Painting On Glass With Sandblasting?
by Marion
(USA)
I am working on a stained glass project that will have essentially two layers -- one with painted imagery and one with text. I'd like to create the text by sandblasting or etching (leaving clear letters). My question is whether the painting should be done on a separate layer and fused in the kiln to the textured layer. I'm told that painting on sandblasted glass is a bear. Any suggestions? Love your site.
Milly's reply: I love text and layers, so this sounds right up my street! If you fuse sandblasted or textured layers, you effectively melt away any sandblasting or texture, so that's not the best way to go.
Can you not keep the layers separate, or do they have to be joined together? If you could keep them apart, there's much to be gained from a gap between layers - it adds a depth that you don't get otherwise. Have a look at one of my
Striking Glass pieces to see the effect of a gap.
If you want to end up with one piece of glass, why not do the painting on glass on one side, fire it, and then cover it with a resist to protect the glass paint before sandblasting or acid etching the other side?
Let me know how you get on.
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