Name: Martha Lauren - Gilded Shore: Jewels of the Illuminated Page - Nov 10,17 & 24, 2026
SKU: 6256
Availability: OutOfStock

Martha Lauren - Gilded Shore: Jewels of the Illuminated Page - Nov 10,17 & 24, 2026

Description

Description

How do we practise our brushwork in our artworks? Painting jewels and ornaments is one of the ways I practise and develop mine.

Following my 2024 Gilded Shore: Exploring Shell Gold Artistry class, we’ll move from the High Medieval period into the Italian Renaissance, inspired by one of my favourite illuminators, Girolamo da Cremona (active 1451–1483).

I’ll demonstrate making shell gold paint from loose 23k gold leaf and palladium paint from loose leaves, including the binders and consistency I use for brushwork.

We’ll work from the supplied alphabets of my hand-drawn Roman or Lombardic initials, along with acanthus and jewel examples. We’ll consider their placement along curves, around bowls and on the stem, while keeping the letter readable.

Through the painting demonstrations, we’ll study different gemstone cuts and how shadows, reflected colour and carefully placed highlights suggest their surfaces. We’ll look at how gold and palladium settings relate to the stones, and paint the acanthus that connects and frames the ornaments within the letter.

Lesson 1 (Materials and Metal Paints)

I’ll demonstrate the preparation of shell gold and palladium paints and how I adjust them for painting. We’ll also choose an initial and consider possible positions for its jewelled ornaments.

Lesson 2 (Arranging the Jewels within the Initial)

We’ll use the supplied examples to plan the relationship between stones, settings, pearls and acanthus, then begin painting the surrounding forms and jewelled details.

Lesson 3 (Painting the Jewels and Their Settings)

I’ll demonstrate simple ways to paint different gemstone cuts using shading, reflections and highlights. We’ll develop their settings and pearls, then refine how the ornaments sit within the initial.

My aim is to share methods for painting and placing jewelled ornaments that you can adapt to other initials, pages and borders in your own work. There will be painting to continue between sessions.

Gilded Shore: Jewels of the Illuminated Page
Martha Lauren, Hosted By The Gentle Penman

Live (Also recorded for later viewing)

10,17 & 24 Nov 2026
11:00 am – 13:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)

Class Cost : HKD 1,000.00 or USD 130.00
Registration Link : https://www.thegentlepenman.com/gilded-shore

Supply List:

Required Surface Materials and Tools

1. Paper

Hot Press Watercolour Paper, 300gsm (smooth) or Bristol Recommended:

Fabriano Studio, Arches, Strathmore (whichever is available in your country, I am using Arches Hot Press 300gsm/140lbs size A5) (PA47-57, P134)

- Size: A5 or A4 or letter size paper
Graph paper for sketching and planning (P55, P38)
Tracing paper/Transparent paper (A4 or A3) (usually called Vellum paper or Parchment paper — Not the Vellum or Parchment) (P112)

2. Drawing Tools 
- Soft Pencil B  (PL38)
- Hard Pencil: Any number between 2H to 7H (PL38)
- Vinyl or kneaded eraser (E13, E09)
- Ruler (S270)
- Circular/Oval Drawing Stencils (S1085)
- Compass (for curves) (S317)

Painting Materials

1. Paints: 
- Watercolour or gouache (I will use M.Graham for all the painting - Alternatively, students may choose Schmincke Horadam Gouache or Winsor & Newton) (SG27, WNG1-WNG4)
- Suggested colours (I’ll use M.Graham Gouache this in class):  
Ultramarine Blue; Phthalocyanine Blue; Phthalocyanine Green; Quinacridone Violet; Yellow Ochre; Burnt Umber; Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Titanium White. 
- Optional colours in Winsor and Newton Designer Gouache:  
Ultramarine; Winsor Blue; Winsor Green; Quinacridone Magenta; Yellow Ochre; Burnt Umber; Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Permanent White.

2. Brushes (Pure sable or Kolinsky Sable, I will use the following brand: WN Series 7/Raphael Kolinsky/Rosemary/Isabey 6229) — Synthetic brushes can be used if that’s the only thing available in your country. (BR28, BR91, BR38)

- Pointed Round Brushes size: #000 or #0 or #1 
- Round Brush: #0 or #1 
- One or two old brush to mix colours or mix binders

3. Other tools: 
- Mixing palette (S747, S2017)
- Two water jars (S1695)

Shell Gold Tools & Materials (Making Shell Gold)

Genuine Gold & Palladium Leaf:
- Loose Leaf (Minimum Ten Leaves or Two booklets of five):

• Any available carat Yellow gold, Choose any carat between 22k, 23k, 23.75k, 24k, or your preference colour

• Palladium Loose Leaf

- Skewing: If you have a mixture of leftover from your gilding project (skewing), we can also use that too)
- Dedicated Brush for Shell Gold (if you are using shell gold to paint your artwork)
- Small saucer dish bowl
- Burnisher (agate) (S1667)
- Honey (Pure Honey)
- Gum Arabic (I84)

Optional 1 (If you do not want to make your shell gold but use cheaper options):
- Metallic watercolour Powder (Schminke Aqua Bronze Powder: Rich Gold colour) (I184)

- Gum Arabic (I84)
- Finetec or Coliro paint (S1000)

Optional 2 (Easier option but more pricey) - Genuine PowdeR:

• Gold Powder Any carat

• Silver Powder