Architecture sophomore Madeline Ham-Ost didn’t know much about gilding when the Honors college presented her with the opportunity to take a brief course about the art.

Gilding involves applying thin sheets of any material — whether it be gold, silver or even aluminum — to decorate an object. The technique has been used by artists for thousands of years, notably in ancient Egypt and Greece.

“Gilding is a very precise and specific type of art where you have to be careful about what you’re doing, very slow about your movements and think about where you’re putting lines,” said Madeline. “[It] can be used with architecture and the frames and the arches around things.”

But it doesn’t just apply to frames. Gilding can also apply to crown molding or any household item. The better quality of material that makes up the leaf, the thinner it can be.

“It’s like so thin that it could just like fly away in the wind,” she said. “You can’t have any air movement or anything, you have to be so very careful or it just messes up.”

The technique involves an extensive coating process before it can be applied to the object.

First, there’s the initial coating, followed by a waiting period for the coating to dry, then another layered coating and another wait.

Madeline said her newly found skill applies to her major because it honed her precision and patience.

“[As] an artist I’m very quick about what I do. I have a goal, I set it and then I go,” she said. “Just doing a little bit every day makes it easier and oh, I have time to sleep too.”