My Journey from Apprentice
When I began working at Harmony Signs at 16, the phrase “extreme frustration” best described my early experiences as an apprentice signwriter.
What appeared to be magic in the hands of the skilled craftsmen I was indentured to turned into a constant series of disappointments for me at the time.
Little did I know then that this frustration I was experiencing would become the foundation of my teaching philosophy many years later.
This was me at age 16 on one of my first designs, a plaque that took me months to complete.
Early Days: Learning from Masters
I was fortunate to have experienced mentors like Gordon Farr and Jeff Skinner at Harmony Signs, who patiently guided me through the intricacies of the craft.
Gordon Farr was a brilliant signwriter who took me under his wing, spending countless hours teaching me the correct principles of signwriting and helping me develop my skills on the brush. Jeff, on the other hand, was a master guilder.
I vividly remember watching Jeff flick his gilder’s tip through his neatly styled Brylcreem hair, effortlessly transferring gold from the cushion to the glass in one fluid motion. It was a mesmerising dance, and I was determined to master those skills.
However, everything went wrong when I tried replicating these techniques at home.
I encountered dull knives, messy gold application, dirty glass, and hard water—you name it, I faced it all. These challenges taught me valuable lessons I still use and share with others today.
This is me in the early days of my apprenticeship with some of the master craftsman that shaped my career including Gordon Farr and Jeff Skinner.
Gordon Farr came to visit me when I was creating Ludlow & Blunt, and we stayed in touch my whole career. He had an eternal influence on my creativity and the work I do today.
The Harsh Realities of Learning Gold Gilding
If you’re starting with gold gilding like I was, let me be honest: This craft can be incredibly frustrating to learn on your own without mentors guiding you—as Gordon and Jeff did for me.
Many beginners don’t realise that gold leaf is thinner than a human hair; it’s so delicate that even a slight breath can send it flying. Considering that a booklet of gold can cost upwards of £40, every wasted leaf feels like a small tragedy.
If you manage to get the gold on the glass in one piece, you’ll still encounter other issues like water quality and cloudy gilds. I learned the hard way that tap water can contain minerals that affect your results.
After weeks of failed attempts, I discovered that using demineralised water made all the difference. Unfortunately, no one had informed me of that; it was just one of many costly lessons I learned through trial and error.
The preparation of the surface can derail beginners as well. Your glass must be immaculately clean—a single fingerprint can prevent adhesion. I spent countless hours polishing glass, only to contaminate it with a careless touch before application.
And let’s talk about the gilder’s tip, the seemingly simple brush made of squirrel hair. Learning how to load it correctly took me months. If there’s too much oil, the gold sticks where it shouldn’t; too little, and it won’t pick up at all.
These are some of the genuine obstacles I encountered, and I see new gilders regularly experience as well.
The Turning Point
After nearly quitting several times during my first year, I experienced a breakthrough moment. Jeff noticed my frustration and dedicated an entire afternoon to breaking down the process into micro-steps. He explained that gilding is not just a single skill but a combination of multiple small techniques working together in harmony to create a beautiful result.
That’s when everything changed for me. Instead of trying to perfect the entire process in one go, I started focusing on mastering one element at a time: proper glass cleaning, the basics of water gilding, handling gold leaf, backing up, and burnishing techniques. By isolating these skills, I could progress steadily, and my results improved over time, especially with Jeff’s guidance.
Your Pathway to Mastering The Art Of Glass Gilding
Unfortunately, professional tradespeople and mentors like Gordon and Jeff are no longer around, and those who remain are few and far between. As a result, it is challenging to find opportunities to learn gold gilding using the correct and traditional methods that yield satisfying results without pain and frustration.
Having gone through this journey myself many years ago, I understand the challenges that both new and experienced gilders can face. That’s why I have created a structured pathway to help new gilders avoid the common pitfalls and frustrations I encountered throughout my career.
The following paragraphs outline a pathway anyone new to gilding can follow to learn and master this beautiful craft. By providing step-by-step mentorship, I aim to offer the guidance I was fortunate to receive, ensuring your success without the years of trial and error I endured.
How To Learn Gold Gilding The Correct Way
Step 1 – Start with the Fundamentals:
My Free Introductory Course – The Essentials Of Glass Gilding Techniques
In my free Essentials Of Glass Gilding course, I focus specifically on helping beginners navigate the overwhelming World of gold leaf – taking the guesswork out of the essential and foundational concepts of gold gilding on glass.
In this FREE COURSE, you’ll learn:
The fascinating history of gold leaf and traditional manufacturing methods of gold leaf.
