasting when properly made and applied on a rigid support.
Egg tempera is a rewarding but slow medium. Acrylic was, in part, adopted by some painters because it offers quick drying and permanence without the preparation that egg tempera requires.
Safety and Labels
Both tempera and acrylic are water-based and generally lower in odor than solvent-based paints. Even so, check labels.
- Look for products marked as conforming to ASTM D-4236, a labeling standard for art materials in the US, and for certification seals indicating that a product is non-toxic.
- Some artist acrylic colors contain pigments that carry cautionary labels. Follow the instructions, avoid eating or drinking while painting and wash hands afterward.
- For young children, choose products specifically labeled for children’s use.
Moving a Classroom or Kids From Tempera to Acrylic
Many young painters graduate from tempera to acrylic. A few steps make the transition smoother.
- Start with student-grade acrylic in a limited set of colors: a warm and cool primary of each, plus white and black.
- Introduce a stay-wet palette so paint does not dry out halfway through the lesson.
- Teach brush cleaning early. Acrylic ruins brushes left to dry, unlike tempera.
- Use smocks and covered tables. Acrylic stains clothes permanently once dry.
- Demonstrate layering. Show how acrylic can be painted over without lifting, which is a big change from tempera.
Tempera Cakes and Sticks vs Liquid Tempera
School tempera also comes in solid cakes and twist-up sticks, which are popular for young children because they are less messy.
- Tempera cakes work like a pan paint: wet the brush, scrub the cake and paint. Colors are often less intense than liquid tempera.
- Tempera sticks look like glue sticks and dry within a minute or so, giving bold, matte color with almost no cleanup.
- Liquid tempera offers the brightest color and is easiest to mix.
None of these forms match acrylic’s permanence, but they are excellent for classroom art and quick projects.
Cost Comparison Over a Typical Project
For a classroom poster project with many children, tempera is usually the most economical choice by far, because it is sold in large, inexpensive bottles and cleans up easily. For a single canvas painting meant to hang on a wall, acrylic often costs a little more upfront but avoids the risk of cracking and fading, which makes it the better value for anything you want to keep.
Quick Decision Guide
- Will the project be washed off, recycled or thrown away soon? Use tempera.
- Will it hang on a wall, be sold or be given as a gift? Use acrylic.
- Is the surface flexible canvas, wood or something outdoors? Use acrylic.
- Are very young children painting? Use washable tempera.
FAQs
Is tempera paint the same as acrylic?
No. Tempera uses water-soluble binders like starch or glue, while acrylic uses a polymer that becomes water-resistant when dry.
Can you use tempera paint on canvas?
You can for practice, but it may crack and flake over time. Acrylic is better for canvas.
Is acrylic or tempera better for kids?
Washable tempera is usually better for young children because it is inexpensive and easier to clean up. Older kids can use acrylic with supervision and protective clothing.
Does tempera paint wash off?
Washable tempera often comes off skin, many fabrics and smooth surfaces with water. Some colors may stain certain materials.
Can you mix acrylic and tempera?
It is not recommended. The mix may dry inconsistently and lose acrylic’s durability.
Is egg tempera better than acrylic?
Neither is universally better. Egg tempera offers luminous, durable results on rigid panels but requires specialized technique. Acrylic is more versatile and easier to use.
Final Thoughts
Tempera is inexpensive, washable and perfect for classrooms and temporary projects, while acrylic is permanent, flexible and suited to artwork that needs to last. If you are moving from tempera to acrylic, choosing an affordable line with good pigment strength makes the transition easier. Our Blick acrylic paint breakdown for budget-minded painters explains how that line performs and who it suits.
