G is for Gilding

Greetings everyone, I hope you are all keeping warm and cosy!

  In calligraphy, Gilding is the process of adding Gold leaf to lettering.  Gold leaf is extremely thin Gold, which is applied to Gesso or Gilding paste.

This week I started by writing a Gothic ’G’ using both gesso and gilding paste.  These first letters were not perfect, but I have kept them in my Calligraphy Abecedary as examples of the stages involved in applying gold leaf.

The first two samples are written with gilding paste, the first left ungilded.  The second is an example of what happens if you apply the gold when the gilding paste is not dry enough, resulting in the backing paper being stuck too!  For the third sample I used Gesso, with both smooth and more textured surfaces, then applied the gold leaf by gently pressing the gold onto the slightly tacky gesso.

For my final tag I used gilding paste and a dip pen to write a different style ‘G’ .  This is the double-stroke alphabet I used a few weeks ago.  After applying the gold leaf, I burnished it to a Gloss- shine.  Then I painted some Geranium flowers and leaves behind the illuminated letter. The tag is finished off with a Gold ribbon.I found it impossible to take a decent photo that captured both the Gleaming gold and the detail of the painting, it looks better in real life!

I’m a bit behind this week, but I will be around later to see all your Gorgeous tags,

Bye for now, 
Jane xx