Gesso Putty

How to Make your Own for Repairs and Restoration

Fall: December 11 & 18, 2024 (Includes Both Dates)

11:00am - 12:30pm PDT

2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

*(Adjust for Local Time Zone)

**This Class is Live Online And Also Recorded, Perfect If You Need To Miss A Class!

CLASS SIZE LIMIT: 10 Students Max

ALL LEVELS WELCOME!

CANCELLATION POLICY: Please Read Below at the bottom of the page.

Gesso putty - from making, to filling to shaping! Join us for this special one-part 90 Minute Masterclass on this important component in the restoration and conservation of gold leaf gilded frames, furniture, and other antique gilded wooden objects. Most historical and contemporary forms of gilded wood includes the use of gesso, the foundation for gilding which fills the grain of wood and in the case of traditional water gilding, allows for the burnishing of gold leaf.

Whether through damage or natural degradation, gilded gesso can delaminate, suffer gouging, dents, or other loss through impact or other environmental causes. A putty made from the same materials as traditional gesso is often used in the restoration and conservation of gilding.

Session I: Learn to prepare gesso putty from a proper mix of rabbit skin glue, calcium carbonate, and water. Discover its important use for filling holes and other areas of gesso loss and develop techniques for shaping gesso putty for various situations in preparation for gilding.

Session 2: Learn to sand and Water Polish Gesso Putty for various applications of Repairs to wood before gessoing and afterwards if gesso becomes chipped. Applicable for all traditional gesso from frames and furniture to panels and other gilded wood objects.

A must for any serious student of restoration in the gilding arts!

All Online gilding classes are Live on Zoom and Recorded. Recordings are viewable for six months. Enjoy a Question and Answer Period after the Live Demonstration. ~

Note: Question and Answer periods are included in each weekly session. Classes are both Live Online and Recorded. Recordings remain viewable for six months after the series ends.

Materials: This Gesso Putty Masterclass is intended as a Demonstration. Students are not expected to work along during the class, although they may choose to.. It is generally good to simply watch and engage in the after-session Question/Answer period and practice making putty with the recording or in-between sessions. Materials include Rabbit Skin Glue, Calcium Carbonate, and Distilled Water.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Although No Refunds are available, a Full Credit to Any Future Available Class of equal or lesser value will be provided if you need to cancel. Or if you prefer, you may receive the full Recording Series from the class you joined or from a previously recorded series of your online class. Go Here to View the Complete Cancellation Policy.