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Using Metal Leaf:
| 1. Paint your surface. Allow
to dry. You can use either water- or oil- base
paint, flat or glossy, although oil-base paints
can take up to two weeks to dry. |
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2. Apply a coat
of size. Water-base size is best for beginners,
since it remains tacky indefinitely giving you
more time to complete your work. |
| 3. To prevent
the metal leaf from sticking to your fingers,
dust them lightly with French Chalk or talc
before handling it. |
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4. Take a sheet
of loose metal leaf in both hands and lower
it carefully into position, starting at one
edge and easing the rest into place. If a sheet
tears, try to match up the edges as closely
as possible. |
| 5. Using a gilder's
mop or a soft brush, smooth the metal leaf onto
the surface. Dab it down, rather than wiping
it, so that it does not tear before adhering
properly. |
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6. Continue to
cover the surface, slightly overlapping sheets
of metal leaf. Wipe away any excess leaf with
the gilder's mop, saving excess to fill gaps. |
This is taken from Decorative
Gilding by Annie Sloan, published by Collins
& Brown, 1996.
Click here to order your copy on-line
and to see other Annie Sloan gilding products.
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