Silver and Gold Leaf Photography

One critic has called Marcy Palmer’s work “an exploration of beauty as an antidote to personal and political crisis,” noting that the specificity of her elegant imagery lends itself to contemplation. 

In this online workshop, Marcy opens-up a world of creative possibilities by sharing the beautiful processes of applying silver and gold leaf to photo-based artworks. This technique allows photographers to incorporate unusual materials with distinct properties into their images. 

To deepen our understanding of this special processes, we contextualize the photograph as both image and object, addressing the significance of physicality and three-dimensionality. This approach allows us to consider which forms our photographs might take and how those forms will help us communicate our concepts and ideas most effectively.

As we view and discuss historical and contemporary examples of silver and gold leaf photography, we become familiar with each through demonstrations and assignments at home. As we create new photographs of our own with the goal of developing a small body of work, Marcy provides expert feedback on our work in group critiques. 

By slowing down and taking time to experiment with new artistic options, you discover the ways that beauty, in all its various and unexpected configurations, can manifest anew in your images.