I find gold leaf painting very beguiling. It’s because of the sheen and reflectivity, the layers and the textures that you can achieve. Sometimes it can take years to finish a painting like this. Each time I come back to it, I add another layer, until the encrusted agglomeration of cracked and riddled surfaces becomes something that could never have developed otherwise. I don’t know if this picture is a good one as it’s still a work in progress. But it’s become what it’s become over a really long time!!!! It’s oil paint with layers of gold leaf.
For more about gold leaf work (gilding)….
There’s a great article by the Metropolitan Museum about gold leaf painting, describing what it’s about and how you can try working with gold leaf yourself.
Likewise, the Prince’s Foundation (School of Traditional Arts) runs some good gilding courses. There is even one about making your own gilded Tree of Life painting.
To see more of my original art, go to my Original Paintings page.
