Crackle Gesso Water Gilded Panels

The intriguing look of crackle gesso can be used as a ground for traditional water gilding, oil gilding, and painted finishes. A great tool for those exploring and mastering the wide world of gilding techniques.

The GildedPlanet.com is excited to partner with the Charles Douglas Gilding Studio to provide you with the highest quality, hands on training for the gilding arts.

Crackle Gesso Water Gilded Panels

crackle gesso gold leaf classes
Learn to Make Crackle Gesso!

The popular Traditional Water Gilded Panels class now has a separate companion class: Crackle Gesso Water Gilded Panels! Gilded in 23k gold leaf and toned for age in a water based Raw Umber casein this new rendition of the classical gilded panel is sure to secure its place in the water gilded panel series of classes offered by Charles Douglas Gilding Studio.

This Online Zoom 8 week class meets once a week, taking students on a journey through each step of the ancient traditional water gilding method specifically for panels from the laying and gluing of silk and preparing and applying a custom mixed crackle gesso and clay bole to laying and burnishing genuine 23k gold leaf. We end the class with an intriguing introduction to granito, the technique of punchwork and incision for decorative embellishment. The method taught for creating the crackle gesso resembles the appearance of 18th c Florentine panel paintings.

Developed for the Fine Artist as well as the student of Iconography, each lesson addresses a specific step of the process, keeping it challenging while not overwhelming. The crackle gilded panel may be used by the artist as a classical background to their painting in traditional egg tempera, oils, or acrylics.

Students will need a set of gilding tools such as the pad, knife, and tip, various brushes, a book of 23k gold leaf and a raw wood panel to gild. (Assistance in acquiring these is available upon request.)

All classes are Live on Zoom and recorded for viewing by students which remain accessible for six months.

A Materials list is available on this website for download (visit the Materials Tab and download the recipes for clay bole under Traditional Water Gilding and the Crackle Gesso recipe under the Crackle Gesso class.) Or contact the Instructor Charles Douglas for further info at charles.studio@usa.net.


This is an 8 session class for a total of 12 hours. Each session is 90 minutes.

August 13, 20, 27- Septemeber 3, 10, 17, 24 - October 1, 2022 (Every Saturday for 8 weeks)
1:00pm - 2:30pm PST (4:00pm - 5:30pm EST; Adjust for Local Time Zone)
Date Location Time Price Status Register Now
August 13, 20, 27- Septemeber 3, 10, 17, 24 - October 1, 2022 ZOOM 1:00pm - 2:30pm PST (4:00pm - 5:30pm EST) $295.00 Available Register Now!

Class Materials

Charles Douglas Classes - Water Gilding

Discount code will be provided during your workshop!

Complete Class Kit - Special

Purchase all the recommended tools from this educational series in one easy step.

CDWG/KIT $ 395.00
Use discount code at checkout - provided by instructor - to save even more!

Also available, Sepp Leaf Professional Water Gilding Kits. Water Gilding Tool Kit, with gesso (whiting), rabbit skin glue, clay bole and genuine 22kt Gold leaf and our Water Gilding Materials Kit, including Gilders Tip brush, gilding pad and gilding knife at Water Gilding Kits.


Purchase class items individually

Re-load on essential items!!! Every artist knows that If you use your tools right, then they will preform for you. True work horses - and in a pinch, you know which are your "go-to" tools. But even your hardest working friends need refreshing. Now is your time. And enjoy a special discount on the folowing items, exclusively through the Charles Douglas Gilding Studio Workshops. Thanks for participating in our workshops!

Use discount code at checkout - provided by instructor - to save even more!

213K/3.5 $ 90.00
Pure Sable Kolinsky - Single - 3.5" width x 2" Length - French
Gilder's Tip
MA13 $ 68.50
MA13 Agate stone burnisher - Wood Handle - German
Agate Burnisher
61/2 $ 23.00
Pure Kazan Squirrel - Pointed Mop - Quill Ferrule - Wood Handle - French
8mm Brush
625/1 $ 32.00
Mixed Squirrel - 1" Tapered - Metal Ferrule - Wood Handle - German
1" Brush
GK/S $ 39.00
Gilders Knife - Single edge with square tip 5½" blade
Gilders Knife
GP/D $ 74.00
Gilders Pad, Delux 7" x 9.1/2" W/O SHIELD - Italian
Gilders Pad
CARB3/1 $ 15.00
Florence Rouge Whiting - Gesso powder - 1 lb
Dry Gesso
RSG330/1 $ 28.00
Framers Glue - Rabbit Skin Glue - German Fine Granulated - 1 lb
Rabbit Skin Glue 1lb.
3355P/5 $ 46.50
Selhamin Red Bole - 5oz jar - Wet
Red Bole - Clay
MA23.00DB/B $ 96.00
Manetti Brand - 23kt Double Gold Leaf Book - Loose Leaf - 18 grams
23kt Gold Leaf

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