I like the portrait and your use of the metal leaf. Is it genuine gold leaf? Do you know how durable artificial gold leaf is over a period of years, and whether one has to varnish it? I have some sheets, but haven't had any ideas to use it.
Hi Hermes. This is imitation gold leaf. The real gold leaf does not tarnish. The research I have done for this imitation gold metal leaf is that it needs to have a varnish layer to stop it from changing colour. I use retouch varnish on my oil paintings anyway- so it is what I am used to.
The metal leaf is a bit tricky to use- but fun!
It's really a great portrait in and of itself, but the beauty of applying the paint to a gold leaf background elevates it to a classic. This one deserves museum space. Bravissima!