Clear explanations of the different types of gold leaf and their specific applications.
Exactly which gold variations I use for consistent, professional results.
Where to source high-quality gold leaf for different budgets and projects
Critical storage techniques to protect your investment and preserve the leaf’s quality
This free resource addresses the most confusing aspects of getting started – understanding the materials. Knowing the difference between patent and loose leaf, or when to use 23K versus 12K, can save you hundreds of dollars in wasted materials and countless hours of frustration.
Step 2 – Build Your Core Skills:
The Beginners Workshop To Mastering The Craft Of Glass Gilding
If you’re ready to move beyond the fundamentals, it’s now time to build your core skills with my Beginners Workshop To Mastering The Craft of Glass Gilding course.
This affordable introductory course provides the perfect platform for practical introductory gilding techniques.
I will work with you step by step as we focus on and learn:
How to draw your designs
How to get your designs onto glass.
Preparing the glass and the correct gilding techniques and process
Painting your designs to enhance your results
Building solid foundational skills that prepare you for tackling more advanced designs and techniques.
This beginner-level course distils years of trial and error into easy-to-follow structured lessons that will save you time and money as you embark on your gilding journey.
I have designed this course to tackle the frustrations and challenges that beginners often face, fast-track your success, and prepare you to grow and learn more advanced techniques.
Step 3 – Become A Master Of The Craft:
The Advanced Workshop Of Glass Gilding Techniques
For those ready to commit to learning and thoroughly developing your gilding skills to an advanced level, my comprehensive Advanced Workshop Of Glass Gilding Techniques course takes you from a complete beginner to an accomplished gilder through methodical, expert instruction.
This in-depth course culminates my decades of experience and has been refined by teaching hundreds of students the same techniques.
This premium, comprehensive 50-hour video course will build on your skills learnt from my introductory courses and take you from beginner to an advanced gilder as we work through twelve beautiful glass letters together.
This course will provide you with
Step-by-Step Demonstration: I demonstrate the entire gilding process from preparation to completion, with close-up views of every critical technique.
Advanced Gilding Methods: Master specialised techniques that I have mastered over many years as we create advanced bevelling, shading and embellishing techniques.
Comprehensive Resources: The course will take you through all the supplies needed and where to source them from around the World. All the design files for each letter are provided within the course.
Lifetime Access: Each project letter within the course is broken down into easily manageable step-by-step processes. You will have lifetime access to this course. This means you can go at your own pace as you learn to master these advanced techniques.
What truly sets this course apart is the structure of the lessons, which anticipates common mistakes before they occur and provides immediate solutions based on my extensive learning journey over the years.
Feedback from current students indicates that they wish they had discovered this course sooner, as it could have saved them hundreds of dollars on materials and prevented failed attempts.
Instead of enduring the frustrating trial-and-error process I experienced as an apprentice, you will benefit from a straightforward, structured path to mastery.
Investing in this course quickly pays for itself—whether you are pursuing gilding professionally or as a serious hobby—it will accelerate your progress.
Why My Approach Works When Others Fail
Traditional apprenticeships lasted years because masters often guarded their secrets. Even today, many tutorials skip critical details that make the difference between success and failure.
Having learned through both triumph and tears, I’ve designed my courses to address the specific challenges that cause most beginners to give up. My teaching approach is progressive; each lesson anticipates common mistakes students may face and provides immediate solutions.
The structured approach of this pathway to achieving success in gold gilding—from free foundational lessons to beginner techniques and ultimately to advanced mastery—allows you to build confidence at your own pace. This way, you can navigate your gilding journey without feeling overwhelmed or facing unnecessary challenges.
From Frustration to Fulfillment
Finally, reflecting back on my journey from frustrated apprentice to master gilder, I recognise that the struggles shaped my skills and my teaching approach. Whenever a student messages me about their first perfect gilded piece, I remember the feeling of my breakthroughs.
Gold gilding on glass is more than a craft—it’s a connection to centuries of artistic tradition.
While the learning curve can be steep, the correct guidance, such as the pathway outlined above, transforms frustration into the deep satisfaction of creating something timeless with your own hands.
Whether you’re curious about gilding or ready to pursue it professionally, this pathway will guide you safely. Start with my free introduction to Gold Leaf Essentials, then progress through structured learning that eliminates the costly trial and error I faced on my journey.
The magic I once watched in awe as a young apprentice is now within your reach. All you need to do now is to take the first step.
I am here to ensure your success.
Wishing you every success.
David.
