Painting with Gold and Silver Leaf: Light, Surface and Meaning
5 Week Class | Registration opens 2026-07-02 12:00 PM
Discover the unique visual qualities of gold and silver leaf and learn how these reflective materials can enrich contemporary painting practices. Students will explore traditional application techniques while investigating contemporary artistic uses of metallic surfaces. Through demonstrations and studio projects, participants will learn how to integrate metal leaf with painting, texture, pattern and imagery to create visually dynamic works.
$285 +
Material Fee: $8 =
$293 Total____________________________________________________________________
- What You Will Learn:
- Surface preparation techniques
- Applying gold and silver leaf
- Adhesives and sizing materials
- Sealing and protecting metallic surfaces
- Combining metal leaf with acrylic or oil painting
- Contemporary and historical approaches to metal leaf
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes (variety of sizes)
- Palette and palette knife
- Canvas, wood panel, or mixed-media surface
- Imitation gold leaf and/or imitation silver leaf (composition leaf)
- Metal leaf adhesive (size)
- Soft brush for applying metal leaf
- Soft cloth or paper towels
- Genuine gold or silver leaf (Optional)
- Varnish or sealer for finished works (Optional)
Note: Students are encouraged to begin with imitation gold or silver leaf, which is affordable, easy to use, and suitable for all course projects.
Leila Refahi
Leila is a visual artist, researcher, and educator working across painting, installation, and digital media. Her practice explores environmental issues such as climate change, ecological loss, and endangered species, with a strong focus on socially engaged and participatory art. Through her work, she is interested in how art can raise environmental awareness and contribute to shared knowledge within communities. Refahi has presented six solo exhibitions and participated in over 60 national and international group exhibitions and festivals.