Materials:
- Reverse painting on glass
- Gold leaf or gold paint (in the desired shade)
- Gilding adhesive (water-based or oil-based)
- Soft brush for applying adhesive
- Small flat brush for applying gold leaf or gold paint
- Gold size (for oil-based gilding)
- Rag or cotton pad
- Soft cloth or gloves
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Painting:
- Ensure that the reverse painting on glass is clean and free from dust or grease. Handle it with care to avoid smudging the paint.
2. Apply Adhesive:
- If using gold leaf, apply gilding adhesive to the areas where you want the gold leaf to adhere. For gold paint, skip this step. Use a soft brush to apply the adhesive evenly and thinly. Allow the adhesive to become slightly tacky.
3. Apply Gold Leaf (if using):
- Gently pick up a piece of gold leaf using the soft brush or tweezers. Place the gold leaf onto the tacky adhesive areas. Use the brush to gently press and smooth the gold leaf onto the surface.
4. Burnishing (if using gold leaf):
- Once the gold leaf is in place, gently burnish it using a soft cloth or cotton pad. This helps to adhere the gold leaf firmly and removes any excess. Be careful not to rub too hard as it may damage the gold leaf.
5. Apply Gold Paint (if desired):
- If you are using gold paint instead of gold leaf, directly apply it to the desired areas using a small flat brush. Allow the paint to dry completely.
6. Apply Gold Size (oil-based gilding only):
- If you are using oil-based gold leaf or gold paint, apply gold size to the areas where the gold will be applied. Allow the gold size to dry completely as per the product's instructions.
7. Cleanup:
- Use a rag or cotton pad moistened with a small amount of water (for water-based gilding) or mineral spirits (for oil-based gilding) to remove any excess adhesive or gold size from the glass surface.
8. Final Touches:
- Once the gold leaf or gold paint is applied and dry, wear soft cloth gloves or handle the painting with care to prevent smudging or damage.
Remember, gilding requires patience and practice. It's recommended to test the gilding process on a small area before applying it to the entire painting. Also, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area when using adhesives or solvents.