Stained glass painting is painting with special paints that can be done on glass or ceramics. It got this name because of the contouring technique that imitates a real stained glass window.
Glass painting is a fun hobby that offers many creative possibilities. In order to get the job done, you need special outlines and stained paints.
Contours from different manufacturers can be purchased at an art store or hobby and craft stores. They are packaged in long-nose tubes for ease of use. The contours of domestic manufacturers are not inferior in quality to imported ones. The tube should be labeled "for glass" or "for glass and ceramics", both will work.
Stained glass paints can be both water-based and organic. The second ones are also called stained glass varnishes. Water-based paints must be fired in an oven (can be fired in an oven). Stained glass varnishes do not need to be fired, although some of them are fired as well, for better adhesion to the surface. Unfired stained glass varnishes are more transparent and imitate colored glass. Unlike contours, domestic stained glass paints are very much inferior in quality to Italian or German ones.
In addition to contours and paint, you will need a brush, preferably made from natural bristles, 1-1.5 mm thick. As well as a means for degreasing glass and washing a brush, you can take a regular nail polish remover.
Technique of work
- First, the glass surface must be thoroughly washed, wiped dry and degreased with alcohol or any solvent.
- You can transfer a picture to glass either from a paper template, attaching it to the back of the glass, or using the “free hand” technique, that is, immediately drawing with a contour on the glass. For beginners, it is recommended to use a template first. For beginners, it is best to use drawings divided into medium fragments, since large or too small spaces are difficult to evenly fill with stained glass paint.
- The lines of the drawing are outlined with a contour, you can use the contours of several colors, depending on the idea. To evenly apply the contour to the glass, you can first practice on a piece of paper, draw straight lines, circles and curved lines. Thus, you will learn how to press on the tube with different pressing force, depending on how thick the line you want to get. Allow the contour to dry completely; half an hour is enough for this. You can burn the product in the oven, then the contour will last longer.
- Then the space inside the contour must be evenly filled with paint. Stained glass paints are liquid, over time they thicken and it becomes difficult to work. With a brush, you need to take a small amount of paint from the jar, drop it onto the glass and "stretch" this drop over the entire area bounded by the outline. It is important to remember that paint thickens in air, and you need to paint over quickly. You can mix multiple colors and experiment with techniques.
- The finished product is either fired in the oven, or simply air-dried for 24 hours.
