Gold leaf is a very fine sheet of beaten gold whose use dates back to the great cultures of the ancient world. In Egypt, it was used to decorate statues of gods, precious amulets, and other sacred objects placed in the tombs of the pharaohs. And in the same way you can use it today to decorate furniture and decorative accessories.
So you can get the maximum part of the gold leaf Today we share with you some important background knowledge. From there, it's up to you to practice to discover different techniques. Once you master them, you can create colorful pictures with gold leaf to decorate the wall and transform and embellish those pieces of furniture or basic accessories that you have never liked.
What is gold leaf?
As we have already mentioned, it is known as gold leaf or gold leaf, at thin sheets obtained from hammered gold plates. These gold sheets can be of different types and although their differences are subtle, it is convenient to differentiate them:
- Fine gold. This material is obtained well by hammering the gold plates or passing them through rollers until obtaining a very fine and delicate gold foil that will need to be handled with great care. For this, it will be advisable to have a gilding knife or a flat brush made of sable hair or similar.
- Fake gold. It is a material very similar to fine gold, but it is thicker which makes it easier to handle. It can be applied with the hands, making it ideal for those beginning with the technique. And much cheaper!
- Pan of transferable gold. Also known as 'gold leaf transfer', this material is slightly attached to a conveyor sheet, making it much easier to handle.
How is it used?
Use it for the first time it can be intimidating. However, with a few simple steps, you can transform a boring bowl into an eye-catching piece that will serve as a jewelery box on your bedside table or give a simple, a priori painting a unique touch. How?
Prepare the materials
What gold leaf have you decided to use? Even if you are going to use fake gold and manipulate it with your hands, there will be certain basic materials that will be essential to bring your decorative project to fruition. They are as follows:
- Mixtion Varnish. It is a transparent product that applied to a surface is used to stick the gold leaf to it. You shouldn't try to glue it on, however, while it's still fresh. It is necessary to wait until the varnish is biting, practically dry but still sticky to the touch, to apply the gold leaf.
- Brush or soft brush for browning. Even if you use fake gold leaf and decide to manipulate it with your hands, you will need a brush to comb the gold leaf once it is placed on the surface and thus avoid imperfections.
- Shellac. Shellac is an organic substance that is used to fix the browning and prevent it from coming off. You can make either prepared shellac or flake shellac. Once the project is finished, apply one coat and let it dry completely.
Step by step
Once you have the materials prepared, use a brush to apply the mixtion varnish on the surface you want to brown. Remember that it must be clean and that you will only need to apply it in the sections that you will cover with gold leaf. Then, place the gold leaf on top, handling it as little as possible.
You can use tweezers if you are going to use very small pieces, your own hands in the case of fake gold or use specialized tools such as polonaises if you are going to work with thin gold sheets on a large surface. These flat brushes with very fine hair are used for pick up the gold leaf without damaging it and adhere it to the surface.
Once the surface is adhered, you will have to use the brush to polish and remove excess of the project. You already have it? Do you like the result? You will only then have to fix it with shellac. Will you dare to decorate any surface with this technique?