On December 14, 2015, at the Department of Fine Arts of the Odessa State Academy of Construction and Architecture (OGASA), the art director of the Odessa branch of the OMI studio Olga Andriets conducted a master class for established and future specialists Academy on the technique of gilding products with potassium. The master class program includes a theoretical part and the acquisition of practical skills in the field of gold leaf gilding and aging of interior decorative elements, as well as the use of gilding techniques in artistic painting of various surfaces and painting.
A special feature of the master class was the teaching style of Olga Andriets, who interactively revealed to those present all the intricacies of working with gold leaf and gold leaf. The most exciting thing was that each of those present was able to try themselves in the role of a sweater. Having picked up a brush and a sheet of gold leaf, everyone went through the stages from surface preparation, the gilding process to fixing the gold with a protective layer. Also, the art director of the Odessa branch of the OMI studio, using the example of a ceramic candlestick and a gilded frame, demonstrated various methods of aging decorative items using patina, bitumen and craquelure.
“Gold has always served as an attribute of luxury and truly refined taste. From time immemorial it has also been used as interior decoration. Each participant in the master class realized that the artist’s work is closely related to the decoration of stucco molding, ceilings, walls, furniture, and interior decor items. Therefore, working with the guys was interesting and exciting,” noted Olga Andriets.
Commenting on the lesson, the art director of the Odessa branch of OMI emphasized that from the first minutes a creative atmosphere reigned in the class, which inspired the master class participants to directly participate in the gilding process. And the lesson itself lasted several hours longer, the participants were able to hear answers to all their questions.
Together with Olga Andriets, Dasha Ivanko and Arseniy Nikitenko, masters of the OMI studio in the field of photography and painting, shared their experience with the children.