How to Paint Alabaster Glass

Enhance frosted glass lampshades by learning to paint alabaster glass.

Alabaster glass is decorated glass usually used as a covering for a light fixture. Though alabaster glass can refer to any frosted, translucent glass, some alabaster glass pieces are designed to mimic translucent minerals. Create custom designs on alabaster glass fixtures using air-dry or heat-curing permanent glass enamel from an art or craft supply store.

Things You'll Need

• Glass paint
• Natural paintbrushes
• Surface conditioner and glaze (sometimes optional)
• Oven (sometimes optional)
• Rubbing alcohol (90%)
• Dust- and lint-free cloth
• Heat-resistant trivet
• Oven gloves

Instructions

1. Choose the brand of glass paint for your alabaster glass design. Brands of glass paint include Delta PermEnamel, Pebeo Porcelaine and Pebeo Vitrea, usually called Vitrea. Delta PermEnamel glass paints do not require heat to set permanently, whereas Pebeo heat-setting paints require that the painter bake the alabaster glass in an oven to get the design to set. Delta glass paints require both a surface conditioner and a finishing glaze layer to permanently set.

2. Prepare the glass painting surface as indicated by the instructions on the paint label. Use the smooth side of the glass for the painting surface, not the frosted side. Thoroughly clean the glass surface with rubbing alcohol applied to a dust-free cloth. Surface conditioner, as is needed with Delta PermEnamel, should be gently and evenly brushed onto the painting area using a large paintbrush.

3. Apply the paint to the smooth side of the alabaster glass. Use a gentle brush when using Delta PermEnamel paint. Painting with too much pressure can dislodge the Delta paint and surface conditioner from the glass. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before curing.

4. Cure the paint. Air-dry glass paint cures using a special glaze. Brush the glaze onto the entire painted area with a dry brush. After 10 days, air-dry glass paint will be permanently cured.

   Bake heat-set painted alabaster glass in an oven set at 325 degrees. To keep the alabaster glass piece from breaking from heat stress, place it in the oven while the oven and glass piece are room temperature, allowing the glass to gradually heat as the oven warms. Once the oven has reached 325 degrees, bake for 20 minutes, then turn off the oven.

5. Allow the piece to cool for 30 minutes before removing the alabaster glass from the oven with heat-safe gloves.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not paint with different types of glass enamel on the same piece.

• Thermo-bonded paints--that is, paints that are set using heat--offer more design freedom because they form a less delicate bond with the glass during painting. Heat-bonded paints can be dripped or splashed onto the glass before they are set, whereas chemically bonded paints require more care in application.

• Use clear media to dilute the paint. Water will ruin it.

• Do not use non-food-safe glass paint on any glass surface that will touch food, beverages, utensils or your lips. If glass paint doesn't say it is food safe, it is not food-safe glass paint.

• Clean brushes with soap and water immediately after painting or the paint may dry inside them permanently.

References

• Michaels: Painting with Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Paint
• Delta Creative: PermEnamel Paint Tips and Techniques
• Friday Valentine: Paint Your Own Feastware Using Pebeo Porcelaine