Water Gilding for Plaster Casts.

Plaster, used as a casting material, is often used in the field of gold leaf restoration.

Plaster casts can also be water gilded in gold leaf and burnished. Using a 2-part non-toxic silicone mould, casts can be made from any solid object and water gilded.

ZOOM classes with Charles Douglas Gilding Studio

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.

Traditional Water Gilding for Plaster Casts.

Water Gilding for Plaster Casts

Traditional Water Gilding for Plaster Casts

Traditional water gilding is one of the oldest crafts and artforms traced back to the Early Egyptians, a method later refined during the Renaissance where very thin layers of gold leaf are applied to objects often made of wood and burnished to a brilliant lustre with an agate stone.

Plaster as well as a casting material known as Hydrocal, used in the field of gold leaf restoration, can also be water gilded in gold leaf and burnished. Using a 2-part non-toxic silicone mould, casts can be made from any solid object and water gilded.

During this 6-week Online class students will learn to create moulds of any solid object of their choice and to create a cast in Hydrocal, a gypsum product somewhat stronger than and related to plaster. We then go through each step of the ancient method of traditional water gilding, from preparing rabbit skin glue size, gesso, and bole to gilding, burnishing, and toning.

Learn to create a personal object of art as a decorative accessory, art for display, or a simple Touchstone for your desk, beautifully gilded and burnished in genuine 23k gold leaf!

All classes are Live on Zoom and recorded for viewing by students. Recordings remain accessible for six months. A Question/Answer period takes place at the end of each session.


September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7, 14, 2022 (Once a Week for 6 Weeks)
1:00pm - 2:30pm PDT (4:00pm - 5:30pm EST; Adjust for Local Time Zone)

This is an 6 session class for a total of 9 hours. Each session is 90 minutes.

Date Location Time Price Status Register Now
September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7, 14, 2022 ZOOM 1:00pm - 2:30pm PST (4:00pm - 5:30pm EST) $275.00 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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