Distemper is actually a kind of paint -- All paints are comprised of powdered pigments, dissolved in either water or oil base, and some kind of binding agent. In a distemper paint, the binding agent is glue -- typically from a mammal skin. Traditionally, in distemper, the animal-hide would be from rabbit.
Sometimes paint tins list "distemper" among their ingredients. This basically means some kind of glue was used as a binding agent.
Most often when a paint expert refers to distemper paint they mean one bound with animal glues (not anything else). But when distemper appears on the ingredients list on the side of a paint tin, it's just as likely that the binding agent is a vegetable-based glue, or even a glue derived from eggs or milk (casein paints). Modern latex paints, which typically use modified cellulose fibres as the binding agents, are based on the basic combination principles found in distemper paints.
Traditional distemper paints are said to have a very nice finish, but they are messy (drippy) and must be applied when still warm -- limiting in practice.
Sometimes paint tins list "distemper" among their ingredients. This basically means some kind of glue was used as a binding agent.
Most often when a paint expert refers to distemper paint they mean one bound with animal glues (not anything else). But when distemper appears on the ingredients list on the side of a paint tin, it's just as likely that the binding agent is a vegetable-based glue, or even a glue derived from eggs or milk (casein paints). Modern latex paints, which typically use modified cellulose fibres as the binding agents, are based on the basic combination principles found in distemper paints.
Traditional distemper paints are said to have a very nice finish, but they are messy (drippy) and must be applied when still warm -- limiting in practice.