Giving Gilding a Brighter Finish.

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vintage frames
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Location: West Wales
Organisation: https://www.dermotmcardle.co.uk/
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Giving Gilding a Brighter Finish.

Post by vintage frames »

This is for anyone here who already offers gold leaf gilding on to their handmade frames.

The big problem with gilding is not the doing of it but the effort which goes into trying to make it look more natural and in harmony with the artwork.

Gold has a unique quality which reflects back the colours and tone of an enclosed artwork but its brightness must not be allowed to overpower the image itself.
To that end, the gilding is usually 'toned down' and given a sense of age and wear such as when the underlying gesso or bole colours become visible and those attractive lap-lines appear at various points around a frame.

Even if one is the best gilder in the world and is able to flick and toss the leaf around with skill and abandon, it is how the gilding is finished which determines whether the effort has any real value or not.

I have made a video which can solve this issue.

It demonstrates the procedures to use in order to create the natural appearance of wear and tear on both oil and water-gilding and then goes on to show how to use a custom made, glazing and varnishing liquid, which adds both depth and luminosity to the final finish on gilding.

The video is on my web-site as a pay to view item.

https://www.dermotmcardle.co.uk/

Customers who view this video will receive a free sample of my Gilder's Toning Glaze and varnish for use on their next gilding project.
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