Egg tempera is a painting process that uses egg yolk to bind pigments. It is very simple to use. Egg Tempera paints can be diluted with water and they dry quickly, giving a satin-matte finish. They may be applied in thin, overlapped, layers, and texture with a palette knife. Egg tempera may be applied on canvas, wood, cardboards, and on all surfaces that have been covered with a non-greasy mixture.