The Framers Forum

Hi all

Wondered if any of you lovely hand finishing gurus could help me? I have a a canvas to frame with an obeche coloured to a rosewood sort of brown and the customer asked if I could put some gold highlights on the sight edge and outer edge of the moulding. Of course, I replied stupidly!! - any suggestions as to how to do this so it doesn't look too DIY. I was going to use Liberon gilt cream although do have acrylics if they would be better. Any advice welcome.

Thanks

Amanda

If it is just highlights then Everest Antique Gold which is very liquid could be just wiped on with your finger. For a more solid effect then I would use Liberon Gilt Varnish (masked off).

No reason why gilt cream should not work I just find it a bit solid to apply easily

Yep. Gilt Varnish would be good. 'Trianon' is a nice shade. (and still available I think....... ). One good thing about it is that if you do get some where you shouldn't, you can remove it by wiping with a rag dipped in White Spirit.

You might need to lightly abrade the areas to be gilded with sandpaper for it to stick properly.

If you are working up to a line in the moulding, mask area that you don't want gold. Or you can apply it freestyle by lightly stroking the highpoints.
Apply with a lightly loaded brush - shake the tin - dip the brush in and then wipe most of the gold off on a paper towel. Liberon varnish will settle in the tin if you leave it a awhile, so you can make it so it's very concentrated gold or very transparent.
Don't put it on like paint - stipple it on and work it around until you build up the depth of gold you want. Might be best if you practice first. There's a knack to it. This isn't as reflective as leaf, but you can buff it up to a nice soft sheen after it's dry.

If you really need maximum bling you could use gold leaf (imitation) and acrylic size.

BigBazza wrote:Of course, I replied stupidly!!

Yes, I know what you mean, we all do it!

Is this a factory finished moulding and what shape is it? It always helps to know what we are talking about, before suggesting the best method.

Oh, things just went from bad to worse. I cut the lengths then decided to try and experiment using some of your suggestions on offcuts before I tried the real thing (it was quite a stylized obeche that was getting a dark walnut base. A mixture of results later suggested I should maybe practise a little more before unleashing my skills on the public so I wimped out and popped a gold slip in instead. Unfortunately, due to some seasonally warm weather here, one of the precut lengths had warped slightly before I stained it and when I pinned the frame together there was a lovely, too noticeable to pass off, gap on the final corner, grrr. Didn't have enough of the moulding left to remake the frame before we're off on hols tomorrow either!! Customer was fine as I 'fessed up and used the opportunity to show her the final look to make sure she was happy with the colour, slip etc before it was remade. Lesson - learn first, offer later. I shall be practising a lot more of the techniques passed on by you lovely chaps in my spare time from now on before trying to show off to customers first. )