Master the art of leafing and cliché verre, a historical technique that combines elements of photography, printmaking, and drawing.

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Note: This Class will meet in a live, online format using the Zoom Platform.
Class meets Saturday & Sunday, Nov 4-5 from 2-5pm ET.

Cliche Verre 5 - By Marcy Palmer

This workshop will be an exploration of various silver and gold leafing and cliché-verre processes. For over 8,000 years gilding has been used to accentuate art to give it the warm and lustrous tones of these precious minerals. The way light plays on its surface captivates our attention and curiosity. Guided by Marcy Palmer, we will take a brief look at the history of the mediums as well as contemporary uses of them. Students will work together in this online workshop with demonstrations, assignments, and individual projects. Leafing partners well with the semi-photographic printmaking process of cliché-verre, a French phrase for “glass print”. This technique will also be covered and combined with leafing.

Techniques and topics covered will include:

  • Different approaches or methods of cliché-verre.
  • The use of silver and gold leaf with Japanese papers, noting the effects with different papers.
  • The use of silver and gold leaf in selective areas of the image.
  • Variations of cold wax and varnish on the print.
  • The use of shell gold in an artwork.
  • Various sizes used for silver and gold leaf work.
  • The application of the techniques on 3-dimensional objects.

Midnight Nosegay by Marcy Palmer

Supply list:

Cliché-Verre

  • Glass (4×6 or 8×10) and/or digital transparency sheets 8.5 x11.
  • 15-20 sheets of black and white darkroom photo paper, 4×6 or 8×10 (match this size with the glass or transparency) – or if working digitally, archival inkjet paper 8.5 x11.
  • A variety of markers, charcoal, and/or ink.
  • A variety of small paintbrushes, foam brushes, toothpicks, chopsticks, etc. for mark-making.
  • Small/medium candle.
  • Access to a scanner, inkjet printer, and/or darkroom may be helpful, however, these works can be achieved with a working camera on a smart device.

Silver & Gold Leaf:

  • Vellum – at least 20 sheets of translucent inkjet vellum 30lb or around 115gsm at 8.5 x11 inches *This is for printing your images yourself.  If you have a printer that you work with, you may want to see if they have vellum*.
  • Other papers – you may be interested in experimenting with such as washi papers (thin, inkjet coated papers) for metal application; darkroom photo prints, or thicker digital papers for using the metal leaf on top of the print.
  • Metal leaf – your preference, transfer leaf only, please.
  • Adhesives for gilding.
  • Varnish.
  • Delicate surface tape, Frog’s tape, etc..
  • Soft bristle brush (1.5 inch).

Students can also take our Introduction to Cliché Verre (Online).

Examples of Cliché Verre

Cliche Verre 4 - By Marcy Palmer

Cliche Verre 3 - By Marcy Palmer

Cliche Verre 1 - By Marcy Palmer

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Instructor: Marcy Palmer

Marcy Palmer grew up in the foothill region of the Adirondack Mountains in the historic city, Saratoga Springs, NY.  As a child, she spent time exploring the outdoors which fueled her imagination and play.  

Marcy’s work explores themes of beauty, history, and social justice through the lens of photo history, nature, and science.  She often approaches her work with questions that relate to research and considerations of how the materials in the work can further communicate her ideas. Integrating various approaches to image-making from contemporary to historical practices, Marcy is particularly influenced by the earliest practitioners of photography and the Surrealist and Bauhaus movements.

Marcy has an M.F.A. in Photography & Related Media from the School of Visual Arts and a B.S. in Studio Art from Skidmore College.  Her work has been exhibited at various spaces including The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Center for Photographic Art, The Griffin Museum of Photography, The Ogden Museum of Art, and other spaces.  Her work has been written about in Lenscratch, The Boston Globe Sunday edition, D Magazine, and other publications.  Marcy released a book with Yoffy Press titled “You Are Eternity, You Are the Mirror” which was chosen as a Photo-Eye 2020 favorite photobook, The Luupe’s Favorite Woman-Made Books of the Year, and Deep Red Press’s Favorite Photobooks.  She lives and works in Dallas, TX. 

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