GildedPlanet Gilding Classes

(On-Line) Water Gilded Panels ~ from Pastiglia to Sgraffito!

The New 2025 Spring/Summer Series for the Water Gilded Panels class begins in May with this Special 12 week Workshop designed for the Fine artist working specifically on Panels in Egg Tempera, Oils, or Acrylics. This extended format of the popular Water Gilded Panels class takes the student on a journey through each step of the ancient traditional water gilding method all the way 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).

Students learn the laying and gluing of Muslin or fine Linen, preparing and applying gesso and clay bole, gilding and burnishing genuine 23k gold leaf as well as adding embellishments through the techniques of granito, pastiglia, and sgraffito. We apply the raised gesso to the panel corners, prepare and apply traditional egg tempera, and incorporate punchwork and incision into the exposed gold leaf that lies below the egg tempera highlighting our sgraffito, an ancient method for catching and reflecting the light. The final embellishment will be the added touch of fine lines drawn with 23.5k Shell Gold, another ancient technique for drawing in genuine gold leaf that has been ground and mixed with gum arabic and used as a watercolor while being stored in a shell.

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(On-Line) ~ 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 to lay a genuine 23k gold leaf ground for painting while discovering the use of MSA varnish and GAC200/500 for protection of tarnishable metals and providing isolating coats for painting in acrylics and a discussion of options in oils.

Instructor Charles Douglas will patiently take you through the intricacies of working with delicate gold leaf and how to tame it with the proper use of the gilder's tip, pad, and knife. Explore such ancient mordants as gum ammoniac, and glair, and contemporary oil size and acrylic emulsion.

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(On-Line) Gesso Putty. How to Make Your Own

Gesso putty — from making to filling to shaping! Join us for this special one-part 90 Minute Masterclass on this important component in the restoration and conservation of gold leaf gilded frames, furniture, and other antique gilded wooden objects. Most historical and contemporary forms of gilded wood include the use of gesso, the foundation for gilding which fills the grain of wood and, in the case of traditional water gilding, allows for the burnishing of gold leaf.

Whether through damage or natural degradation, gilded gesso can delaminate, suffer gouging, dents, or other loss through impact or other environmental causes. A putty made from the same materials as traditional gesso is often used in the restoration and conservation of gilding.

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(On-Line) ~ The Art of Gilded Raised Gesso

Did you know you can gild anything? With the right materials and a little guidance you can quickly learn to apply Gold or Silver Leaf to any decorative object for the home that would make Martha Stewart proud! Whether a base for a lamp, cherished thrift store candleholders, a vase from your favorite curio shop, napkin rings, bed posts—the list goes on…

DIY Gilding For Home Decor is the newest Online Gilding Class offered by Gilder and International Gilding Teacher Charles Douglas who began his gilding career in the early ’80s while a young member of Visual Merchandising at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.

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(On-Line) ~ 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.

We then progress to the gilding in our second session, applying brass leaf (imitation gold) to our class project. We’ll also discuss the comparisons between oil-based and acrylic emulsion mordants and the applications for both.

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(On-Line) ~ Traditional Water Gilded Picture Frames

This popular workshop takes the student on a journey through each step of the ancient traditional water gilding method, from gesso and clay bole to laying and burnishing genuine 23k gold leaf.

Each lesson addresses a specific step of the process, keeping it challenging while not overwhelming. Creating a modern “rub,” where some of the gold leaf is gently rubbed away to reveal the overlapping leaves of gold and color of the underlying clay bole, is also demonstrated.

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(On-Line) ~ Traditional Egg Tempera Sgraffito

Parcel-gilding — gilding only selected parts or partial areas of an object — dates back to the Middle English period in 1519, while the earlier word parcel-gilt was first used in 1453. The practice itself, however, likely took place earlier in other areas of the world such as China where bronze ornaments were gilded, a technique known as ormolu.

Parcel derives from the French word parcelle, referring to a small part or plot of land, which for gilding extended to mean sections of an object that are gilded as opposed to an entire surface. Parcelle in turn derived from the Late Latin particella, a diminutive of particula, and then a diminutive of pars (meaning part).

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(On-Line) ~ Parcel-Gilding

Parcel-gilding — gilding only selected parts or partial areas of an object — dates back to the Middle English period in 1519 while the earlier word parcel-gilt was first used in 1453. The practice itself, however, likely took place earlier in other areas of the world such as China where bronze ornaments were gilded, a technique known as ormolu.

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(In-Person - Whidbey Island) Gilding for Works of Art

This popular one-day intensive gilding class for Fine Artists is among the series of gold leaf gilding classes developed by gilder and teacher Charles Douglas. Held in such cities as New York, San Francisco, Christchurch, New Zealand, and Owen Sound, Ontario, this particular focus of study is now offered at Charles’ private gilding studio on beautiful Whidbey Island, WA, where a small group of artists are invited to study incorporating gilding into their own works of art.

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

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(On-Line) ~ 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 17th c. frames from Holland. Before we're finished we'll mordant gild the frame’s inner edge in genuine Gold or White Gold Leaf and tone it for aging. A rare opportunity to learn this beautiful finish for picture frames!

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(On-Line) ~ 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 to lay a genuine 23k gold leaf ground for painting while discovering the use of MSA varnish and GAC200/500 for protection of tarnishable metals and providing isolating coats for painting in acrylics and a discussion of options in oils.

