PAINTS AND MEDIUMS

Tempera is the classroom standard, and it comes in three forms. Powder is mixed with water as needed and stores dry between terms — the cheapest per litre by a wide margin. Liquid arrives ready to use, saving preparation time at a higher price. Blocks are solid cakes used with a wet brush: no mixing, no spillage.

Finger paints are formulated for direct hand application and thicker than standard tempera. Foundation phase and early years.

Crafters' paints are ready-mixed and general purpose. Useful where a class is painting onto card, wood or craft materials rather than paper.

Acrylics are for older students and finished work — permanent on canvas, board and wood, and permanent on clothing too. Not the choice for a young class without aprons.

Fabric paints stay soft and flexible on cloth — Dala states its standard, metallic, neon and pearl fabric paints will not crack. Light and dark fabrics take different products: standard colours are for light fabrics, while metallic and opaque are rated for dark. Some need heat setting and some do not, so check the individual product.

Cost per litre. Powder tempera is substantially cheaper than liquid. A 2kg bucket of powder is R99; a 1-litre bottle of liquid tempera is R90 — and the powder makes considerably more than a litre once mixed. For a school painting weekly, the difference across a year is significant.

Preparation and water. Powder needs mixing, which needs a sink and someone's time. Where classrooms have no water on hand, liquid tempera or blocks are the practical choice regardless of cost.

Washability. Tempera and crafters' paints are designed to wash out of most fabrics. Acrylics are designed to be permanent. Issue aprons accordingly.

Ordering. Larger sizes cost less per litre, and volume discounts apply to your order total from R5,000 — so mixing colours and sizes across one order does not reduce your discount.