Australia's Only 7-Day Master Gilding Course
Learn traditional water gilding and every professional gilding technique - no overseas travel required.
- South Hurstville NSW 2221
- Since 1976
- 7 Days
- Max 2 Students
Tell us a bit about you.
What past students say.
"One of my favourite things about taking the Master Gilding course with Karl and Brigitte was the atmosphere of their workshop — so family oriented and down to earth, surrounded by beautiful examples of gilded art. Karl is an absolute wealth of knowledge spanning decades. I walked away ready to take my own art to the next level. YouTube is no substitute for in-person, in-depth tuition."
"I took the Master Gilding course this year. It's extremely meaningful and valuable to learn the gilding knowledge from Master Karl. Karl and Brigitte are really good people! I learned so many gilding secrets, enjoyed course life every day, and took a large number of beautiful crafts back home. Highly recommend!"
"I recently finished the Master Gilding Class hosted by Karl & Brigitte. Been wanting to do this course for a few years and I'm so glad I went. Their experience, wisdom and patience made the learning easy to follow. I learnt all the skills necessary to take with me into my next art journey. Would highly recommend."
Built for people serious about the craft.
- Artists and painters adding a new dimension to their work
- Furniture restorers wanting to charge more for higher-end finishes
- Frame makers and conservators
- Interior designers who want to specify and deliver gilded work themselves
- Heritage tradespeople and architectural finishers
- Career-changers serious about a craft they can practise for life
Seven skills. One week.
Swipe through the curriculum — every technique you'll take home.
Water Gilding
The highest finish in the craft — used on frames, statues, and museum-grade restorations.
- Surface prep, gesso & bole
- Laying the leaf
- Burnishing with agate to solid gold
Oil Gilding
The outdoor technique — signage, facades, heritage architecture.
- Oil-based gold size
- Working in exterior conditions
- The method Karl used on Parliament House NSW
Antique Patinas & Ageing
Make a fresh gilded surface look 200 years old.
- The technique that separates good gilders from extraordinary ones
Restoration
Bring damaged antique work back to life — without overwriting its history.
- Assessing damaged pieces
- Matching existing finishes
- Conservation-minded repair
Materials Mastery
Work confidently with every leaf, not just gold.
- Dutch metal, aluminium, copper, imitation silver
- When to use each & how they age
- Sealing them properly
Pricing & Clients
50 years of business experience between Karl and Brigitte.
- What to charge
- How to scope a job
- Working with designers & conservators
Food Gilding
The celebration at the end of the course.
- Edible gold leaf on food & drinks
- Gild TimTams, fruit, wine
- A graduate favourite
They came on a Saturday. They left with this.
After GraduationReal paid projects.
Alongside Karl and Brigitte.
Real paid projects.
Alongside Karl and Brigitte.
Most courses end on the last day. Ours doesn't.
Master Course graduates can work with us on real paid heritage and architectural projects. We bring you onto jobs we've been hired to deliver: private restorations, commercial commissions, heritage work. You get experience on the kind of project you can't replicate in a classroom.
This is the only graduate pathway of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, because we are the only professional gilding teachers in this country.
You also get lifetime access to the Academy: ongoing advice, materials at trade pricing, and a place to come back to when you need a second opinion on a tricky job.
About Your TeachersThe only gilding teachers in Australia and New Zealand.
The only gilding teachers in Australia and New Zealand.
Master Gilder, Karl Eggert, is internationally recognised as a leader in the world of gilding.
Since starting his training as an apprentice and becoming a Master Gilder in his late 20s Karl has worked around the world, advising and educating a legion of trainee gilders. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for excellence, Karl's reputation for commitment and high standards has seen demand for his services come from numerous prestigious projects.
A desire to share his skills led to the establishment of the Art Gilding Academy. Thousands of students from across the world have attended his classes, with particular demand for the intensive Master Gilding Course.
Seven days, designed to build on each other.
Foundations
History, theory, materials, surface science. The why before the how.
Water Gilding Begins
Gesso preparation, bole application, the first leaves laid.
Water Gilding Mastery
Burnishing, troubleshooting, building up your first finished piece.
Oil Gilding
Exterior application techniques, oil-based gold size, drying times, and working on three-dimensional surfaces.
Patinas and Ageing
The techniques that separate experienced gilders from beginners.
Restoration
Working on a real antique piece. Assessment, matching, repair.
Certificate Frame + Business of Gilding
Complete your certificate frame - the signature project of the Master Course. Plus a full session on pricing, finding clients, and building your own gilding practice. If you want to start a business, we'll help you every step of the way.
A full week of immersion.
When
Seven consecutive days, 10am to 4pm each day. Refreshments included.
Where
63 George Street, South Hurstville NSW 2221. Free street parking. Hurstville train station 8 minutes' walk.
What's Included
All materials and tools, every metal you'll use, your finished pieces, refreshments, and a graduation celebration on the final day - including food gilding with 24-karat gold leaf on TimTams, fruit, and wine.
Six start dates this season.
$4,598 AUD — all-inclusive.
Seven full days of one-to-one teaching with Karl and Brigitte. All materials, every metal, your finished pieces, refreshments, and graduation. A foundation in a craft you can practise for the rest of your life, plus a graduate pathway onto real paid projects with us.
No payment required to enquire. Brigitte will be in touch personally to answer your questions and walk you through next steps.
Tell us a bit about you.
Brigitte will be in touch within 24 hours to talk through your goals and answer any questions. No payment required to enquire.
Common questions.
Six start dates. Then we close the season.
Small cohorts. Limited seats per date. Reserve yours while there's space.
Check dates & availability