How to Paint on Top of a Gold Leaf

Add color to gold-leafed items using a base coat of spray adhesive.

Gold leafing is used on picture frames, decorative boxes and edging on furniture. You may want to spruce up the leafing with acrylic paint, such as when creating a child's dresser from a gold leafed dresser originally designed for an older person. Gold leaf picture frames take on a different character when you add small designs to the surface. The gold leafing requires a tacky glue substance under the acrylic paint so it will adhere. Achieve the tacky surface by using a spray-on adhesive.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Soft cloth
• Spray adhesive
• Plastic lid
• Old 1/8 to 1/4-inch flat artist paintbrush
• Acrylic paint
• Paper plate
• Artist paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Clean the gold leafed surface with warm, soapy water. Dry the gold leafed item with a soft cloth. Allow the item to air dry for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Draw the outline for your design lightly onto the gold-leafed surface with a pencil. For example, draw the outlines of small flowers around a picture frame.

3. Spray enough adhesive onto a plastic lid to create a quarter-size drop on the lid surface.

4. Paint the adhesive inside the drawn design area with an old 1/8- to 1/4-inch flat artist paintbrush. Allow the adhesive to dry for 15 minutes.

5. Squeeze a dime-size drop of the desired color of acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Paint the design area on the gold-leafed surface using an artist paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry for 30 minutes before moving the item.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a protective surface to the painted design on the gold leaf surface with a high-gloss or gloss-acrylic spray sealer.