TECHNIQUE 45

Veiling Metal Leaf

Contrast the brilliant shine on metal leaf with matte or translucent designs. Metal leaf’s beautiful high shine when used in a painting can sometimes outshine and distract. By subduing some of the leaf with veiled, matte or cloudy effects, the contrast adds even more seductive appeal. There are several ways to accomplish translucent overlays. One of these methods, brush applying matte medium, is demonstrated here using a pattern design. More veiling options are listed below.

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Materials List

Substrate

A leafed and sealed surface (see Technique 1)

Tools

Paintbrush, pencil

Products

Paper or tracing paper, acrylic matte medium

For Cleanup

Water, water container, paper towels or rags

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STEP 1 Create a Design

Start with a leafed and sealed surface following Technique 1. Decide on a strategy or design that allows some areas of the leaf to remain unpainted. Here circles are penciled in freehand on paper over a silver leafed surface, leaving a slight indent on the leaf. For more intricate designs or tracing from a premade drawing, use carbon or tracing paper.

STEP 2 Apply Matte Medium in Specified Areas

Using the indent to indicate the pattern or design, brush apply a thin layer of matte medium in design areas on the leaf. This will veil and decrease the gloss sheen of the metal leaf creating contrast. Let dry. If the contrast is too subtle, apply another coat of matte medium. Repeat with as many coats as desired.

Finished Example

Additional Veiling Methods

Iridescent Silver was painted over some of the circles. Fluid Iridescent Pearl and Iridescent Silver paints are poured directly from the bottle in linear designs.

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Ideas

Substitute one of the following ideas for the matte medium in Step 2.

• Use thin layers of white acrylic paste for more pronounced veiling.
• Use an iridescent paint in the same metallic color as the leaf. For example, use Iridescent Gold paint in areas over gold leaf. The reflective qualities of leaf are much higher than those in iridescent paints so the painted areas look matte in contrast with the leaf.
• Dry brush paint color thinly over leafed areas, using a stiff bristle brush to apply small amounts of undiluted thick paint.
• Collage transparent tissue over parts of the leaf. To collage, apply undiluted gel thinly over areas to be glued, then place tissue over the wet gel.
• Lightly sand areas of the sealed leaf surface using a high-grit waterproof sandpaper (see Technique 12).

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Several methods are employed here over metal leaf to achieve the soft veiled areas including tissue paper collage, applications of thin layers of paste, and scumbling or drybrushing paint color softly over the leaf.

BLUE SAFFRON

Asha Menghrajani

Acrylic, gold leaf and mixed media on canvas

48" × 48" (122cm × 122cm)