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Gilding: Adding the Midas Touch

Collage art, found-object pieces, sculpture and myriad other fine art forms – plus the frames that hold them – often cry out for a little extra pizzazz. Gilding, the ancient technique of applying a thin layer of metal (usually gold or silver, but aluminum and bronze are also common), does just that. The adornment takes some time and patience – with results worth every moment of both.

Know Your Supplies

• Gold and silver leaf is available at most art supply stores and through specialty suppliers on the Web.

• Surface leaves are loose leaves of metal in a small booklet, divided by waxed paper.

• Patent leaf is attached to a waxed paper backing. It doesn’t require a gilding tip for handling but can’t be used in water gilding (often used on glass, clay and wood).

• Special size or glue is used in flat gilding.


• Glassine paper is air and water resistant and used during leaf application.

• Gesso is a mixture of powdered calcium carbonate applied before the final gilding finish is applied.

• A gilder’s tip is a brush used to lift or apply gold leaves to the surface.

• Gilder’s brushes come in a variety of textures and are used to burnish or polish the metal layer once placed.

• Topcoat or sealer protects the surface from abrasion, water and light.

Gilding Overview

In flat gilding, a thin layer of size or glue is applied to the surface with a paint brush and allowed to dry. Prior to applying the leaf, the artist exhales onto a section of the piece, giving the right amount of moisture to the surface for the metal to adhere. The leaf is lightly pressed onto the size, through glassine paper, and loose flakes brushed away. After the piece is dry, the leaf is burnished to a high gloss. Cracks, mistakes and imperfections often arise and can be fixed by adding another layer of leafing. All it takes is just a little more moisture to make the two layers stick together.

Raised gilding uses a similar process, but uses a layer of gesso instead of glue or size. Using a paint brush, apply a layer of gesso to about the same thickness as your paper, adding several thin applications instead of one heavy one. Allow the gesso to dry overnight (or at least several hours), then trim, sand or burnish to smooth the surface. Follow the same procedure as adding leaf in flat gilding. Gesso can be a tricky element, but the smooth surface it provides makes it an invaluable player in the ultimate gloss of gilding. Raised gesso also offers a way to add tooling, stamping and embossed designs in metal.

Whether you apply a touch of gold to a collage or embellish a dining room ceiling, gilding is an artistic spark that lasts forever.