Charles Douglas Gilding Studio classes

(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) 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 class 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.

Our third and final session we graduate to gilding a second class project using genuine 23k Gold Leaf while learning the techniques of using the gilder’s tools: the Pad, Knife, and Tip with guidance in the care of the tools and in handling precious gold and silver leaf.

Learn more and register!

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(On-Line) Gold Leaf Restoration

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 class 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

(On-Line) How To Gild Book Edges

Join us for this very special 4-week series on Book Edge Gilding on Zoom! Online series, the art of applying gold leaf to the paper edges of books. Designed for the beginner, students will learn to prepare and seal the paper edge, apply a clay bole ground, prepare an egg white size known as glair, and gild and burnish the book edges with genuine 23k gold leaf.

Intended as an entry-level introduction to this beautiful method of gilding for book edges this series is well-suited for creating gilt edges for personal use and a perfect starting-point for further study in the book arts.

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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 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.

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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(In-Person) Traditional Water Gilding For Picture Frame & 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.

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.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(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. Students will learn during their first class 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.

Our third and final session we graduate to gilding a second class project using genuine 23k Gold Leaf while learning the techniques of using the gilder’s tools: the Pad, Knife, and Tip with guidance in the care of the tools and in handling precious gold and silver leaf.

Learn more and register!

Purchase class kit and materials

(On-Line) Glass Gilding/Verre Églomisé

A new full 8 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 the following 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 snd 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 snd 6k White Gold Leaf.

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(On-Line) Gilding for 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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Purchase class kit and materials