GildedPlanet Gilding Classes

(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Gilding For Absolute Beginners

Fascinated by the thought of gilding but simply don’t know where to begin? Then this is the class to take - Gilding…for Absolute Beginners! We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning.

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(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Oil Gilding: A Study in Gold Leaf Gilding for Wood, Metal, and Stone

This 3-Part Online Gilding Class teaches the student the fundamentals of Oil Gilding. Oil Gilding, also known as a form of Mordant Gilding, is the application of a specially formulated oil-based varnish to a non-porous surface as an adhesive for gilding. This varnish which comes in both Quick Size and Slow Size versions can be used with any precious and non-precious metal leaf including gold leaf, silver leaf, brass, aluminum, palladium, and platinum leaf.

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(In-Person, New Zealand, 2026) Gilding Classes: Christchurch, New Zealand

Gilding For Works of Art (1 Day Only) - April 22, 2026

Gilded Glass: Introduction To Verre Églomisé (2-Day) - April 23, 24, 2026

Traditional Water Gilding (2-Day) - April 25, 26, 2026

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(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Gilding for Works of Art

Designed for the Fine artist interested in incorporating Gilding into their own Works of Art. Students explore the various methods of working with Brass metal leaf, Aluminum leaf, and Gold and Silver leaf on canvas, paper, and panels for both background and embellishment.

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(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Toning Gilded Frames

This three-part Series takes the student through an Introduction to the Toning process. During class, several objects will be gilded using the Mordant gilded method with both Oil Size and Water Based Leaf Adhesive. An existing example of traditional water gilding will be used in the online demonstrations.

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(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Water Gilded Panels - From Pastiglia to Sgraffito

Immerse yourself in this popular 12-week Online Zoom Workshop designed for the Fine Artist working specifically on Panels in Egg Tempera, Oils, or Acrylics. Choose from either the Winter, Summer, or Fall Sessions and take a journey through each step of the ancient traditional water gilding method used extensively in 13th-18th Century Florence and Siena.

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(In-Person, Whidbey Island) ~ Glass Gilding. An Introduction to Verre Églomisé

Explore the beautiful artistry of gilded mirrors and other gilded glass art objects and learn to gild with precious gold leaf on an 8x10 sheet of 1/4” glass. This is a hands-on Workshop with a focus on gilding along with instruction on etching into the leaf with guidance on backing-up witn a of enamel paint.

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(In-Person, NY) ~ Gilding for Absolute Beginners!

We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning. Students will learn during class to gild an object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) with the use of acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. Continuing with the use of acrylic we move to gilding with genuine 23k gold leaf including a brief but intriguing demonstration of other gilding methods such as traditional water gilding and glass gilding/verre églomisé to help prepare students for future study.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person, NYC) ~ Gilding for Works of Art

Designed for the Fine artist interested in incorporating Gilding into their own Works of Art. Students explore the various methods of working with Brass metal leaf, Aluminum leaf, and Gold and Silver leaf on canvas, paper, and panels for both background and embellishment.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person NY) ~ Traditional Water Gilding For Picture Frames & Panels

This Special 2-day Intensive class is designed for all those looking to learn the Traditional Method of Water Gilding, from Fine Artists to Picture Framers to Furniture Makers and Architectural Gilders! Students review how to prepare and apply gesso and clay bole while concentrating on gilding and burnishing genuine 22k gold leaf. Join us as we take a journey through each of the steps in this beautiful ancient method of gilding.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person, NY) ~ Gilding for Absolute Beginners

We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning. Students will learn during class to gild an object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) with the use of acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. Continuing with the use of acrylic we move to gilding with genuine 23k gold leaf including a brief but intriguing demonstration of other gilding methods such as traditional water gilding and glass gilding/verre églomisé to help prepare students for future study.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Gilding for Absolute Beginners

We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning. Students will learn during class to gild an object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) with the use of acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. Continuing with the use of acrylic we move to gilding with genuine 23k gold leaf including a brief but intriguing demonstration of other gilding methods such as traditional water gilding and glass gilding/verre églomisé to help prepare students for future study.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person, San Francisco) ~ Gilding for Absolute Beginners

We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning. Students will learn during class to gild an object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) with the use of acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. Continuing with the use of acrylic we move to gilding with genuine 23k gold leaf including a brief but intriguing demonstration of other gilding methods such as traditional water gilding and glass gilding/verre églomisé to help prepare students for future study.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person, San Francisco) ~ Gilding for Works of Art

Students explore the various methods of working with gold and silver leaf on canvas and paper for both background and embellishment.

Learn to lay a genuine 22k gold leaf ground for painting as well as brass and silver colored aluminum leaf. Discover the use of MSA Varnish and GAC 200 or shellac as an isolating coat to protect tarnishable metals while successfully painting over the gilding with your choice of oil or acrylic mediums.

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Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person, San Francisco) ~ Traditional Water Gilding For Picture Frames & Panels

This Special 2-day Intensive class is designed for all those looking to learn the Traditional Method of Water Gilding, from Fine Artists to Picture Framers to Furniture Makers and Architectural Gilders! Students review how to prepare and apply gesso and clay bole while concentrating on gilding and burnishing genuine 22k gold leaf. Join us as we take a journey through each of the steps in this beautiful ancient method of gilding. Panels and Frames will be prepared for you to focus on laying gold leaf the first day and burnishing the next. Gesso and Bole will also be covered day 2!

