Gold leaf is an amazing way to add shiny gold details to just about anything! While genuine gold leaf can be costly and scary to use (mostly just because of the price), imitation gold leaf is relatively inexpensive and simple to use. It can be put on to almost anything from canvas and wood panels to ceramics and glass (just remember it’s not food safe – just decorative!).
We’ll be showing you a basic step by step of how to apply imitation gold leaf. The same process applies for silver and copper leaf too. And remember, gold leaf is available in two colours: traditional gold and antique gold.
What you’ll need:
- Imitation leaf (this is available in a variety of brands but are all very similar at the end of the day)
- Water-based leaf size (again, various makes and quantities are available but just go with what best suits your project and your budget)
- Brush for applying size (soft brushes are best as they will give you the least texture)
- Talcum powder (to stop the gold leaf sticking to your fingers)
- Super soft brush for dusting away excess gold leaf (hake brushes are excellent for this)
- Soft cloth or old T-shirt for ‘burnishing’
- Acrylic sealer (to ensure the longevity of your gold leaf)
Step 1
We created this delicious monster illustration on Daler Rowney mount board, leaving the negative space to be filled in with gold leaf. We then filled in those areas with a yellow ochre colour base colour, which will help to give the leaf a richer and more cohesive finish (there are bound to be small gaps showing through!) Traditionally a substance called bole is used as the base which is a deep red-brown colour, but for this exercise we just used an acrylic paint. Once we finished painting in the yellow ochre, we began to carefully apply the leafing size with a soft, synthetic brush (we used quite a small brush due to the fine details). The size goes on clear so you need to pay close attention to make sure you cover all the right areas. Working with a directional light can help with this, as the sheen of the size will show up in the light.
Step 2:
Once you have finished applying the size, leave the glue to dry for 15 to 30 minutes. You may notice as you are working that the glue starts to dry fairly quickly – so rather don’t over-work areas as this will create textured brush marks within the glue! It is important to leave to glue size to reach tack as applying the gold leaf while it’s still too wet will cause problems. So go and make yourself a cup of tea or come back in a little while! The surface will remain “open” (or workable) for 24 hours so you can really take your time here. One way to check if your size is ready is to touch the glue area with the back of your knuckle – it should feel tacky and not wet.
Step 3:
Now that the size has reached tack it is ready for the gold leaf! You’ll want to work in a draft-free space so this would be a good time to close any windows and doors – the gold leaf is super light and the slightest breeze can send it flying! At this point you can apply talcum powder to your fingers to stop the gold leaf sticking to you. Carefully take one sheet of gold leaf from the booklet and place it on top of the sized area. Try and cover as much of the area as possible in one go – but don’t fret if you don’t – you can just use leftover pieces of gold leaf to patch those areas – you may just see slight seam lines in those areas.
Step 4:
Gently pat down the gold leaf using a soft brush – here we are using a hake brush which is made of goat’s hair. Once you’ve done that you should leave the artwork to dry for a bit again – just be patient because it will all be worth it! 20 to 30 minutes should be good.
Step 5:
Now that the leaf has had some time to properly adhere to the size you can start brushing away the excess. You’ll need to work gently to ensure the surface of the gold leaf doesn’t get scratched. Any big pieces of leaf that are left over can be reused to fill gaps – so don’t let them fly away!
Step 6:
To get a smoother finish you can burnish the gold leaf using a soft rag. This will increase the shine on the surface. The final step is to apply an acrylic sealant (such as Golden’s soft gel medium mixed with some water in a 2:1 ratio) to protect the gold leaf from getting scratched, damaged, or tarnished!
