Artist Statement:

“In a modern age of advancing technology, many of the centuries-old master skills are being forgotten; as an illuminator, I am passionately dedicated to the study of gilding, illumination, hand refining of the purest elements and the decorative arts. My inspiration is to preserve the traditional fine art of illumination and the ancient skill of hand-refining precious pure metals to offer beauty, joy and light to others in a meaningful way through the use of pure 24k gold.

Every illumination and precious element gilding adornment from start to finish is carefully handcrafted with a dedication to traditional techniques and the absolute highest regard for purity, quality and responsibly sourced precious elemental metals. My gilding adornments are always pure 24k gold (Element AU 79: 99.999％) and pure platinum (Element PT 78: 99.999%). These precious metals are hand refined through a highly labour-intensive, master craft proprietary process that has taken years of research and experimenting to learn; NO chemical processes, mica, mixed or inferior metals are ever used in any of my gilding adornments or illuminations!

It is a humble honour and privilege to be one of only few trusted sources in the world devoted to the creation of these handcrafted, ultra-fine particulate, pure 24k gold and Platinum precious adornments, offering the perfect touch for fine artisans and creators seeking this rare, priceless, ultimate luxury medium as the crowning glory for their masterpieces! May the gentle, glittering light of pure gold brighten your day and bring you joy always!”

Warmest Regards and Golden Wishes,

Karena 💛

About the Artist:

Karena is one of a small group of fine artisans remaining in the world today passionate about keeping alive the ancient skills and techniques of gilding, illumination and heraldic themed art. She also remains as one of only a rare few specialized artisan goldsmiths left in the world with the knowledge of the highly guarded, labour-intensive techniques of hand-refining pure 24k gold into ultra-fine dust!

Her illuminated art is a unique blend of past and present and is found in patron’s private collections internationally and her pure 24k precious powders and pigments are a rare, luxurious, highly sought medium of master artisans globally. Each illumination is carefully hand-designed, calling upon historic pastiglia, sculpting, and traditional gilding and master crafting techniques using only the finest materials, and all of her works are meticulously embellished with the elegance of several layers of her precious golden handcrafted adornments, rich with meaning and lavishly graced with the gentle glittering light and warmth only pure 24k gold can bring.

Current:

She resides happily at their lake home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia with her beloved husband Russ, adorable mini Aussie and their darling deer herd that visits daily, while their two precious children currently attend college but visit when they can. Besides caring for her family, for over a decade she served as a Christian Counselor but now fully pursues her love of illumination, gilding, goldsmithing and fine art, and is dedicated to the study of ancient manuscripts, codices, illumination, decorative and armorial art and has spent thousands of hours learning and many years refining her techniques.

She is proficient in traditional gilding, illuminating & pastiglia, hand-refining precious element gilding adornments, watercolour, egg tempera, oils, acrylics, armorial & heraldic art, iconography, sculpting, and decorative traditional arts.

The art community and respected colleagues in the fine arts are very important to her and she is a proud member of the Society of Gilders, an international organization dedicated to the teaching and practice of gilding, she is also a member of many formal and social Armorial and Heraldic groups around the world including the International Association of Amateur Heralds, and holds certification in illumination study of The Book of Kells from Trinity College of Dublin.

*For more information or to commission custom 24k gilded art or pure 24k gold pigments, please send a message to thegildedhart@gmail.com.