Traditional Water Gilding

*Tuition Includes All Materials and Use of Studio Gilding Tools, a pre-gessoed Frame for each student, and enough 23k Gold Leaf to gild your frame which you get to take Home!

Date: Saturday & Sunday, January 18-19, 2025

Location: Charles Douglas Gilding Studio, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA

Time: 11am - 5:00pm PST

(3 Student Maximum )

The ancient method of Water Gilding has been used to adorn such objects as 13th-18thc Panel Paintings, Early Renaissance to Present-Day Pictures Frames, Furniture, Statuary, Iconography, and Architectural Elements.

This Special 2-Day Intensive Workshop in the ancient art of Traditional Water Gilding was developed by Gilder and Teacher Charles Douglas offering 40 years of gilding experience originating with his early years gilding as a member of the Visual Merchandising staff at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Held in such cities as New York, San Francisco, Owen Sound, Ontario, and Christchurch, New Zealand this Focus Study for Water Gilding is now offered in a 2-Day format for those needing a short-term class that still provides professional instruction in all of the steps of this beautiful art form..

The Workshop is held at Charles’ Gilding Studio on beautiful Whidbey Island, WA where a small group of students are invited to study the oldest form of gilding traced back to Mesopotamia more than 3500 years ago.

Students learn to prepare gesso and clay bole grounds, gild in genuine 23k gold leaf, burnish with the agate stone burnisher, and explore an Introductory approach to aging and toning. Students will be provided a picture frame which they will each gild in 23k gold leaf to take home.

Instructor Charles Douglas will patiently take you through the intricacies of working with delicate gold leaf and how to tame it with the proper use of the gilder's tip, pad, and knife.

All Levels are Welcome and all Materials will be provided including the use of the studio gilding tools, a picture frame to gild, and sufficient 23k gold leaf to gild your frame. Recipe Handouts are also provided.

Lunchtime is approximately 1 Hour when we can gather together to venture into the beautiful Village of Coupeville!

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 convert your Registration to the Online version of your class. Go Here to View the Complete Cancellation Policy.