About

The prints from the Silver Linings series are meticulously crafted on handmade khadi paper with layers of genuine silver leaf and Japanese conservation tissue. I have developed this technique over the last few years after becoming fascinated with the hand-gilded prints on translucent paper made by Wendi Schneider and Dan Burkholder. This method yields prints with a unique depth and subtle sheen that is hard to convey on screen.

The process starts with printing the photos onto specialized transfer film and letting them dry thoroughly. Next, I prepare the paper for gilding by applying a thin coat of matte acrylic medium. This creates a smooth surface that is ready to receive the adhesive for the silver leaf. After the matte medium dries, I spread a layer of water-based gilding size over the image area. Once this is dry to the point of being slight tacky, I lay down the silver leaf and burnish the surface. The last step in preparing the paper is to place a layer of very thin tengucho tissue over the silver and gently attach it with matte medium.

Once the transfer film is dry and the paper is ready, I spread an even coat of transfer medium on the film and gently burnish it on top of the tissue and metal leaf. After a couple of minutes, I peel off the film to reveal the transfer. As a last step, I apply a layer of acid-free microcrystalline wax to protect the image and prevent the silver leaf from tarnishing.