Traditional Water Gilding

For Picture Frames & Panels

Date: April 24, 25, 26, 2025

Time: 10:00 am - 3:30 pm (lunchtime 12-1): April 24

Time: 10:30 am - 5:00 pm (lunchtime 1-2): April 25, 26

Plus!

Gilding…For Absolute Beginners! (For 1 Day Only)

Date: April 27, 2025

Time: 10:30 am - 5:00 pm (lunchtime 1-2)

Location: Arts Centre (Makers Workshop)
2 Worcester Blvd

Christchurch, New Zealand

Limited to 20 Students (Early Registration Encouraged!)

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

*Materials and Tools: *Tuition Includes All Materials and Use of Studio Gilding Tools needed during Class. (Students get to take their projects home!).

All Levels Welcome!

Traditional Water Gilding; April 24, 25, 26, 2025

Water Gilding returns to Christchurch, New Zealand! As taught in New York City this popular 3-day class is designed for all those looking to learn the Traditional Method of Water Gilding, from Custom Picture Framers to Fine Artists seeking to incorporate the traditional method of gilding into their Gilded Panel Paintings, suitable for Egg Tempera, Oils, or Acrylics. As we take a journey through each step of this beautiful ancient method of gilding students learn:

• To prepare and apply gesso and clay bole for both Picture Frames and Panels

• Gild by laying genuine 23k gold leaf

• Burnishing,

• Punchwork, the embossed design elements of Punchwork and Incision as seen on 13th - 18th c Florentine Panels.

Traditional Water Gilding is the same for any object of wood. The subtle differences between gilding Picture Frames, Panels, and other wooden objects will be demonstrated while every student gets to choose a Frame or Panel to gild in class which they get to take home!

***Materials are included and students may use the studio gilding tools during class (optional gilding kits are available through gildedplanet upon request).

Whether you’re a Professional Custom Picture Framer, Fine Artist working on Gilded Panel Paintings, Iconographer, Architectural Interiors, or a Student looking simply to learn the Traditional Water Gilding method you will find this class among the most incredibly useful classes offered in this ancient technique. Immerse yourself in three intensive days of gilding! ~

Gilding…For Absolute Beginners! April 27. 2025

We all need to start somewhere and this Introductory gilding class is designed for those just beginning. Students will learn:

• To gild a three-dimensional object using brass and aluminum leaf (imitation gold/silver) and Genuine 23k Gold Leaf

• How to handle Genuine Gold Leaf with the traditional Gilder’s Tools while addressing common issues of gold sticking to your knife, static in the room, and knicks in the knife that can tear the gold.

• Apply a Contemporary acrylic emulsion as the gilding adhesive. (It’s what’s known as a mordant and like all acrylics, it’s water-based and cleans with soap and water but dries permanently creating an excellent bond for gold and other metal leafs to a variety of surfaces including artist canvases).

• Learn to prepare and gild with Glair (beaten egg white), an ancient mordant used for paper and glass gilding.

This is an excellent entry to the beautiful and mysterious world of gold leaf gilding. So bring all of those gilding questions you have had for our hands-on gilding discussions!

***NOTE: All Levels Welcome in Both Classes! Optional gilding kits are available through Gilded Planet. Gilding Kits are Not Required for the class since the use of studio tools is provided but a kit is recommended for those who wish to develop in their gilding Practice. (An Online Link will be provided with a student discount for kits Upon Registration).

Class Size is Limited to 20 so Early Registration is encouraged.

Thank you for joining us - see you soon in Christchurch!

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. If no future class is available, or if you prefer, you may convert your Registration to the Online version of your class (all online classes are both Live and Recorded providing with one full year access to the recordings). Go Here to View the Complete Cancellation Policy.