Glass painting: types, techniques, master class for beginners

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Glass painting is a type of art with a long history. Once its secrets were known only to masters. Over the past century, there has been a significant leap in paint technology. Today, glass painting can be done not only by an artist, but also by a person who is far from arts and crafts.

Before talking about the basic rules for applying and fixing a picture, it's worth making a short digression into history. When did stained glass painting appear? In what areas was this type of decor used?

History

Glass painting as an art form originated in the Renaissance. She met then exclusively in Gothic cathedrals. These were complex, multi-colored works of art, consisting of glass of various shapes, which were held together with lead lintels. In Russia, people became interested in painting on glass at the beginning of the 19th century.

Glasspainting has a certain captivating and enchanting power. No wonder it inspires creativity of people of various professions. Painting on glass with acrylic paints has become one of the most common hobbies. It was said above that stained glass windows appeared for the first time in the Renaissance. But people, of course, learned to apply bizarre drawings on glass much earlier. Vessels, jugs and other utensils of the ancient Egyptians, discovered by archaeologists, are proof of this. And the Egyptians used to dress their mummies in clothes decorated with colorful glass beads.

Medieval glass painting has little in common with modern stained glass painting. Other materials, other technologies. And what the ancient Egyptians created bears little resemblance to modern painted dishes. Today, anyone can take a short course in glass painting. It is easy to learn the basics of this type of art on your own with the help of textbooks and advice from masters. Below is the basic information about the artistic painting on glass. The choice of colors, technologies, a master class for applying simple images are described.

There are several types of paints used in painting on glass. Master classes for beginners usually talk about acrylic paints. But in general, there are other groups of materials:

• Synthetic solvent based;
• water based;
• paints, after the use of which the firing of the product is required;
• film paints.

Material based on syntheticsolvent

Stained glass paints are divided into two types. The first is water-based paints. To the second - based on a synthetic solvent. The latter type has a number of advantages and refers to the materials used by professional craftsmen. The use of synthetic solvent-based stained glass paints requires some experience. By the way, their cost is relatively high.

Masters recommends using water-based paints at the initial stage. With their help, it is easy to apply patterns. Over time, it is worth switching to synthetic solvent-based materials.

Water-based paints

Getting a colorful, vibrant image is easy with this kind of material. The colors are transparent and adhere well to glass. They have a specific smell, but are not toxic. However, they are less fluid than synthetic solvent based material.

If the paint has thickened, it can be slightly diluted with water. True, this must be done very carefully (preferably with a pipette). If you add too much water, the paint will lose its quality. In addition, after dilution, the color becomes less saturated. Shaking the paint before work is not recommended - it starts to bubble, which can ruin the picture.

Water-based paints mix well. You can get any shade, having only basic colors (red, blue, yellow). Paints are produced in bottles with a thin tip, and therefore you can do withoutbrushes.

Film paints

They are also called "adhesives". Film paints are the simplest material. True, and the most unpredictable. After drying, the colors change significantly. Before using them in work, it is worth making a few samples. Adhesives form a translucent dense layer after drying, even if applied in a thin layer. This is their shortcoming. If the paint goes too thick, the work will appear sloppy.

Film paints are more suitable for children. Fine art work cannot be created with this material.

Paints are applied to a transparent film, and then, after drying, the image is separated from the plastic base and pasted onto a smooth surface. Removing a drawing is as easy as applying it.

Acrylic paints

Such colors are very bright, saturated. They have a viscous and viscous texture. But in order to apply a pattern with uniformly colored details, experience is required. After drying, the material forms a waterproof semi-matt surface. The paints mix well, but it is advisable to dilute them with acrylic gels (water reduces the strength of the film). When washing the product, the image may be distorted.

Stencils for painting on glass

Even those who can't draw can create pictures on glass. The drawings will turn out even and neat if you use stencils for painting on glass. You can buy them at any specialized store. Manycraftsmen make them themselves. How to do it? On the image you like (from a book, magazine, etc.), you need to put a loose sheet of paper. Trace the outlines, and then cut out with a clerical knife.

