The Venetian Plaster Kit comes
complete with everything you need
to get started. It is a perfect
way for you to learn the basics of
Venetian Plaster application on a
professional level. Why wait.
Prepare yourself today for this
booming new trend.
The Gilded Planet partners
with
artSparx.com to bring you
Gilding Basics 101.
An on-line step-by-step
educational series
offering precise gilding
tutorials and gilding
information for the
beginner, intermediate
and advanced gilder.
For
additional information,
including images, video
clips, terminology and
detailed descriptions of
each step involved visit
the artSparx advanced
gilding tutorials at the
artSparx Gilded Corner.
This detailed demonstration shows you how to apply genuine gold, silver, imitation gold, aluminum and copper leaf to objects and furniture using the classic 3 hour oil size method. Brought to you by the folks at gildedplanet.com, you'll learn about types of adhesive, tacking and drying rates, easy leaf application tips and cleaning and burnishing the leaf.
Step 1: Prepare work area:
Cover working surfaces
and floor areas with
drop cloths or
newspaper. Use low-tack
painters tape to mask
any areas not to be
gilded. Lightly sand the
surface if necessary
with 220 grit sandpaper
to remove any blemishes.
Step 2: Prime surface:
Remove sanding dust with
a tack cloth and apply a
quality primer like
Burnish Sealer.
This primer-sealer has
been specially
formulated for gilding
processes and is
available in 3 color
tones - Red, Grey and Ochre.
Burnish Sealer
produces a high quality,
smooth surface for
gilding. Ochre, red or
grey can produce fault
hiding bases or color
enhancing undertones.
Step 3: Apply
'bole' color:
This base color is
also referred to as
the 'Bole' color.
Traditionally, bole
was made from clay.
Today paint is
typically
substituted.
Note:
when using the
Burnish Sealer
it is generally not
necessary to apply
an additional 'bole'
color over the
primer sealer. This
product is available
in 3 colors.
One can experiment
with different
colors and your
choice will affect
the overall
appearance of the
finished product.
Visit the Gilded
Planet
Bole color center
for more color
ideas.
Step 4: Apply
adhesive 'size'.
Size refers to the
adhesive used to adhere
the leaf to a surface.
There are different
kinds of size adhesive
dependant on the
finished look you
desire. For most common
gilding practices there
is a choice of sizing
available,
water-based or
oil-based. Apply
carefully and evenly,
working the size to an
even film as much as
possible. Visit the
Size and adhesive center
for detailed use and
product information,
including drying and
tack times.
GildedPlanet Special
LeFranc 3
Hour Size
is suitable
for interior
and exterior
work. It
reaches tack
in 3-5 hours
depending on
film
thickness,
temperature
and
humidity.
After
reaching the
proper
gilding
tack, it
will remain
open for
gilding with
genuine gold
leaf for 4-6
hours. The
open time
for gilding
with metal
leaf is
shorter,
since metal
leaf is
brittle and
heavier.
Allow the
gilded
surface to
cure one
week before
sealing or
glazing.
Step
5: Testing your 'tack'
-
This is perhaps the most
important phase in
achieving a properly
gilt surface, and
determining the proper
'tack' time of adhesive
sizing will result in the
professional finish you
are after. As your
'size' dries it
naturally goes from a
wet to a dry state. The
proper time to apply
your leaf is when the
'size' is not wet but
'tacky', just before it
dries completely.
To learn more about
proper
tack times, and
testing your size to
determine if it is ready
to receive gold leaf,
visit the artSparx
advanced gilding
tutorials at the
artSparx Gilded Corner.
Surface leaf:
Placing a book of leaf
in your hand, carefully
fold back the protective
paper to expose the gold
leaf. Lay the leaf onto
the sized area and
'roll' out the leaf.
Hold firmly and
carefully. Attach leaf
to surface.
Patent Leaf:
Carefully remove a
single sheet of gold
leaf transfer paper and
gently apply to your
surface. Rub over the
back of the paper with a
gilder's brush, or
gently with your
fingers. Carefully
remove the paper to
leave the gold leaf
adhered to the surface.
Continue in this manner.
3/4 inch Soft Goat Hair Brush -
Professional
gilder's brush
Item: 367/3/4
$ 15.00
Step 8:
Touching up 'holidays'
in the leaf surface.
Touch up any 'holidays', areas that are missing leaf due to lack of sufficient
sizing or from leafed
areas that may have torn
away during burnishing.
For details on this
procedure visit
the artSparx advanced
gilding tutorials at the
artSparx Gilded Corner.
Genuine Gold Leaf
with a karat rating
of 22kt or higher
(22kt, 23kt, 23.5kt,
23.75kt, 24kt) does
not require sealing.
However, it is often
desirable to apply a
protective coat of
sealer to insure
durability of the
leaf, particularly
in high traffic
areas or for heavy
use objects and
furniture. Specially
formulated for use
over genuine or
metal leaf surfaces,
'Acrylic Topcoat' is a non-reactive, premium water
clear sealer for genuine and metal leaf. Made from acrylic
copolymers, Acrylic Topcoat provides protection from
abrasion, water and ultra violet light. This solvent based
sealer resists chemicals and may be applied by brush or
spray. Available in Gloss and Satin finishes.
More information.
Antiquing and aging your leafed
surface adds character and old
world charm. For antiquing recipes
for gilded surfaces visit the
artSparx
Antiquing Center.
These
step-by-step
Gilding tutorials
includes:
Insuring your
leafed surface is
ready to be
antiqued.
Transform everyday objects into
heirlooms.
The process known as Gilding simply
means the application of
gold or silver leaf to a surface that has been
properly prepared with
an adhesive known as 'gold size'.
Bole - Traditionally, bole is a term that
identifies a pigmented clay. This clay acts as
the base, or cushion, for the subsequent layer
of gold leaf. Classically terre-cotta in color,
the clay can be built up quickly, then polished
to a very smooth surface.
Contemporary gilding does not use clay, but
simulates the effect by adding a colored paint
that replicates the clay effect.
Size- General term used to identify the
adhesive that attaches the leaf to a
surface.
There are different types of size, depending
on the form of gilding.
Holiday - A
gilders term that refers to an area were the
leaf did not initially adhere.
Tack - Refers
to the state of the adhesive size. Proper tack
for gilding is the point when the size is not
longer wet, but not fully dry, hence it is
'tacky' or just slightly sticky.
Skewings
- The bits of leaf that are left over after a
surface has been completely gilded. Skewings can
be saved for other projects, making excellent
fillers for patching holidays.
Aluminum Leaf
Dutch
Gold or
composition leaf
Aluminum
Leaf imitates the illusion of
genuine
Silver, at a fraction of
the cost. Each
individual sheet is
bigger and easier to
handle then its genuine
counter part.
The same
applies for 'Dutch Gold',
or 'Composition Leaf'.
But due to the large
brass content, this
imitation gold must have
a sealer applied to
prevent tarnishing,
unlike genuine gold
leaf.
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