Gilding Classes
Would you like to really enhance your gilding skills? Learn how to distress or antique gold? Is it glass, wood, photographs, art or furniture you want to
gild? Never mind, because I am able to teach you the secrets of absolutely amazing gilding, no matter what area you are interested in!
I provide a wide range of classes or personal tuition for those who wish to experience gilding in a variety of formats and locations.
It doesn’t matter what your experience or background, the courses can also be tailored to fully suit your personal needs.
Over the years, I have worked with many different disciplines of artists, frame-makers, furniture restorers, interior designers, photographers and many more areas.
But it's not just for professionals. I also specialise in developing the skills and confidence of complete beginners, so you’ll be in good hands, don’t worry!
I’m able to teach either in my own studio situated on the South of England or I can travel to you, no matter where you are - whether that’s the U.K., U.S. or
Australia, it’s not a problem. For professional bodies, colleges and organisations, I offer my services for much larger classes, tailored to suit
your needs. Great for wood-working groups, interior designers, artists and more whom wish to add something special to their work.
All the courses are fully tailored to the individual needs of you, the student. Before you arrive, a consultation about the desired outcome for you will be made
and we'll discuss your required outcomes, so that everything is ready to go.
THE SOCIETY OF GILDERS CONFERENCE 2024:
Monday 5th - Friday 9th August 2024.
I am pleased to announce that I will be providing two sets of classes at this years Society of Gilders Conference.
The conference is going to be held at AMERCIAN COLLEGE OF THE BUILDING CRAFTS in South Carolina, USA between the dates of Monday 5th August and Friday 9th, 2024.
I am offering two days clases in this event:
CLASS ONE:
MONDAY 5TH - WEDNESDAY 7TH AUGUST - GILDING FOR ARTISTS:
SIGN UP HERE
About the class:
This course is specifically directed towards those who wish to use gilding within their arts. Aimed at water colorists, oil painters, mixed media and 3D artists, the course will cover the following topics: water gilding, oil gilding, instacol.
Water Gilding:
Creating perfect gesso panels for artists.
Applying gold and other metals to water-gilded panels.
Incorporating granitto, pastiglia and other techniques to art.
Burnishing and distressing water gilded panels for art
Oil Gilding:
Using copper, Dutch and silver in art.
Creating interest with chemicals.
Mixing gilding media in art.
Brushing techniques, pattern development and holographic play.
Instacol:
Painting fine lines of gold with Instacol.
Other:
Using texture in gilding arts, working with texture and mixed media.
CLASS TWO:
THURSDAY 8TH - FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST - UNDERSTANDING THE INSTACOLL SYSTEM: SIGN UP HERE
About the class:
This topic will introduce students to a wide range of contemporary gilding practice through the Instacol systems. It will also show tweaks and methods of improving existing gilding through a range of widely unknown products and secrets.
This course will cover a wider range of Instacol products than is usually taught. It will explore the relationships between the products, as well as showcase a few ‘secret’ methods of producing high quality work. This course will be completed through a series of exercises. Students may work on their own projects if they desire. This course is aimed at anyone who has an interest in the contemporary application systems available.
PRODUCTS SHOWCASED:
Instacol Base
Instacol Matt
Instacol Rapid
Instacol Miniatum
Instacol Miniatum Ink
KKK Fond Water-gilding System
Feldmanns Prep and Advanced Oil-gilding Systems
There is also the opportunity of introducing other products that are due to be released closer to the conference dates.
TWO DAY TASTER CLASS - UPCOMING DATES ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGAND:
Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October 2024.
Two days is an ideal introduction to the mystery and fascination of gilding and the correct techniques of handling the gold, correct surface preparation and more.
It can cover the basics of oil gilding, water gilding or glass gilding. Or even a taste of all three if you're really keen!
Whether you have a professional interest in gilding, would like to restore or renovate home items or just fancy developing a new skill, the gilding experience is
guaranteed to provide fun and stimulation, whatever your age, background and interests. You will learn the processes developed over thousands of years and transform
almost any surface into a precious metal. Gilding itself, has a long and interesting history that dates back to over 4,500 years ago with the Egyptians.
Since then gilding has changed very little.
ONE DAY ONLINE COURSE - UPCOMING DATES:
T.B.C.
This course will introduce you to creating special effects on leaf using different chemicals and techniques. This will be achieved through a series of online
exercises conducted with the teacher directly from his studio in England.
There are many ways of gilding with the heavier metals such as composite gold, copper, silver and aluminium. This class seeks to elevate your understanding
of the se processes by inviting you to use a selection of chemicals upon the surfaces to create a wide range of special effects, including verdigris, antique
brass, patinated silver and more.
