Gold Gilding Techniques

[fuchsiaprincess]

I am going to try illuminated calligraphy. Any tips and advice is much appreciated!

 

However, in particular, I was wondering which gilding techniques each of you prefer, and the reasons why.

 

Thank you!

[happyhaley]

Illumination is my favorite part of calligraphy. :-) I learned at the San Antonio Calligraphy Guild mini workshop this fall to use Golden's GAK 500 for the patent gold leaf to stick to. Apply the GAK with an old paint brush and let it dry to the touch then press on the gold leaf. It sticks to itself so if you don't get it all on the first try it's not a tragedy. Gold's not cheap so I use it sparingly. I like the GAK technique because it's not as fussy as the gesso, which needs just the right humidity, etc.

 

http://calligraphy.haleyshandmades.com/images/pastwork/harpquote.jpg

 

Here's a picture of a tiny practice piece I did. You can see the GAK with gold is raised.

 

You can also use various gold gouaches and watercolors but they don't have the glow that the gold leaf has particularly in person. My personal favorite brand is Schminke.

 

~Haley

[txinsk]

I would probably use a "gold" acrylic ink to achieve the effect. While I have not compared the results side by side, they should be very similar. Of course "gold" acrylic inks are probably mica flake, but there is no doubt that the effect is like gold. JBB makes metallic powder inks that could be used as well, if you want actual gold.

 

Rick

[fuchsiaprincess]

Thanks Haley and Rick! That is a beautiful piece, Haley - I cannot believe that it's just a practice piece

 

Warm regards,

Soki

 

PS - do you prefer textured or smooth paper?

[Miranda]

Hi Soki. How are the experiments going? Do you have a source for gold leaf? Melt some jewelry, perhaps.

 

That is a really nice poodle, Haley, and the illumination is good, too!

[fiberdrunk]

Illumination is my favorite part of calligraphy. :-) I learned at the San Antonio Calligraphy Guild mini workshop this fall to use Golden's GAK 500 for the patent gold leaf to stick to. Apply the GAK with an old paint brush and let it dry to the touch then press on the gold leaf. It sticks to itself so if you don't get it all on the first try it's not a tragedy. Gold's not cheap so I use it sparingly. I like the GAK technique because it's not as fussy as the gesso, which needs just the right humidity, etc.

 

http://calligraphy.haleyshandmades.com/images/pastwork/harpquote.jpg

 

Here's a picture of a tiny practice piece I did. You can see the GAK with gold is raised.

 

You can also use various gold gouaches and watercolors but they don't have the glow that the gold leaf has particularly in person. My personal favorite brand is Schminke.

 

~Haley

 

Wow, so elegant! Love it!

[happyhaley]

Thanks Haley and Rick! That is a beautiful piece, Haley - I cannot believe that it's just a practice piece

 

Warm regards,

Soki

 

PS - do you prefer textured or smooth paper?

 

My favorites are hot press watercolor papers which are extremely smooth. The harp quote was done on Fabriano Medievalis scrap I had laying around. Hahnemuhle Schiller paper is nice too, but hard to find locally.

 

Hi Soki. How are the experiments going? Do you have a source for gold leaf? Melt some jewelry, perhaps.

 

That is a really nice poodle, Haley, and the illumination is good, too!

 

Thanks!

 

~Haley

[MarieD]

Hi Soki,

There are various methods of 'illumination' some of which are very quick and easy to apply like the gold inks, gold paints etc and the not so easy ones ie the loose leaf gold. The more professional finish is done with gold leaf. If you are a beginner the 'transfer' gold leaf is much easier to use as it is fixed to a backing sheet just like a transfer, the 'loose leaf' are loose sheets of gilding sandwiched between sheets of backing paper and are very thin and require delicate handling. I used the Gedeo loose leaves and the Gedeo gilding paste to illuminate this mediaeval diapered 'D' and the old English 'A'

 

 

These other illuminated letters are both done with gold ink/paint applied with a good quality soft brush.

 

 

It is important that your design is drawn in 'waterproof' ink so as it does not bleed when applying your paint (gouache is waterbased).I use gouache paint, polychromos pencils, and ink to colour my illumination with. You can get a lovely finish just using the metallic gold paints which are either

powder that you mix with a little water and gum arabic or already mixed when purchased. I like the Cornellisen metallic powders and the Schminke.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Thank you Maria et al! I have started my project with gold gouache. Also have gold leaf on backing sheet to try at a later date . It's so exciting and so much fun. Lovely pieces there Maria! Thanks for sharing. Will post photo when I'm done.

 

Warm regards,

Soki

Edited January 5, 2011 by fuchsiaprincess

[Italicist]

What gorgeous work is appearing on this page! Very inspiring! I haven't tried real gilding with gold leaf yet, but seeing the results that Happyhaley and MarieD have achieved (not without considerable practice, I imagine) certainly leaves my fingers itching to try it.

[HDoug]

MarieD, what you've posted is beautiful. Is there a way to get a closer look at your illuminations?

 

Doug

[MarieD]

Can't wait to see your results Soki...

 

Italicist....gather as much info/tips as you can on gilding before starting, thats what I did....the old English 'A' was my first attempt at gilding and the 'D' was my second. I have a few other tips which may be handy which I will post later....

 

 

Doug....thank you for your comments...these are the largest images I can produce before they become blurred. I have added an extra one which was painted with gold paint and gouache.

 

 

 

Hope these are OK.....

[pen2paper]

: ) better than ok : )

 

my eyes imediately drawn to the diaper pattern - a favorite design device - certainly not an easy one - thanks for sharing the details too!

 

what an exciting thread!

 

 

[MarieD]

pen2paper.....Glad you like the diaper pattern, it is a very effective background. I think the next time I try it I will apply the gouache with a pen nib to get a finer finish. Its was so difficult trying to keep the same thickness and keep the circular patterns uniform using a brush.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Maria, I can't wait for you to share your tips with us! Thank you ever so much!

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[pen2paper]

pen2paper.....Glad you like the diaper pattern, it is a very effective background. I think the next time I try it I will apply the gouache with a pen nib to get a finer finish. Its was so difficult trying to keep the same thickness and keep the circular patterns uniform using a brush.

Exactly.. the higher degree of difficulty is obvious! I also appreciated that it IS a circular diaper!

[Italicist]

Thanks for the beautiful close-up photographs, MarieD! I'm very impressed that these were your first efforts.

[fuchsiaprincess]

MarieD - just realised that you're Marie Thousand apologies for referring to you as Maria :embarrassed_smile:

 

Warm regards,

Soki

[fuchsiaprincess]

Here are my first efforts :

 

Firstly, with gold gouache http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y331/fuchsiaprincess/Illumination/F_and_M1.jpg

 

Then, with gesso and gold leaf http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y331/fuchsiaprincess/Illumination/F_and_M2.jpg

 

Please disregard the mess - was trying to match colours

Edited January 8, 2011 by fuchsiaprincess

[MarieD]

Hi Soki....nice start.....

 

I like the colours you have chosen and the design is also very nice. There is a nice 'shine' to the gold leaf. I know its very hard to scan or photograph a true image of gold leaf and I bet the effect is even shinier in real life.

You have done a great job for a first attempt, mine was flat gilding and raised gilding is harder to achieve

Edited January 8, 2011 by MarieD