A long-standing customer and friend of ours here at Gold Leaf Supplies, Dave Smith, will be running a series of Gold Leaf On Glass Workshops from June 24th through to December.
If you’re looking to learn more about glass gilding, Dave is the man you need to learn from. It would simply be an understatement to call him a creative genius – with over 37 years of experience, he is an incredible artist and designer, that has a brilliant eye for details and creative compositions.
We regularly recommend these courses held at his studio in Torquay, Devon, to our customers as it’s one of the few places where you can learn ALL the skills you need to create authentic “Victorian” reverse glass signs.
There is a selection of 1, 2 and 4-day workshops, with each of the options having different curriculums, so no matter where you are in your glass gilding journey, there’s sure to be a course for you.
1 And 2 Day Workshops
The one-day workshops will run for 12-14 hours (which flies by as they are extremely fun and rewarding), and are suitable for any level of artistic ability, from beginners to the most experienced artists. With smaller class sizes to ensure that full attention is given to each student.
You’ll make two 300 x 300 mm Victorian glass sign letters, as you learn many traditional hand brush techniques needed to paint letters in reverse on gold.
Dave will teach you the following techniques:
- Water Gilding (traditional gilding tip and cushion method, other application techniques)
- Oil Gilding
- Sign writing in reverse,
- Shading
- Blending
- Brush control
- Gold leaf blending, water and oil
- Colour combination
- Mother of Pearl inlay
In the two-day workshop, you’ll cover more techniques, including screen printing, hand lettering in reverse and glass edge scalloping. And will leave with 3 panels that you’ll have made using your new skills.
4 Day Workshop
This workshop is also suitable for beginners and will be limited to only 3 people per workshop due to the current restrictions, because of the pandemic.
Over four 12–15 hour days you will create two themed glass pieces while learning different gilding and painting techniques.
For the first sign, you’ll learn a variety of techniques including:
- Water Gilding (traditional gilding tip method and various other application techniques)
- Oil Gilding
- The blending of gradients of gold leaf
- Signwriting
- Screen printing
- Wheel cutting and polishing (brilliant cutting)
- Abalone inlays (mother-of-pearl)
- Shading letters
- Colour combinations
- Incised carved lettering behind glass
- Mica colour shading into gold size
- Marbling and finger blending
- Acid etching
- Water marbling
- Transparent Glazes
While making the second sign, you’ll learn:
- Glass edge scalloping
- Sandblasting
- Glue chipping (1900 process)
- Painted silvered background
- Brush blending and more.
Interested? We simply can’t recommend these workshops enough, and we’ve heard very high praise from past attendees.
If you book any of the three workshops, you are guaranteed to learn a lot from Dave, which you’ll be able to carry throughout the rest of your gilding career. You can find more information on his website here: https://davidadriansmith.com/gold-leaf-workshops/