How to Paint on Fused Glass
When artists refer to fused glass, they mean stained glass or painted glass that has been heated to fuse the color to the surface. Renaissance artists used this technique often to create cathedral windows showing intricate geometric patterns and religious scenes and symbols. The light filtering through the colored glass created an ethereal atmosphere that was supposed to encourage spiritual contemplation. Today, fused glass is just as often used in homes and secular buildings as it is in churches, though many of the themes remain the same. Geometric patterns are the most popular designs, but animals, plants, and religious and historical scenes are widespread too.
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Things You'll Need
- Glass panel
- Stained glass pattern
- Glass paint powder
- Bowls or cups
- Gum arabic
- White vinegar
- Paintbrushes
- Damp sponge
- Paper towels
Instructions
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1
Choose a stained glass pattern. Patterns come on regular paper that can be blown up in size to fit large pieces of glass. The designs range from simple squares to complicated floral or landscape scenes. Choose a pattern that best matches your tastes and skill level.
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2
Wash and dry your glass panel and center it on your stained glass pattern. Since the glass is clear, you can trace the design onto the glass without harming the pattern, making it reusable.
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3
Mix your paint colors. Put a spoonful of powder in a bowl for each color you want to use. Pour in gum arabic and white vinegar according to package instructions. Gum arabic is a binding resin that keeps your paint from separating or becoming grainy. Vinegar brightens colors and helps the paint flow.
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4
Paint black or white outlines on the glass using a fine-tip brush. Keep your brush free of built-up paint by periodically wiping it with a damp sponge or paper towel. Allow the outline of your design to dry for about an hour.
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Choose a fill-in color and paint everything that you want to be that color. For instance, if you choose blue, paint the sky, flowers and people's eyes all at once before moving to another color. Load a soft liner brush fully with paint, letting the paint drip or puddle in the center of the outlined area. Push the color to the edge of your outline using the tip of the brush. Do not to go over the outlining.
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Use long, even strokes when painting large areas to avoid brush marks. Flick the brush up quickly at the end of the stroke instead of just lifting it from the glass. This erases brush marks before they form. You can raise the glass and look up through it to see if brush marks are showing, if paint coverage is even and if paint is touching the outline. Working on a light table will also show you if the colors are filled in and touching your outline.
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Tips & Warnings
You may wish to practice outlining on scrap pieces of glass until you achieve the effect you desire.
