posted
I was standing in line at Sherwin Williams today when a gentleman in front of me struck up a conversation with me, asking me if I was an artist. I told him what I do, & then he asked me if I've ever worked with gold leaf. I had, but only as stencil work on walls or striping on automotive applications. He said if I was willing to try something new, he had a project he wanted someone local to work on. He has several Bellamy eagles he's hand-carved & wants the eagles gilded in 18 carat or better gold, with the flags done in old boating enamels. I had to look them up when I got home. Here's a good example. http://www.2ndempirefurniture.com/id82.html Anyway, he said he had a small one I could whet my whistle on, & if that one turned out good, there were quite a few large ones to do. These were "just for himself", but he wants them done properly.
I know gilding is an art form in of itself, so my initial reaction was to politely decline. But he seemed to think that since I've worked with leaf before, that I could do it. He was quite the interesting character!
So my question is, does anyone know of a good resource for learning guilding? A well-illustrated book or DVD? I still am leery of taking on something new for a client without solid expertise, but the project really intrigues me. Maybe if I could understand what it truly involves & how difficult the techniques are, I'll know better whether or not to take him up on his offer. Any advice or tips you can share would be greatly appreciated!!! (Like "run away as fast as you can"? Ha ha!)
Thanks! I appreciate the time you guys take to answer dorky questions from people like me!
PS - BTW, I'm still hashing things out with the awning owner from last week's help request.
posted
And...because of the textures of carving, if you have questions after the 3rd reading, email me. I do have DVD's availablbe but they are oriented more toward glass signs and surface lettering.
[ May 19, 2010, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Kent Smith ]
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
This redefines fun! You can also contact Paul White who carves and gild eagles on Cape Cod: Paul White E-mail Address(es): pwcarving@adelphia.net
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Marge, tell the guy confidently that you can handle the job. Like Si said, surface gilding is fairly simple. Call me when you have a few minutes and I'll walk you thru the whole process. I'll also check and see if the local woodworkers society has a video copy of the gold leaf class I did last week. 770-923-9933
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Swamped with a tavern job today, but I will pop back in & scope out the books for sure. I gave the gentleman my card, since he wasn't quite ready for the gilding yet. If I hear back from him, I will definitely give you a call, Sonny. If it's not that hard to learn, then I'd love to add the skill to my arsenal! (So I might call you anyway.)
Thanks again for the fantastic response!
-------------------- Marge Cameron Cameron Arts, Inc. Posts: 56 | From: Salem, Ohio | Registered: Jun 2009
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I learned guilding from LeBlanc's "Gold Leaf Techniques".
For your first time, use slow size, check it in 12 hours, and when you think it's ready to guild, wait another hour. Take your time, and relax. You may waste a little more gold the first time, but relax and enjoy the process. It gets easier with every job.
For a little practice, get some varegated leaf and try a few letters as samples. It's a bunch cheaper than 23k, and not nearly as fragile.
Have fun.
-------------------- Ed The Signwerks 1951 SR 254 Orangeville, Pa. Posts: 199 | From: Orangeville, Pa. USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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My very first glass guilding job, I studied the book days before, had all the supplies and off to the jobsite I went. I took along "gold leaf techniques" and kept it inside another book After setting up and setting the gold in place I would make it look like while I was waiting I was reading a good book, but really what I was doing was reading the next few steps in the process That job came out great, and so the rest is history. The customer was none the wiser
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Many of the older pieces I used to see had American Vermilion in the size and the depth of the carve lines were left allowing the slight color lines to have some reveal. In the photos on your link it looks like they used an asphaltum rather than the red. 23k leaf looks best I think. I've also had success blowing the size on with an airbrush.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6720 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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