Sunflower With Gold Leaf

Go for the gold!

https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/sunflower-with-gold-leaf • Posted by Kelly E.

Gold leaf can turn an ordinary watercolor into something truly showstopping. I chose to pair it with a sunflower for this project, but you could try it with any subject whose background is plain and distinct from what is going on in the foreground. Experiment with autumn leaves, animals, or even portraits!

You will need

watercolors , either in tubes or a set (Prang is a good and inexpensive option for beginners). Colors I use: cadmium yellow light, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, Prussian or phthalo blue, cerulean blue, Hooker’s gre Watercolor Paper : at least 140lb (I prefer cold-pressed, but any texture is fine) Palette : it needs to be white, and you can use one with special wells and mixing areas, or you can try a white plate or tray. Gold Leaf sheets and sizing (Speedball Mona Lisa Simple Leaf and 2-ounce Metal Leaf Adhesive Size is available on Amazon) Masking Tape , blue painter’s tape, or brown kraft paper tape A Wooden Board , piece of cardboard, or foamcore to tape the painting to Paper Towels Masking Fluid Pencil: 2H or other light Pencil that’s easy to erase Brushes: #1 or #1 round, #6 round, ½” flat, ¾”flat. Look for Brushes with short handles, soft (but not floppy) bristles, and sharp points. Old, messed-up brushes are also useful painting tools, so if you have any, do not throw them out!

Project Budget

Time

Difficulty

Description

Gold leaf can turn an ordinary watercolor into something truly showstopping. I chose to pair it with a sunflower for this project, but you could try it with any subject whose background is plain and distinct from what is going on in the foreground. Experiment with autumn leaves, animals, or even portraits!

Instructions

1. Watch the video tutorial.