LAURA
My education as a gilder followed an old tradition, in which a master shares his knowledge with his successor and trains the student personally in the profession.
I received my Master of gilding diploma from Finland’s gilding guild in 2010, and during my career I have worked on various gilding projects in several countries. Root of my professionalism is in Finland where I learned gilding under Finnish and Russian gilding masters, but I have extensive experience working in international collegia and work groups.
I have worked mainly in conservation and restoration, but today I also combine gilding with contemporary art and various artistic projects.
GILDING
Gilding is an ancient technique in which a surface is coated with gold leaf, often creating the impression of an object or subject made of solid gold.
I am specialized in the kind of gilding where the variations in the gloss level of the gilding are interwoven and alternate. In this style, the matte gilded parts emphasize the gloss of the polished gilded surface right up to the mirror-like shiny golden surface. To achieve this effect, you need to know several different gilding methods and finishing techniques for the gilded surface.
When conserving and restoring a gilded surface, you need to know the working methods and materials originally used on the object and carry out the work using the same methods as the original. For new gilded objects, it is good to always choose the working method and materials according to the intended use and location of the object.
ART
Art has always been closely intertwined with my craftsmanship. In my own artistic production, I explore how gold can be artistically combined with painting and contemporary interior design.
At the moment, I enjoy making art the most together with others, in groups, by teaching in schools and in the form of community art events.