Dave Smith's Goldleaf Workshop had everything I hoped for.
We not only learnt the first basics, but almost all the techniques used into making an elaborate Victorian glass sign.
Dave showed us some modern shortcuts using vinyl, but still did his best to keep the original "old handmade look" as well.
First day: 14 hours nonstop working (5 minutes for some homemade sandwiches).
Second day: 12 hours nonstop (5 minutes for homemade sandwiches and 3 minutes for a toilet visit that Indian food is a killer
).
Third day: 10 hours working (also having some chitchat Letterhead history and gossip Hahah!
).
Fourth day: 10 hours working (also looking into Dave's nice book collection).
Step by steps learnt:
Design being made and silkscreen prepared.
Handcut masks.
Acid etching with micca
Watergilding.
Backing up with black and colours: brushing, blending, stippling etc
Shading with Asphaltum.
Gilding with oils size.
Laying in Abalone and Mother of Pearl shells horizontal and vertically.
How to cut a small strip of glass due to bumping it to a metal bracket.
And lots more!
Now Dave thought us all the techniques is up to me to show if I have any talent.
If my new glass projects are turning out like n it sure isn't the lack of techniques learnt at Dave's, but solely my incompetence of working.
Feels like a heave burnden on my shoulders. Will rest and look at the finished piece for a week, try to collect all ingrediënts needed, prepare and reorganize a corner of my signshop and first design an elaborate piece before starting the Erik Winkler glass-line. haha
Some photo's
It is me cleaning the glass with Bon Ami prior to watergilding.
Cleaning cleaning cleaning.
Ferry heating the gilding.
Burnish gilding.
Dave Smith's Design.
Heating the second gilding.
Smile! And don't burn the gelatine.
"Enamel paint Ferry".
"Thin it with terpentine".
Panels all backed up with colours.
Smile!
Chipped glass.
Silvering?
First coat of black on the sides.
Finished pieces
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads