Being creative is one of the best ways to relax. Because you're concentrating at the task at hand, you forget about your stresses and at the end you're rewarded with the sense of achievement of having made something yourself. An easy way to start is to learn how to gold leaf. It can be done with very little fuss but will give almost anything a completely new look.
Gilding, as the practice is better known, is an age-old art. Paper-thin sheets of metal are used to cover an object and give it a metallic, shiny finish. In the past, people used real gold that could be close to 100 percent pure. This is expensive, though, so today alternatives are often prefer. These include something called Dutch gold leaf, which looks like the real thing but consists of copper mixed with zinc.
Aside from the foil itself, you also need special gilder's base coat, top coat, glaze and adhesive. You should also have some sealer if you want to work with an object such as wood, which has a porous surface. Sandpaper, soft brushes, painter's tape, soft and clean cloth and a flat, smooth surface such as a tile are essential as well. You'll find that cotton balls and a bit of petroleum jelly come in handy too.
The object that needs gilding should have a very smooth surface. This means that you first need to sand it if necessary. Clean it thoroughly and then use the painter's tape to cover the bits that you don't want gilded. If the object has a porous surface, give it a layer of sealer.
Follow with the base coat and let it dry. Now comes the adhesive. In gilding circles, it's called a sizer.
To make applying the gold leaf easier, cut it so that you have smaller pieces to work with. Peel off the backing and place the pieces of foil on your smooth work surface. To pick up a piece, dab the cotton ball onto the petroleum jelly and then onto the foil so that the foil sticks. Carefully apply the piece of foil to the surface that you're gilding. Let the different pieces overlap so that you cover the surface completely.
A soft brush will help you apply the gold leaf while the cheesecloth is handy for ensuring a smooth finish, especially where the pieces overlap. Once you've covered the surface, seal it with a top coat and then, if you want, add glaze. Once it's dry, simply remove the painter's tape and your masterpiece is ready.
Gilding, as the practice is better known, is an age-old art. Paper-thin sheets of metal are used to cover an object and give it a metallic, shiny finish. In the past, people used real gold that could be close to 100 percent pure. This is expensive, though, so today alternatives are often prefer. These include something called Dutch gold leaf, which looks like the real thing but consists of copper mixed with zinc.
Aside from the foil itself, you also need special gilder's base coat, top coat, glaze and adhesive. You should also have some sealer if you want to work with an object such as wood, which has a porous surface. Sandpaper, soft brushes, painter's tape, soft and clean cloth and a flat, smooth surface such as a tile are essential as well. You'll find that cotton balls and a bit of petroleum jelly come in handy too.
The object that needs gilding should have a very smooth surface. This means that you first need to sand it if necessary. Clean it thoroughly and then use the painter's tape to cover the bits that you don't want gilded. If the object has a porous surface, give it a layer of sealer.
Follow with the base coat and let it dry. Now comes the adhesive. In gilding circles, it's called a sizer.
To make applying the gold leaf easier, cut it so that you have smaller pieces to work with. Peel off the backing and place the pieces of foil on your smooth work surface. To pick up a piece, dab the cotton ball onto the petroleum jelly and then onto the foil so that the foil sticks. Carefully apply the piece of foil to the surface that you're gilding. Let the different pieces overlap so that you cover the surface completely.
A soft brush will help you apply the gold leaf while the cheesecloth is handy for ensuring a smooth finish, especially where the pieces overlap. Once you've covered the surface, seal it with a top coat and then, if you want, add glaze. Once it's dry, simply remove the painter's tape and your masterpiece is ready.
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How to gold leaf is a review page that contains all the necessary painting kits you need. To get access to gold leaf supplies right now, visit the website. Your one-stop shop for arts and crafts is only a click away!
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