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM On-line) ~ Introduction To Gold Leaf Restoration

The focus of this Gold Leaf Restoration Series is the development of basic skills with a focus on Traditional Water Gilding. Specific attention is paid to mould making and casting for missing ornamentation, in-gilding with genuine gold leaf, and simple toning while learning to handle gold leaf and using the gilder’s tools.. Each weekly Session includes a Question/Answer Period. Students are encouraged to participate in discussions for enhancing skills in the exciting field of Gold Leaf Restoration.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM On-line) ~ Gilding For Absolute Beginners

Fascinated by the thought of gilding but simply don’t know where to begin? Then this is the class to take - Gilding…for Absolute Beginners! We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Gilding for Works of Art

Designed for the Fine artist interested in incorporating Gilding into their own Works of Art. Students explore the various methods of working with Brass metal leaf, Aluminum leaf, and Gold and Silver leaf on canvas, paper, and panels for both background and embellishment.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Water Gilded Panels… The Method of 13th-18th Century Florence and Siena

Immerse yourself in this popular 12 week Online Zoom Workshop designed for the Fine Artist working specifically on Panels in Egg Tempera, Oils, or Acrylics. Take a journey through each step of the ancient traditional water gilding method used extensively in 13th-18th Century Florence and Siena, from Gilding through the historical techniques of Granito (Punchwork and Incision), Pastiglia (Raised Gesso), and Sgraffito (Traditional Egg Tempera applied over the burnished gold leaf with decorative designs etched through to reveal the underlying gold leaf).

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(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Antique Dutch Black Frame Finish... with Gilded Inner Edge

Join us as we go through each step of the Antique Dutch Black Finish as inspired by 17thc frames from Holland. Before we're finished we'll Oil Gild the frame’s Inner Edge in genuine Gold or Silver Leaf and tone it for aging. A rare opportunity to learn this beautiful Finish for picture frames!

During each Class Series, Instructor Charles Douglas creates a completely Finished frame with a gilded inner edge for a specific piece of art.

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Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person - NYC) ~ Gilding…for Absolute Beginners

Fascinated by the thought of gilding but simply don’t know where to begin? Then this is the class to take - Gilding…for Absolute Beginners! We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning. Students will learn during class to gild an object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) with the use of acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. It’s what’s known as a mordant and like all acrylics, it’s water-based and cleans with soap and water but dries permanently creating an excellent bond for gold and other metal leafs to a variety of surfaces.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person - NYC) ~ Gilding For Alternative Photography

Designed for the Photographer working in the alternative realm of Orotones and Printing on Vellum with Injet Printers, Gilding for Alternative Photography will will take you on a journey in learning to gild in genuine Gold and Silver Leaf to add a new dimension to you photographic work.

Focusing on the art Reverse Glass Gilding, students will learn this ancient art of glass gilding and introduced in use for Orotones by Seattle Photographer Edward Curtis (1868-1952). Although Curtis also also used Bananna Oil and metallic pigment, gilding was also used to bring an ethereal tone to the photo printed glass by gilding the reverse of the glass.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(In-Person - NYC) ~ Traditional Water Gilding For Picture Frames & Panels

This Special 2-day Intensive class is designed for all those looking to learn the Traditional Method of Water Gilding, from Fine Artists to Picture Framers to Furniture Makers and Architectural Gilders! Students review how to prepare and apply gesso and clay bole while concentrating on gilding and burnishing genuine 22k gold leaf. Join us as we take a journey through each of the steps in this beautiful ancient method of gilding. Panels and Frames will be prepared for you to focus on laying gold leaf the first day and burnishing the next. Gesso and Bole will also be covered day 2!

Traditional Water Gilding is the same for any object of wood. The subtle differences between gilding Panels, Picture Frames, and other wooden objects will be discussed while every student gets to take home their project gilded in class.

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(ZOOM On-line) ~ The Art of 24k Gilded Raised Gesso

Gilded Raised Gesso, is an ancient technique of associated with Traditional Water Gilding used in Manuscript Illumination. Its raised characteristic was used as Relief ornamentation for manuscripts dating to at least 500 CE as well as for frames during the Italian Renaissance, a technique known as Pastiglia discussed in Cennini’s 15th c Treatise Il Libro Dell’Arte. It remains a beautiful and intriguing decorative element today for works of art on Paper, Frames, Panels, and Furniture.

Students will be guided through the process of Creating and Gilding a Raised Gesso Design for Paper.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Gilding for Works of Art

Designed for the Fine artist interested in incorporating Gilding into their own Works of Art. Students explore the various methods of working with Brass metal leaf, Aluminum leaf, and Gold and Silver leaf on canvas, paper, and panels for both background and embellishment.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(ZOOM ONLINE) ~ Gilding For Absolute Beginners

Fascinated by the thought of gilding but simply don’t know where to begin? Then this is the class to take - Gilding…for Absolute Beginners! We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning.

Students will learn during their First Session how to seal and apply a yellow and red painted undercoat in preparation for gilding with an acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. This adhesive is known as a mordant and like all acrylics, it’s water-based and cleans-up with soap and water but dries permanently, creating an excellent bond for imitation and genuine gold and other metal leafs to a variety of surfaces.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials