There’s something wonderfully exciting about gold.
When light catches a piece of gold leaf in one of my paintings, it can transform the artwork — adding lustre, sparkle, depth and a touch of luxury that metallic paint simply can’t quite achieve.
What makes gold leaf special?
Gold leaf is an incredibly thin sheet of metal applied to the surface of an artwork using a special adhesive called size.
Unlike metallic paint, which can give a painted golden effect, gold leaf is highly reflective. As the light changes, so does the way it catches your eye, creating little flashes of brilliance across the painting.
I love using this effect to add an unexpected element to my artworks — something that makes you look twice.
Real gold or imitation gold?
There are two main types of gold leaf used by artists.
Real gold leaf is made from genuine gold and, because gold doesn't tarnish, it will retain its beautiful lustre. It is also considerably more expensive, with its cost influenced by the price of gold.
Imitation gold leaf is made from other metals, commonly a combination of copper and zinc and it is much more affordable.
For many of my artworks, imitation gold leaf is the perfect choice. When I am adding paint, texture and other mixed-media techniques over the gold leaf, there is little benefit in using the considerably more expensive real gold.
Gold leaf and my Australian wildlife art
I love experimenting with mixed media, and gold leaf gives me another way to add texture, sparkle and visual interest to my paintings.
It can highlight a particular feature, create a feeling of movement or simply introduce a beautiful flash of gold that catches the light.
It's one of those details that photographs don't always fully capture — you really appreciate it when you see the artwork in person.
And here's something exciting...
The gold leaf effects in my original paintings reproduce beautifully in my fine-art prints.
When I have an original artwork professionally reproduced, the rich colours, textures and golden details are captured in the fine-art printing process, allowing you to enjoy the character and sparkle of the original artwork in a high-quality print.
So even if you don't own the original painting, you can still bring some of that colour, personality and golden magic into your home.
It's just one of the little details that makes a Sally McLean artwork more than something to simply look at — it's something to discover.