Glass painting

Glass painting is a craft that has really become popular over the last decade or so. A wide range of accessible information and resources is available, enabling more and more people to get involved. You don't have to be an expert at painting; all you need is some creativity and the will to have a go. Once you get started you will not want to stop- it is all about having fun and at the same time creating some stunning coloured and decorative patterns and designs on items like bottles, jars, vases and even picture frames.

Examples of glass painting

You’ll notice that several different kinds of glass paint are available in craft shops. Water-based paints can be used on projects where the glass object will not be in contact with water – they will wash off over time if you get the paint wet when the project is finished, so they are best suited for painting objects which are decorative, but which don’t have a practical use. Solvent-based paints are also available, and will not come off in water. Some solvent-based paints have to be heated in the oven to fix the colour. Make sure that the glassware you choose to paint in this way can withstand high temperatures. Outlining paints are used to outline designs on glass – they are usually applied straight from the tube.

To see some examples of Silk painting work click here.

You will need to leave freshly-painted objects (especially those painted with water-based paints) for a few days before they can be handled. Always read the instructions on the paint containers before you use them. Children must be supervised by an adult when painting glass. Check the packaging before you buy glass paint for a child – some paints are not suitable for children.

You can paint any kind of glassware. When you begin to paint, try starting with smaller items first so you can practise. As you become more confident, and more used to the way the paints work, you can move on to larger objects and more ambitious projects. The paints tend to have a thicker consistency than fabric paint, and you may find that they don’t go on the glass in the way you think they will.

Example of glass painting Examples of glass painting

Water-based paints can be made thinner in texture by adding water, while solvent-based paints can be made diluted by adding ceramic thinner. Water-based paints leave tools easy to clean in water. Brushes used with solvent-based paints will need to be cleaned with white spirit.

Acetate sheets are a great material for beginners to use to get a feel for the paints on a flat surface before progressing to curved glassware. The sheets can be cut with scissors for display. Try different ways to achieve paint effects – for example, you can stipple the painted area by dabbing paint on with a sponge. Look at using different kinds of brushes. Fine brushes will give you the most control, but you may find that larger brushes provide you with interesting effects

.It is easy to use templates in your design. If you want to copy a design directly onto your glassware, take a photocopy of the design and tape it on the inside of the glass or on the back of the acetate, so you can see the pattern and paint over it.