In the two photos above I am applying a light gold bronze powder, mixed with rabbit skin glue, to the Louis XIV style corner and centre frame from a few posts ago. The mix is quite thin so you get some of the base colours coming through.
Once the gilt finish is dry it was rubbed carefully with wire wool to make some of the base colours more visible on the high points of the frame, and to just give a slight distressed look. The whole frame was then sealed with a spray varnish, although something like shellac could also be used. You could use this as the finished result, in which case wax could have been used to seal the surface, maybe with some rottenstone to add some variation to the ground and high points. This frame will also have a wash applied...
A grey white paint wash was applied over the whole frame, it is just watered down Farrow and Ball emulsion. A damp cloth was used to remove some of the wash from the high points to show some more gilt and paint in places. When the wash had fully dried a dry cloth was used to apply a little wax to the high points and give a slight gloss to these areas.
Here is the finished frame with gesso slip and painting, which is by John Hammond and is from John Noott Galleries - Broadway Modern.
