Making the Kiss bedhead - stage 2 glass tiles and gold leaf

58 hand made glass tiles

After the design and planning stage in my previous post, I now get into the studio to pre-make some of the adornments required for this bedhead.

During this time I had my own small glass kiln in the studio and for the Kiss bedhead I made 58 hand-made fused glass tiles – it took me ages! Black, white, cream, grey, silver and amber; double and treble layers including frit, dichroics, iridised layers, silver coils, silver leaf and noodles. All stacked and cleaned ready to be embedded into the mosaic like golden cloak.

Glass stack ready for the kiln

The tiles are then layered onto a epoxy clay to start forming his cloak … imagine this when it is all golden!!

The Golden Cloak

Once all the tiles were laid, the process of gold gilding slowly starts. I use Dutch imitation leaf which is better suited to the larger areas (and affordable). This is done in many layers and takes considerable time, especially working around all the tiles!

Firstly some undercoat is painted in traditional red bole.
Then size added and set.
Then the gold leaf layered and buffed.
Some aging affects and touch ups with gilders wax.
Then shellac, more gilders wax, asphaltum and turps for more special effects.
And then drying time for 2 weeks to be finished off with an antique wax which is buffed to shine.

I love the art of gilding, most of which I learned from Langridge artist products and independent manufacturer here in Melbourne.