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    Lettering & Gold Leaf: The Basics of Reverse Glass Gilding

    A course by Elena AlbertoniLettering Artist and Gilder

    Lettering & Gold Leaf: The Basics of Reverse Glass Gilding

    Gold lettering on inverted glass is considered the pinnacle of a letterer's work. Elena Albertoni is a Berlin-based lettering artist, letterer and gilder who is dedicated to this art and has already won awards for his work, such as first place for "the most beautiful shop" at the Vienna Sign Week.

    In this course she wants to show you a way to experiment with this ancient, artistic and traditional technique and discover its potential. Together with her, you will learn to create a decorative letter in a photo frame, which you will make with real gold leaf to capture all eyes or to give to a special person.

    What will you learn in this online course?

    15 lessons & 21 downloads

    View all lessons ↓

    What's included in this course?

    At the beginning of the course you will meet your teacher, Elena Albertoni. She will tell you how she came to this noble art form and will present her inspirations, her approach and the work in her studio La Letteria.

    Next, you will start preparing for the course. Elena will explain what tools and equipment you will need and describe in detail the materials you will work with. You will pay special attention to a very important element for your project: gold leaf. You will learn about its origin, its properties and the different types.

    Since it is very important to have some sense of brushwork, Elena will dedicate a lesson to practicing basic brushstrokes. Before moving on to glass for the final project, you'll have a chance to try out the technique of applying gold to a sample glass.

    Then, it will be time to prepare your piece. To do this, Elena will first show you how to thoroughly clean the glass for your work to ensure you have a proper working base. You will mark the areas that you want to gold on the front and apply the gold leaf parts.

    You will then either draw your chosen initial by hand on paper or design it on your computer and print it out. You will then translate it inverted onto the freshly gilded glass and paint it by hand to permanently set the motif. Next, Elena will teach you how to carefully remove the excess gold with cotton so that the motif remains shiny on the front of the glass.

    When everything has gone well, you can add the final touches to your painting: if you want, you can paint an outline, a shadow or the background color. Finally, Elena will point out some typical mistakes and give you tips to correct or avoid them.

    What is this course's project?

    As your final project, you'll hand-create a one-of-a-kind decorative letter in an eye-catching gold mirror finish, which will beautifully adorn any wall.

    Lettering & Gold Leaf: The Basics of Reverse Glass Gilding

    Who is this online course for?

    Gold lettering on inverted glass is a fairly demanding technique that requires careful execution of a series of steps. However, the course is aimed at anyone with a passion for letters and an interest in ancient techniques and traditional trades.

    Requirements and materials

    Previous experience with lettering and typography will be helpful in designing your motif. Experience with brush lettering is also recommended. As for materials, you'll need gold leaf, a frame glass that can be changed, a flat brush, a brush for lettering, a pencil, glass cleaner, masking tape, tracing paper, chalk, 100% cotton, synthetic enamel varnish, distilled water, glue water-based and gelatin-based. At the beginning of the course, Elena will explain several options that adapt to different budgets and needs.

    Lettering & Gold Leaf: The Basics of Reverse Glass Gilding

    Reviews

    1,347
    Students
    20
    Reviews
    100%
    Positive ratings
    • sara_8
      10 months ago

      El curso en español está traducido rarísimo, hay como 3 personas diferentes según la frase, se repite parte de las frases, a veces habla muy rápido y otras muy lento... El contenido genial.

    • blacktsunami_lab
      1 year ago

      Es un gran curso por parte de Elena Albertoni, muy enriquecedor, sin embargo la traducción al español no es muy buena y los links para conseguir el material del curso resultan difíciles de conseguir ya que son opciones o tiendas fuera, en mi caso de México. Hay que hacer labor de investigación para encontrar lo necesario para poner en práctica este curso , de ahí en fuera lo recomiendo totalmente, Elena es una estupenda artista!

    • luzlara
      1 year ago

      Curso sencillo y fácil de seguir. Aunque algo básico, he podido aprender la técnica a la perfección, los materiales son fáciles de conseguir.

    • arte_lunacalquin
      1 year ago

      ¡Excelente curso y una gran maestra! Se entregan los pasos adecuados y secretos dorados para lograr un trabajo en pan de oro de gran nivel. El primero de muchos, a seguir experimentando y estudiando. Muy recomendable. ¡Muchas gracias!

    • halacska
      2 years ago

      Great course!

    More reviews
    Elena Albertoni

    Elena Albertoni

    Teacher
    Plus

    Lettering Artist and Gilder

    Joined September 2021

    Elena Albertoni was born in Italy and has lived in Berlin since 2004, where she works as a typeface artist, gilder, and sign painter. After studying graphic design and typography in France, she moved to Berlin and started working as a typeface designer. She has developed various styles typefaces and fonts, and has worked for Lucas De Groot for years, mainly producing his internationally known typefaces.In parallel, in 2005 he founded his own foundry, Anatoletype, to publish typefaces that emerged from his own initiative.

    In 2013, to rediscover calligraphy and lettering and further develop her skills, she started organizing a series of events and workshops with foreign specialists (MAKE! Skilled Hands). In 2015, he founded his own studio, La Letteria, where he dedicates himself to all kinds of lettering and creates different and original solutions, each one adapted to the needs of his clients. In 2017, it won first prize for the most beautiful shop in Vienna at Sign Week Vienna.

    Content

    • U1

      Introduction

      • About Me
      • Inspirations
    • U2

      Introduction to Gold Leaf

      • The Materials
      • The Gold Leaf: History and Origin
      • Gold Leaf Varieties
    • U3

      Preparation and Practice

      • Practice with the Brush on Glass 1
      • Practice with the Brush on Glass 2
      • The Design of Your Own Motif
      • Preparation of Gelatine Solution and Glass Cleaning
      • Handling Gold Leaf
    • U4

      The Creation of a Golden Letter

      • The Gilding
      • The Application of the Motif with the Brush
      • Removing Excess Gold
      • Decorative Elements and Background
      • Last Tips
    • FP

      Final project

      • Lettering & Gold Leaf: The Basics of Reverse Glass Gilding

    What to expect from a Domestika course

    • Learn at your own pace

      Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

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      Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

    • Meet expert teachers

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      PLUS

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    • Get front-row seats

      Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

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      Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

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    FAQs

    This course is designed for people with basic skills in design or crafts who want to deepen their abilities in lettering painting and gilding on glass. It’s perfect for creatives, designers, calligraphers, and sign painters.

    For the course, you’ll need various brushes, gold leaf, transfer paper, gelatin, chalk, glass plates, as well as cleaning agents and paints. A detailed materials list will be provided before the course starts.

    You’ll learn how to design motifs, transfer them in reverse onto glass, prepare the glass for gilding, apply gold leaf professionally, use different gilding techniques, and creatively enhance gilded lettering.

    Basic design knowledge or craft skills are helpful but not required. The course offers clear, step-by-step guidance for all participants.

    The course covers the differences and uses of matte gilding, glossy gilding, reverse glass gilding, and working with various gold leaf alloys to create unique effects.

    During the practical sessions, participants work on their own projects, practice transferring, gilding, and painting letters on glass, and receive personalized feedback and targeted support.

    Yes, after completing the course, you’ll be able to independently create gilded signs, facade lettering, or custom lettering on glass.

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