Gold Leafing (Alternative Painting) Charity and Jeffrey

Gustav Klimt - Madame 

Klimt's 'Golden Phase' was marked by positive critical reaction and success. Many of his paintings from this period used gold leaf; the prominent use of gold can first be traced back to Pallas Athene (1898) and Judith I (1901)


What is it?

Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets by goldbeating and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades. Yellow gold being most common. 

Why use it?

The gold leafing or metal leafing (gilding) is a technique that has been used for centuries and has captued the eye of many artist such as Gustav Klimt. It adds a unique color and texture that is near impossibly with gold paint alone, and the process is somewhat simple. 

Basic Use

• Surface
• Many surfaces can be used when gold leafing when priming is taken into careful consideration.
• The 'Burnish Sealer'is a primer-sealer specially designed for use under gilding size (adhesive). It is available in 3 colors, Red, Gray and Ochre. For traditional gilding use either Red or Ochre colors as a base for genuine gold leaf. This product creates a high quality, smooth surface for gilding.
• Sizing (Adhesive) 
• This is where you apply the adhesive to the area/s that you want to be leafed. The adhesive is fairly quick drying and remains tacky to the touch when it has settled. 
• You paint the adhesive on similar to a thinned out oil covering only the spots you wanted leafed. Remember to immediately wash brush after using adhesive as it will dry like a glue on your bristles.
• Let dry for 30 minutes to an hour depending on brand of adhesive, some may be quicker.
• The Fun Part (Applying the Leaf)

• After the adhesive has dried and is still tacky to the touch, we will begin placing the leaf. The leaf comes in sheets and usually in a booklet with paper separating the sheets of the leaf.
• The material is very thin and takes careful handling. It is recommended that you use gloves when applying the leaf, due to the oils on your skin grabbing onto the leaf.
• After you have placed the leaf on the dried adhesive you can gently pat or rub the leaf onto your desired area.
• Removing the extra leaf

• Removing the extra leaf is a process that should be handled delicately to ensure you do bot scratch the surface of your gold leaf.
• Use a non-abrasive brush to brush off the remaining leaf, revealing the image or area you painted down earlier with the adhesive. 
• Save any remaining leaf in a plastic bag for a later use if desired. 

• Sealing
• To ensure that your leafing will last it is recommended to seal the applied area. There are various gold leaf sealers at most art stores. Most acrylic sealers will work in preserving your gold leaf. 
• Aging 
• Glazes or washes can be used to add an aged look to your leafing project. 

A fun use of gold leaf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Sx668u-i8