How to Use Loose Gold Leaf
When you have intricate and more delicate surfaces to apply gold leaf to, the sheets of gold leaf can be somewhat awkward to handle. Loose gold leaf may help make your gold leafing efforts simpler, so that you can pay closer attention to the tiny details. Using loose gold leaf is quite similar to using sheeted gold leaf, but there are some extra things that you will need and extra steps to take to get your desired results, according to Andrew Werby of United Artworks.
Things You'll Need
- Leafing varnish or glue
- Power sprayer (optional)
- Guilder's tip brush
- Round paint brush
- Soft, flat paint brush
- Loose gold leaf
Instructions
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1
Clean your surface thoroughly. If it is a wood surface, use a mild wood soap and a small amount of water, and make sure to dry it completely with a towel. If your surface is metal, you can use a mild dish soap and water, and allow the surface to air dry.
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2
Apply a very thin layer of the varnish or glue. The power craft sprayer can help make this easier, but you can also use the round paint brush to apply the adhesive.
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3
Let the adhesive dry just enough so that it is tacky to the touch. It should not be too wet nor completely dry.
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4
Wipe the gilder's tip brush through your hair. This transfers a small amount of oil to the brush, allowing the brush to pick up the loose gold leaf much easier.
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5
Pick up the first piece of loose gold leaf with the guilder's tip. Carefully set the loose gold leaf piece on the prepared surface, using the soft paint brush to help you push it down and smooth out wrinkles.
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6
Use the round paint brush to gently rub off any pieces of the loose gold leaf that do not adhere to the surface.
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7
Repeat the process, from steps 4 through 6, for all of the surface to which you want to add gold leaf.
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Tips & Warnings
You can create a colored undertone to the gold leaf, depending on the type of varnish that you choose. The glue alone will leave the leaf with the standard gold color, without any undertones.
