Workshops In Water Gilding
Foundation & Intermediate
Introduction to Traditional Materials & Techniques
Foundation
Foundation in Water Gilding teaches you how to prepare and gild a variety of panels and a mockup chair rail. Learn how to work with gold and semi-precious leaf. Learn techniques for water gilding on panels and small three dimensional objects.
This is an introductory level course for those interested in learning the basic skills needed to work with traditional water gilding methods. You will receive five days of hands-on instruction in the practice of traditional water gilding, with an emphasis on practical techniques for surface preparation and the handling of loose leaf for panel and/or furniture gilding.
Level
Beginner
Class Size
3–4 people
Length of Study
5 days with the chance to add an additional sixth day for extra studio time to work on and complete course projects
Who it’s for
Gilders, furniture makers, frame makers, bookbinders, illuminators, sculptors, applied artists, visual artists, designers, conservators, restorers, collectors
What you will learn
- The various materials, tools and equipment used in water gilding
- Comprehensive, experiential, step-by-step understanding of surface preparation using traditional gesso and bole
- Techniques for confidently handling and applying gold and semi-precious leaf
- What to apply for a protective finish
What you will leave with
- Materials, tools, supply and resource lists
- Recipes
- A bibliography
- Basic knowledge to pursue your own independent projects
Prerequisites
Given the detail oriented nature of water gilding, some experience in hand/eye skills with brushes and an appreciation for technique and process is helpful.
Panel and Furniture Gilding
Intermediate
Intermediate study will deepen your understanding of the materials, refine your use of techniques, and leave you with new and more nuanced ways of working with water gilding.
This intermediate level course is suitable for those interested in developing the skills needed to work with scale, design and color in relation to traditional methods of panel and furniture water gilding. You will receive six days of hands-on instruction, learning techniques to create consistent application, remedy flaws, and to manage the production of multiple panels.
This is an opportunity to practice handling materials and to deepen your understanding of their nuanced use. You will learn how to prepare and gild different size panels, mock-up furniture samples and story boards on a variety of substrates.
Level
Intermediate
Class Size
4–5 people
Length of Study
6 days
Who it’s for
Gilders, furniture makers, frame makers, bookbinders, illuminators, sculptors, applied artists, visual artists, designers, conservators, restorers, collectors
What you will learn
- How to manipulate color and design using various bole and pigment application
- Tips and techniques for working on a variety of substrates
- Techniques in double gilding and burnishing
- How to detect and remedy flaws
- Best practices for preparing and gilding different size panels, mock-up furniture samples and storyboard
- Various options for top coating with protective finish
- How to plan, design layouts and manage the production of multiple panels
- How to estimate your time and materials in order to create a proposal
What you will leave with
- Materials, tools, supply and resource lists
- Recipes
- A bibliography
- More advanced knowledge to pursue your own independent projects.
Prerequisites
Experience with the preparation and use of traditional gesso and bole as well as experience handling loose leaf. Water Gilding: Foundation Study, Introduction to Traditional Materials & Techniques is encouraged but not mandatory.
Methods of Embellishment, Patina & Toning
Intermediate
Intermediate study will deepen your understanding of the materials, refine your use of techniques, and leave you with new and more nuanced ways of working with water gilding.
This intermediate level course is suitable for those interested in developing skills and methods for surface and color work utilizing patina, embellishing and toning techniques. You will receive six days of hands-on instruction in the practice of traditional water gilding, with an emphasis on consistent application of gesso, bole and gold leaf in preparation for further embellishment of the finish.
It is said that this is where gilding begins. Here, you will learn how to create various water gilded finishes and expand into more nuanced ways of working with the materials in order to prepare, water gild, patina and embellish panels of various sizes, mock-up furniture samples and story boards on a variety of substrates.
Level
Intermediate
Class Size
4–6 people
Length of Study
6 days
Who it’s for
Gilders, furniture makers, frame makers, bookbinders, illuminators, sculptors, applied artists, visual artists, designers, conservators, restorers, collectors
What you will learn
- Techniques in double gilding and burnishing; punch work; scribing; distressing; lifting the gild; patina; matage; and toning
- Tips and techniques for working on a variety of substrates
- Best practices for the preparation, gilding, patina and embellishment of different size panels, mock-up furniture samples and storyboards
- Various options for top coating with protective finish
- How to plan, design layouts and manage the production of multiple projects
- How to estimate your time and materials in order to create a proposal
What you will leave with
- Materials, tools, supply and resource lists
- Recipes
- A bibliography
- More advanced knowledge to pursue your own independent projects
Prerequisites
Experience with the preparation and use of traditional gesso and bole as well as experience handling loose leaf. Water Gilding: Foundation Study, Introduction to Traditional Materials & Techniques is encouraged but not mandatory.
Independent Study
Independent Study for gilding work is taught in an individual setting, one-on-one, where learning is personalized for the artist’s interests and skill set.
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