Blended Gilding

We can achieve a smooth transition from one metal to another by blend gilding. It gives the look of one colour gradually changing into a different colour.

• Water gild the first colour to cover the full extent of the blend.
• When dry and burnished, abrade the leaf with steel wool over the blend area to a gradual change from 100% coverage down to 0%. Ensure that the end of the blend area is completely gone otherwise it will show as a line
• Water gild the second metal leaf over the full extent of the blend area.
• Back up with your design in the usual manner.

This picture of a rainbow serpent has 6 different metals, blending from red gold to silver - 23.5ct, 23ct, 18ct, 16ct, 12ct gold and silver leaf.

It works best with water gilding, abrading oil gilded work produces a dull result. You can blend several different metals in a line to produce a rainbow effect. I find it works best to use the thinner metals (gold alloys) for the first stage and leave the more robust metals (silver,platinum, copper etc..) For the second backing metal.

To blend from matt gold to bright gold, you have a choice of two methods.

• Water gild, abrade, oil gild second metal.
• Spray on goldsize with an airbrush and water gild over full extent.