Chapel Gallery | Artizan

Based on traditional methods, a plain wood frame is first brushed with several layers of warm gesso. This is tricky as the gesso is ideally kept at a constant temperature to be smooth, and cannot have any air bubbles, as this spoils the finish. Once dry, it is sanded finely to smooth any imperfections. At this stage it can then be painted and waxed, or bole applied to the areas that need gold leaf, if that is required.

Applying traditional gold leaf is a skilful and expensive process that requires much practice. We have developed a way of using metal leaf which is less expensive, but is difficult to tell from the real thing.

If gold leaf is required on a frame, first the area to be treated is masked out with tape, and then bole is applied. This creates the surface for the metal leaf to adhere. Once dry, it is polished to a mirror smooth surface. To apply the metal leaf, a very thin layer of size is brushed on to the bole, and the leaf is immediately placed gently on to this. The clay content of the bole absorbs the size, and the leaf sticks. The leaf is then polished to a high shine with an agate burnisher. If a 'distressed" look is desired, the gold is gently rubbed with fine wire wool to reveal more of the bole. The final stage is to paint the frame, and then wax, to seal and protect it.