| I saw my first example of gold leaf painting hanging | | | | After the wood has been sealed and has dried it is |
| in the workshop of a friend of mine; he had used it | | | | then time to lay the imitation gold leaf. |
| with great effect as a background to a setting sun. | | | | You need an adhesive in order to get the leaf to |
| Using gold leaf in painting does not simply mean laying | | | | stick to the wooden panel; this adhesive is called a |
| the leaf on top of the paint, I use various coloured | | | | size. I have always used shellac as a size, but many |
| glazes on top of the leaf and the light reflects in | | | | people use an oil based size, it is a question of what |
| these areas in a way it would not with simply a | | | | you were bought up with. |
| coloured paint. | | | | Shellac does dry quite quickly, so I treat 1 square |
| Using gold leaf, or imitation gold leaf in painting really | | | | foot at a time, I brush on the size and give it a |
| does open up a whole new array of effects. | | | | minute to become tacky. The leaf has to be applied |
| For example I mentioned the use of various coloured | | | | by the sheet. There is no getting away from the |
| glazes, which can be rubbed right back if needed as | | | | fact that you do need to understand how to handle |
| the paint takes a while to dry on top of the leaf. I | | | | gold leaf. I use a wad of cotton wool with a small |
| have found that a very nice effect can be obtained | | | | amount of Vaseline on it. |
| by using burnt umber as a glaze, and rubbing it right | | | | The leaf sticks to the slightly sticky surface; the leaf |
| back, it creates great atmosphere. | | | | is then transferred to the panel where it sticks to |
| A favourite gold leaf painting of mine takes the form | | | | the stickier size. |
| of a large abstract wall panel. | | | | You leave everything to dry thoroughly, brush of the |
| I first of all seal the wooden panel I am working on, | | | | loose gold leaf, then seal the leaf with shellac or a |
| this seal can take the form of a coat or two of | | | | clear oil based varnish, I much prefer shellac for this |
| shellac, or a coat of Armenian bole, which is a finely | | | | as blonde de waxed shellac has a lovely golden |
| ground red ochre pigment, this pigment produces an | | | | yellow tint which enhances the colour of the leaf. |
| authentic coloured base upon which to lay the leaf. | | | | There are several other finishes which can be applied |
| The effect of natural aging can be emulated by | | | | over gold leaf which concern aging and distressed |
| allowing small parts of the red base coat to show | | | | finishes. |
| through. | | | | |