Being creative is one of the best ways to relax. Because you're concentrating at the task at hand, you forget about your stresses and at the end you're rewarded with the sense of achievement of having made something yourself. An easy way to start is to learn how to gold leaf. It can be done with very little fuss but will give almost anything a completely new look.
The art of applying gold leaf is also known as gilding. It involves covering a surface with very thin sheets of the precious metal. Traditionally real gold was used, sometimes in a quality of up to 22 karats. However, this is quite expensive and today many people use an artificial product that consists mainly of copper and zinc. It's called Dutch gold leaf or schlagmetal. Other metals such as silver can be used instead, for different color varieties.
Before you start the gilding process, you need to get together everything that you'll need. Aside from the object you want to gild and the foil-like sheets of metal, you'll also need sandpaper, sealer, painter's tape, soft paintbrushes, a smooth and flat surface, clean cheesecloth, cotton balls and petroleum jelly. You'll also need special base coat, adhesive, top coat and glaze.
The object that needs gilding should have a very smooth surface. This means that you first need to sand it if necessary. Clean it thoroughly and then use the painter's tape to cover the bits that you don't want gilded. If the object has a porous surface, give it a layer of sealer.
The next step is to add the base coat. When it has dried, paint on a layer of adhesive. This is called the sizer.
The next step is to apply the foil itself. It's easiest to cut it into smaller pieces and let these overlap as you apply them. Remove the backing and place the pieces on the flat surface. Lightly touch a cotton ball to the petroleum jelly and then use this to pick up each piece, which will stick to the cotton ball. Be sure to cover the entire surface and use small pieces to fill in any gaps.
A soft brush will help you apply the gold leaf while the cheesecloth is handy for ensuring a smooth finish, especially where the pieces overlap. Once you've covered the surface, seal it with a top coat and then, if you want, add glaze. Once it's dry, simply remove the painter's tape and your masterpiece is ready.
The art of applying gold leaf is also known as gilding. It involves covering a surface with very thin sheets of the precious metal. Traditionally real gold was used, sometimes in a quality of up to 22 karats. However, this is quite expensive and today many people use an artificial product that consists mainly of copper and zinc. It's called Dutch gold leaf or schlagmetal. Other metals such as silver can be used instead, for different color varieties.
Before you start the gilding process, you need to get together everything that you'll need. Aside from the object you want to gild and the foil-like sheets of metal, you'll also need sandpaper, sealer, painter's tape, soft paintbrushes, a smooth and flat surface, clean cheesecloth, cotton balls and petroleum jelly. You'll also need special base coat, adhesive, top coat and glaze.
The object that needs gilding should have a very smooth surface. This means that you first need to sand it if necessary. Clean it thoroughly and then use the painter's tape to cover the bits that you don't want gilded. If the object has a porous surface, give it a layer of sealer.
The next step is to add the base coat. When it has dried, paint on a layer of adhesive. This is called the sizer.
The next step is to apply the foil itself. It's easiest to cut it into smaller pieces and let these overlap as you apply them. Remove the backing and place the pieces on the flat surface. Lightly touch a cotton ball to the petroleum jelly and then use this to pick up each piece, which will stick to the cotton ball. Be sure to cover the entire surface and use small pieces to fill in any gaps.
A soft brush will help you apply the gold leaf while the cheesecloth is handy for ensuring a smooth finish, especially where the pieces overlap. Once you've covered the surface, seal it with a top coat and then, if you want, add glaze. Once it's dry, simply remove the painter's tape and your masterpiece is ready.
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How to gold leaf is a review page that contains all the necessary painting kits you need. To get access to gold leaf supplies right now, visit the website. Your one-stop shop for arts and crafts is only a click away!
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