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.