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How to Apply Gold Leaf - full instructions, professional results

Nancy Reyner

828,295 views

Read important updates to this video: https://nancyreyner.com/prepare-gold-...
Acrylic expert and professional painter, Nancy Reyner demonstrates all the tips and tricks to achieve a leafed surface. Especially helpful for painters who want to use gold leaf as a background, and includes information on real gold leaf, imitation leaf, application techniques, and sealing. View more of Nancy's free videos, and find info on her classes, use the links in this video or go to https://nancyreyner.com/classes/

Here are some suggestions for purchasing supplies online:

Imitation Gold Leaf:
https://www.dickblick.com/products/mo...

https://www.amazon.com/Bememo-Imitati...

Leaf Adhesive:
https://www.amazon.com/DUX-Water-Base...

Sealer to go over the leaf:
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Archiva...

https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-1120...

https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-1021...

A Kit with all three of the above:
https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Mona...

0:00 Introduction to gold leaf
2:00 What is gold leaf
3:21 Real vs. composite leaf
8:56 Supply list
14:31 Preparing the surface
22:30 Applying the adhesive
28:17 Applying and burnishing
37:26 Cleaning excess leaf
41:08 Sealing the surface

20 Comments

@PuffTuffNinja 10 days ago

Hi Nancy, I have a silly question. You talk about sealing the gold leaf so that the ammonia from acrylic paint doesn’t tarnish it. When I look up the gloss archival varnish, it’s labelled as a mineral spirit ‘acrylic’ varnish. I suppose it doesn’t also have the ammonia problem just because it’s ‘acrylic’ based?

Even with looking it up online I find the varnish stuff so confusing, and I might need to seal a large frame that will be covered in imitation gold leaf, and I don’t want to use the wrong varnish!

@Hunkamunka 2 weeks ago

Nancy, I only just caught your video as I am just going to use gold leaf for the first time, it is really well explained by you, thank you.

@sharonblac 2 weeks ago (edited)

Golly!!! your paintings are absolutely to die for!! I love the softness in them. I’ve been trying to use gold, leaf and different colored leaf in my art pieces that I usually start with a print first, but they don’t look like yours at all, but I’m watching your video now trying to learn everything. Thank you so much!

@EvaSchilling-l2z 2 weeks ago

A lot of talking

@elanielan 2 months ago

Thank you. I love all the artists details you are adding. This is great.

@cazthompson4797 2 months ago (edited)

Fabulous tutorial. I am about to use 24kt gold leaf, first time ever, rather spooky, after watching your tutorial l am feeling more confident. Greetings from down under in New Zealand ⚘️

@christinekairuz3774 3 months ago

Yes, so complete‼️💕

@travisposton4143 3 months ago

Thank you for taking the time to make this tutorial, much appreciated.

@connieswed8223 4 months ago

@Nancy_Reyner What am I doing wrong, if I'm applying GAC200 as my sealer (prior to using oil paint) and it kind of flakes off into a slightly rough surface rather than being smooth and shiny?

@connieswed8223 4 months ago

What a wonderful video. I refer back to it before every project to refresh my memory of each step.

@iloveart1 4 months ago (edited)

This is the most comprehensive of gold leaf instructions I have found. Fortunately I have the basic supplies so I’ll have time for drying to get anything I don’t have. Thank you so much! I ❤ your work. Beautiful

@nazanindabbs3814 5 months ago

Brilliant tutorial thank you 🙏 ❤

@graziacavasino 5 months ago

Excuse me, madam, I can buy your book from nowhere, for some reason the system says it can't be delivered to Italy.

@Detached_AZ 7 months ago

@adminsupport5896

This was my first stop and I disagree with the gentleman that said it was long-winded.

With that said I learned a lot from you and I'm going to try it.

Is it possible to use a watered-down mod podge as the adhesive?

@LCHoldenried 8 months ago

Thank you for this video! If we want to "shape" our gold or silver leaf as we place on our prepared board, should we wait until it dries then shape the leaf on the board or shape (exact knife) immediately after placing?

@idanorred12 8 months ago

Awesome tutorial!

@iona-airen 8 months ago

hello thank you for sharing! i wonder if egg white would be as good as a water based adhesive? just trying to save some dollars

@MalthySamra 9 months ago

Oh my god this is something I was looking for and Wat a detailed tutorial and the science behind every step thank u so much ❤

@MiaowMcDonald 9 months ago

a wonderful tutorial. gonna be using gold leaf for the first time soon so this was a 'god send'. you're an amazing artist, and a huge inspiration, so i've decided to subscribe to your channel. incredible talent, Nancy. much love and inspiration to you from Scotland