Gilder's Paste and Lucite Leaves

Last week, a reader asked about using Gilder's paste on the Lucite leaves to enhance the veins and add contrast. Here are my observations.

First off - the Gilder's paste goes onto the Lucite beautifully - sticks well and shows up nicely.

Second observation - some of these Lucite leaves and flowers have a raised pattern, and some have a pressed-in pattern or texture - and which ever one the leaf in question has, makes a significant difference to the look when the Gilder's paste is applied.

Here we have an example. On the left is the Lalique leaf, without and with Black Gilder's paste, and on the right is the Big Ivy Leaf, with the Black Gilder's Paste and without.

The Lalique leaf is very 3-D, almost like a carved bas-relief, and the Big Ivy is flatter, and the vein pattern is pressed in, not standing up. You can see what a difference it makes, as in both cases, the Gilder's paste highlights the raised areas.


This is also the Lalique leaf, but with the Inca Gold (on the left). I really like this effect. But it's gold and shiny, so I would.


This is the Hydrangea Leaf, without on the right, and with Gilder's Paste in Pinotage on the left. (Pinotage - the wine - dark red colour. Hey - I didn't name these.)


And finally, blending colours to make more of an earthy brown, this is Pinotage and Black, on the Long Slender Willow leaf.



Conclusion: The Guilder's paste works well on the Lucite, and adds another dimension and some more colour options. The pressed vs raised pattern make a substantial difference to the end look.