Acrylic or stained glass paints are used in glass painting. Each type of material has its own characteristics, requires certain skills. But stencils can be used anyway. They will help to easily apply the image on any flat surface. The choice of plot and pattern for painting on glass remains with the master (it is not always possible to find a stencil with the desired ornament in a craft store).

Tools

What do you need for the creative process? As we found out, paint. Any glassware is suitable for painting: glasses, glasses, bottles, vases. You can also use interior items, for example, transparent lamps with a flat surface. Despite the fact that paints are sold with a tip, it is worth buying brushes: with both wide and fine pile. In addition, you will need:

• outlines;
• degreaser;
• fixer:
• thinner;
• cotton buds and cotton pads.

When working with synthetic solvent-based paints, you need to use brushes with artificial bristles. Tools with natural bristles will quickly become unusable.

Cotton pads are needed at every stage of work. First, they degrease the surface of the product. After drawing the drawing, excess paint is removed. Often cotton padsused to correct large details. It is convenient to remove excess drops of paint with cotton swabs.

You will need a palette for painting. Experienced craftsmen recommend using a glass or plastic base. Of course, it must be transparent. However, for a more accurate determination of the shade, you need to put a white sheet of paper under the palette.

In the list above, there are also fixatives. What are they needed for? These tools will be needed after sketching. A drawing made on paper is placed under glass or inside a vessel. In order not to distort the ornament, the paper is attached to the product. Usually use masking tape, which leaves no marks.

Outlines

They come in a variety of colors. Used as a color separator. In the process of working with contours, you must remember: the lines must be closed. Otherwise, the paint will spread. Black, white, silver, gold contours are more often used. They differ from each other in thickness. This material is sold in tubes with both narrow and wide tips.

When working with acrylic paints, contours are not needed. But after drying, it is desirable to cover the surface of the product with a special varnish. So the drawing will be more stable and durable.

Degreaser

Glass painting technology involves the use of any alcohol-containing liquid. Otherwise, the paint will not lay down evenly and will spread over the surface. After degreasing the product, you do not need to touch its surface with your hands, especially wheredrawing will be applied.

Action algorithm

Glass painting is a creative process. However, in the work you need to follow a clear algorithm:

1. Prepare the product. Perhaps there are labels on the glass, glass or vase. The product should be placed in hot water for fifteen minutes. Then carefully clean the glass.
2. Degrease the surface. This should be done with a cotton pad and a liquid containing alcohol. Then the product must be thoroughly dried.
3. Select the desired sketch, transfer it to the glass.
4. Outline the ornament, then carefully remove the excess.
5. Fill in the details of the image with paint. Dry.

The method of filling parts with paint depends on the type of material. Acrylic paint is applied in strokes. For this, brushes are used, sometimes a sponge. Stained glass is best applied with a brush with a very thin tip. In this case, the surface of the product must always be in a horizontal position. Otherwise, the paint will spread. And you need to start from the edge, abundantly filling the elements with paint. Due to its high fluidity, it fills the contour with a thin and transparent layer.

Some colors require baking. You need to read the instructions carefully. So, alcohol-based stained glass paints do not need to be baked. They withstand washing in hot water. But painting on glass with acrylic paints involves firing. The main thing is to set the temperature and mode correctly. Otherwise, the paint will change color or burn.

Master class

As already mentioned, any glassware is suitable for painting. You can even practice a little on ordinary liter and two-liter jars. What is more difficult - to apply a pattern on a flat surface or blown dishes? A beginner will also cope with the first option. But a vase, a floor lamp, a glass is not as difficult to paint as it might seem at first glance.

As in any other kind of creativity, first of all you need to make a sketch. To do this, you need plain paper and a simple pencil. Let's draw a rowan branch and a bird sitting on it. Anyone who knows drawing skills will do it in a few minutes. A similar image can also be copied using the method described above.

The drawing is ready. We place the paper inside the vessel. Gently straighten and with the help of the contour we apply an ornament to the glass. Then we fill each detail with paint. Only two colors are needed here: red and green.

Various images are used in glass painting. Including abstract ones. So, unremarkable glasses will turn into an exclusive set after applying a simple ornament. And it will be a great birthday present for a relative or colleague.