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(In-Person) ~ Gilding Classes ~ Logan, Utah

Gilding For Absolute Beginners ~ June 26, 2025

Gilding For Works of Art: June 27, 2025

We all need to start somewhere and this introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning.

Students will learn:

- To gild a three-dimensional object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) and genuine 23k gold leaf

- How to handle genuine gold leaf with the traditional gilder’s tools while addressing common issues of gold sticking to your knife, static in the room, and nicks in the knife that can tear the gold.

- Apply a contemporary acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive (a mordant). 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 including artist canvases.

- Learn to prepare and gild with glair (beaten egg white), an ancient mordant used for paper and glass gilding.

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(On-Line) ~ Learn To Make Crackle Gesso For Water Gilded Panels and Frames

The recipe for crackle gesso that students learn produces a crackling pattern similar to 13th–18th c. Florentine and Sienese water gilded egg tempera painted panels and Renaissance period frames. Students learn to prepare and apply this special custom-mixed gesso as well as how to adjust the depth and degree of the crackle through brush technique, heat, and adjusting material ratios.

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(In-Person) Whidbey Island ~ Traditional Water Gilded Frames

The ancient method of water gilding has been used to adorn such objects as 13th–18th c. panel paintings, early Renaissance to present-day picture frames, furniture, statuary, iconography, and architectural elements.

Students learn to prepare gesso and clay bole grounds, gild in genuine 23k gold leaf, burnish with the agate stone burnisher, and explore an introductory approach to aging and toning. Students will be provided a picture frame which they will each gild in 23k gold leaf to take home.

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

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 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.

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.

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(NYC In-Person, Oct. 2025) ~ Gilding for Works of Art

This popular one-day intensive gilding class for Fine Artists returns to New York City for Fall 2025!

Learn to lay a genuine 23k gold leaf ground for painting as well as brass and silver-colored aluminum leaf. Discover the use of MSA varnish and GAC 200/500 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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(In-Person) Traditional Water Gilding For Picture Frames & Panels - NYC

This popular 3-day 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 beyond! Students learn to prepare and apply gesso and clay bole, gilding and burnishing genuine 23k gold leaf as we take a journey through each of the steps in this beautiful ancient method of gilding.

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(In-Person) New York, Oct. 2025 ~ Glass Gilding: An Introduction To Verre Églomisé

Fall brings the return of the popular Glass Gilding workshop to the Isabel O’Neil Studio on the Upper East Side of New York City for a special 1-Day class. Students will learn to gild the back of glass in 12k white gold leaf, the basis for the art of Verre Églomisé. One of the main goals of our study is achieving a proper balance between brilliancy and bonding between the gold leaf and the glass.

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 with a coat of enamel paint.

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(On-Line) Traditional Water Gilding for Furniture

The exquisite water gilded finish for furniture often shows a contrast of highly burnished gold leaf highlights against a softer background of unburnished matte areas such as coves and the backs of chairs and feet, gilded in a 22–24k gold leaf.

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(In-Person) Water Gilded Panels…from Pastiglia to Sgraffito!

Kicking off the New Fall Water Gilding Series for 2025 with this special 12-week workshop designed for the fine artist working specifically on panels in egg tempera, oils, or acrylics.

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(In-Person, Whidbey Island) 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

(On-Line) Gilding for the Holidays!

Ever wish you could add a touch of gold to your holiday festivities? Now's your chance as we bring the annual once-a-year online gilding class Gilding for the Holidays! to Zoom. Learn to add a bit of gilding to your favorite delicacies, whether Viennese Sachertorte and chocolates, to champagne, and Perrier!

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(On-Line) Toning Gilded Frames

Gilded frames, furniture, panels, and architectural elements are often given a patina whereby various topcoats, tints, or washes are applied to simulate age. The gold or silver leaf — both genuine and imitation — may be abraded, giving the impression of wear and exposing the underlying colored ground beneath the gilded leaf.

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(On-Line) - The Art of Gilded Raised Gesso

Gilded raised gesso, sometimes referred to as pastiglia, is an ancient technique of traditional water gilding often used in manuscript illumination and frames during the Italian Renaissance.

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(In-Person - Whidbey Island) Gilding for Works of Art

This popular one-day intensive gilding class for Fine Artists is among the series of gold leaf gilding classes developed by Charles Douglas.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(On-Line) - Glass Gilding / Verre Églomisé

A new 6-week online gilding course introduces students to the art of Verre Églomisé with a focus on achieving a proper balance between brilliancy and bonding between the gold and silver leaf and the glass.

Students will learn to properly clean the glass, choose the appropriate backup paint, and explore these glass gilding techniques:
- Single gilding, double gilding, and spot gilding
- The Verre Églomisé technique of etching reverse designs into the gold to be seen from the front
- Abrading the leaf for antiqued effects
- Gilding designs in positive and negative space
- Gilding the exterior of glass as a decorative finish

Explore the beautiful artistry of gilded glass and mirrors in both modern solid gild and abraded “antique” finishes in 23k gold and 6k white gold leaf.

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(On-Line) How To Make Gesso

Gesso, the essential foundation for traditional water gilding, is the required ground for water gilded frames, furniture, and panels, and is the traditional support for egg tempera painting and iconography.

This special 3-part masterclass tutorial explores the details of this ancient method of making and applying traditional gesso made of rabbit skin glue, calcium carbonate, and water.

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(In-Person, Whidbey Island) 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