Article #31 Gold Leaf For The Holidays
When we think of the holiday season, gold or silver alloys and twinkling lights come to mind. Creating art with pounded gold leaf is an exciting medium to use and can be especially vibrant at this time. It can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a painting with a variety of quality ratios in relation to the paint mix. A clear understanding of techniques and applications determines a happy outcome.
My favorite time to use gold is the beginning often referred to as the intense process of applying a gold base layer over a canvas or wood surface. Then I use oil paint to glaze thin layers of color until the image reveals itself. What makes it complicated is the process of adhering the gold with mediums.
Historical References
Gold leaf has been used as an art form for literally thousands of years. You may reference the gold-covered artifacts found in Egyptian tombs or cherished sculptures preserved from early Japanese culture. When the Egyptian tombs were opened after being sealed airtight, the gold remained as brilliant and beautiful as it was the day it was created. Very little restoration was needed. Another commonly known application for gold leaf is found on elaborately carved picture frames. By hand, special tweezers mold small pieces of pounded gold over wood and plaster. The authentic processes use real 24-karat gold, which is still available today in 3″x 3″ delicate squares. When the gold leaf is pure it does not oxidize.
A more workable gold leaf which is also delicate is the 5 x 5 sheets of gold leaf made from compounding copper and silver as well as other metals. The tricky key to using these sheets is the adhering glues and sealing products and their interactions with the metals. Recently, I learned the hard way not to override my years of experience in creating art with gold leaf.
Follow You Gut
There is nothing new, just new ways to rearrange old ideas into modern forms. I am always open to learning. I, like many, watch you tubes. One series of videos was authored by a lady who wrote five art books on gold leaf. She had mentioned that you must seal the gold leaf before painting on it, which she did regularly. This was contrary information, foreign to my process. YouTube listed her as a gold leaf expert, and I respected that she had written books on the subject. I still had an uneasy feeling in my gut. I decided to double-check this sealer reference by calling the professional paint manufacturers of the available sealers. The manufacturers said four of the sealers should not be used and they explained why.
The Process
After completing three layers of liquid gold and gold leaf, I looked for a sealer. One by one they were eliminated as incompatible. I could not get a return call in time from the last of the sealant companies so, I carefully applied it to my painting. The entire surface instantly oxidized due to a cooper component reacting with the ammonia that is in all water-based sealers. Sealers can dull the gold finish. The YouTube expert was incorrect. I did not want the dark burnished finish instead of vibrant gold, I had to re-gold leaf the entire surface before painting. Moral of the story. Do your research, trust your gut, and know that the word expert on You Tube does not necessarily mean expert. When I use gold leaf that covers over 60% of my painting, I let it age gracefully like a fine wine. No sealer is necessary.
The new enclosed painting, “Sea of Gold” is 4 ft x 4 ft and is over 80% gold leaf. The vivid blue oil paint contrasts beautifully with the gold leaf on canvas. My art, “Transference” that is 20% gold leaf, is comprised of poured oil paint and cold wax on wood. It is on display at a local Wolfgang Puck restaurant in the main dining room. The large painting at the entrance of that location named “Wildrose”, is mixed media with 10% gold leaf, sealed with resin. The paintings are owned by the restaurant and are not for sale. Happy Holidays to all.