This one day course will use a range of readily available chemicals upon a selection of different metals to achieve a range of effects. The exercise is conducted
upon aluminium panels allowing a catalogue of finishes to be nicely portrayed for your future experimentation.
On participation, you will receive a box of materials that contains all you need to complete the exercises from the comfort of your own home or studio.
It contain samples of the chemicals themselves, as well as composite aluminium panels upon which the gilding and chemical action takes place. The kit will
also contain brushes, sponges a mixture of composite leaf (including copper, schlag and silver) and pure gold-leaf needed for the exercises. Please note,
the photographs show the possibilities of the system and do not represent the exercises to be conducted in the class environment, although you may also
choose to use the products on something of your own choosing if you so wish to in consultation with the tutor.
The lesson will be conducted over Zoom Conferencing, with direct access to the tutor for the day, which will run for approximately 7 hours, including a break for lunch.
ONE DAY CONTEMPORARY KINTSUGI - UPCOMING DATES:
Saturday 5th October 2024
Kintsugi (golden joinery) started in Japan around 500 years ago. When a clay, porcelain or glass item was broken, instead of hiding any repairs, the art (and idea) of Kintsugi is to celebrate the damage as part of the life journey and history of a piece. This philosophy is a great idea to carry forward today in the ecologically aware conditions that we are exercising on the earth.
Using contemporary materials, this Kintsugi class is a chance to explore the potential of this craft with your own items. Whether you have cracked, broken or smashed vessels that need repairing, or wish to break something anew within the class in order to repair it, any cracks, gaps or chips can be repaired using pure gold-leaf to turn those imperfections into something beautiful.
Vases, plates, bowls and many more things can be explored. However, the Kintsugi process is for decoration only, and the utilitarian nature of the vessel may not be something that can be kept.
With broken pottery, the Japanese would accomplish this with the use of staples and natural resins mixed with powdered gold. In fact, people would sometimes deliberately smash precious family pottery and heirlooms in order to have them repaired by a Kintsugi craftsman and elevate the piece in the home!
For our class, we will be using modern water-based materials, as well as super glue and epoxy resins. The repairs can be completed in either pure yellow gold, or if you prefer white gold according to your taste.
You may work on as many pieces as you can find the time for. You also be invited to take home all the materials that you have been using, so you can carry on Kintsugi in the comfort of your own home.
For details of the above courses, please just email me and I will send you the information.
PERSONAL CLASS
The Personal Class is for those who prefer a more home or studio based personal experience. I make myself available to you at your request.
Again, these classes are tailored to your specifications and ensure undivided personal attention and development, and all tools and materials are brought to you.
These sessions can be for yourself, or for more than one person, so you can share costs with a friend or two!
On any of these courses you can learn one, two or all three of the following:
OIL-GILDING Learn how to apply gold leaf and other precious metals to a variety of surfaces.
Several different surfaces are explored, and a variety of leaf is used, including copper, silver, white gold and 23.5 karat gold.
Lesser metals such as Copper, Bronze and Silver are frequently placed upon surfaces, such as picture frames and then tarnished to create a whole range of
pleasing aesthetic effects. So you could produce a copper gilded panel, that is tarnished and then finished with a design on top in a precious metal of your choice.
Or, if you prefer, stick to the gold. Learn how to create a wide range of effects using different types of gold leaf on a variety of coloured backgrounds. Learn how to
correctly distress and antique surfaces using different techniques.
Do you have something in mind that you want to gild? Great! Bring it along!
WATER-GILDING Learn the basics of water-gilding, the technique most commonly used to decorate picture frames and furniture.
You will personally make up ancient recipes, apply gesso and bole to the surface and ensure a flawless finish followed by the experience of applying the gold itself.
Burnishing skill is developed and so is antiquing finishes and more, including Granitto (incised or punched gesso) and Pastiglia (raised gesso) techniques.
The final finish can be burnished, distressed or antiqued according to your taste.
GLASS GILDING
Learn how to apply gold leaf and other metals to glass and manipulate it in different ways to produce different finishes.
We can look at creating antique mirrors, creating decorative effects and blending colours on the surface or even drawing into the gold to create bespoke pieces of art.
There is so much that you can do with glass gilding, so free your creativity and give it a go.
Although Gold is the most commonly used metal in gilding, other precious metals such as Platinum, Palladium and Silver can also be used.
If needed, I can also provide details of accommodation for those who will be travelling.
PLEASE ENQUIRE FOR DATES AND PRICES
If you have any questions regarding your learning requirements, please just drop me a line and I'll get straight back to you.