Glass Painting Tips

by Leigh
(USA)

I loved your site. I've been working with glass since 1982. Another way to get more than one layer of glass paint on before firing is to use slightly heavier gum arabic and water on one layer and grain alcohol and NO gum arabic on the second. The second coat comes off very easily, so be careful. This way you can put on two coats of shading before firing.

Milly's reply:
Thanks for this, Leigh. It's really helpful. I've never used gum arabic and alcohol as a way of combining firings before - good idea!
I have mixed the first layer of glass paint with Damar varnish and distilled turpentine, let it dry before adding another blended coat with a badger - this time using paint mixed with water. That avoids a second firing too. Any more glass painting tips out there?


To find out more about how to make stained glass, click here and return to the Everything Stained Glass home page.