Draw or buy?

[glassman52]

 As I view the works of other artists I often wonder if the design is free drawn or pre-drawn. Not that this matters at all , but I am just curious about the % of pre patterned design use as opposed to free drawn design use. I see a lot of pattern books out there for sale and I have collected a bunch but have not really used any of them all that much (except for lampshade designs). I seem to end up drawing one instead.

So what do you think the % would most likely be?

[Anne]

I guess it would depend on the person.  What I make up is mostly my own patterns.  My thinking on it is if I'm going to a show and trying to sell my pieces I don't want to see the same pieces for sale in other booths.  When I first started out I was using patterns from the books but the longer I've done this the easier it seemed to get to put my own patterns together. It'll be interesting to hear others estimates on this.

[Rebecca]

Do you mean an original pattern (made by me) or from a book (made by someone else?)

Rebecca

[Kev]

I haven't used a pattern book in a very long time.

[JoanFrances]

making my own patterns has become very very important to me.  Once you have learned structure, cutting, soldering and finishing, creating your own designs rounds out the art.  Like Anne said: why would we want to display the very same thing our competitor is showing?  Developing your own style gives you the edge in this art field.

[glasisfun]

I think I am working at about a 50/50 split.  I don't think I have an artist's hand in drawing patterns.  But I keep trying. I like to use photos I have taken as inspiration for patterns.  Just not the best at drawing.  Do any of you use computer programs for making patterns or just do it free hand?

[Rosemary]

I buy all of mine - I have loads :)  There are so many truly amazing patterns out there, and I simply can't resist trying them :)  I have Glass Eye 2000 and play around quite a bit, but I am a very long away from actually designing my own and feeling confident enough to actually try and sell something. 

The only problem with buying my patterns is that I don't have space for all the panels, etc. my workshop is overflowing - and I can't sell them.  I do give a lot away as gifts to family and friends, and they are quite happy to be on the receiving side of the overflow :)

One day I hope to be able to sell something - that is the goal anyway, so I'll keep at it.

[Audrey]

I have been doing glass about 4 years and haven't tried to sell anything yet. I have a couple books mostly because I have seen something in them I wanted to make. Mostly I get free patterns on line and often modify them or take parts from two or three and put them together. I hope to start making my own soon, but I am not an "idea" person and it is easier to see something I like and work from there.

[Rebecca]

I think I am working at about a 50/50 split.  I don't think I have an artist's hand in drawing patterns.  But I keep trying. I like to use photos I have taken as inspiration for patterns.  Just not the best at drawing.  Do any of you use computer programs for making patterns or just do it free hand?

I'm not good at drawing - I use Glass Eye for all the patterns I make.  It saves a lot of erasing and re-doing and prints two copies exactly alike.

Rebecca

[Tre V]

I started with pre-made patterns, then started using photographs, printing them in black and white and drawing in the lines ie making a cartoon out of the photo (Scout/Mt Ste Helens)  Because I have the artistic sense of a pre=schooler, this works best for me. Sometimes I'll step out of the box and try freehand (eagle transom). I wish I had a brain that would see abstract designs, but I'm too much of a linear thinker for that.

[glassman52]

Do you mean an original pattern (made by me) or from a book (made by someone else?)

I started with pre-made patterns, then started using photographs, printing them in black and white and drawing in the lines ie making a cartoon out of the photo (Scout/Mt Ste Helens)  Because I have the artistic sense of a pre=schooler, this works best for me. Sometimes I'll step out of the box and try freehand (eagle transom). I wish I had a brain that would see abstract designs, but I'm too much of a linear thinker for that.

 I also feel that I don't want to the same projects in someone else's displays.

 My opinion is that free hand, using photos to make cartoons as well as printed patterns embellish to differentiate from the original are all considered free drawn.

 With having zero training in art, I just wish I was better at it as I find myself tying to draw all my patterns now and since I have been out of it for about 30 years, I've been blown away at some of what I have seen done with glass these days. (very inspirational)

Mike

[KarenM]

I have not been doing glass for very long, but I have found that I seem to start with a pattern, finish it, and then end up using what I learned from the pattern to design my own.  I have started using large graph paper (thanks Anne), and then just start "going with the flow" and draw the pattern as I go.  Sort of "winging it" I guess.  So far it has worked.  I have actually had a few people, once they see what I have done ask me to design one for them (go figure!).  Now that I am able to sell without causing trouble with the job (Anne will know what I mean), I can go ahead and do as many as I have time for....which is not many:(

[Tre V]

 "With having zero training in art, I just wish I was better at it as I find myself tying to draw all my patterns now and since I have been out of it for about 30 years, I've been blown away at some of what I have seen done with glass these days. (very inspirational)"

Mike, I'm right there too. I feel very intimidated both by my inability to draw, my lack of knowledge about perspective etc, and by the amazing and innovative projects I see other people doing. I don't seem to be able to get my happy hiney in gear to get to a Jr college to take any art classes, and I am blessed in that I'm not dependent on my glass pieces for my income.  Having said that, I would add (very loudly).....   BUT, if I mess up, Nobody Dies. this has become my motto. Don't let that little nagging "failure voice" keep you from trying. So:

1. Take a photo of something you like...a mountain scene, a flower in your back yard, your dog..(I wouldn't at this point recommend your spouse, but if they're supportive..whatever works...)
2. Download the photo. and print it out.  Because I like to make my pieces larger than an 8.5x11 piece of print paper, I make my cartoon first, photo the cartoon and resize it using Rapid Resizer...still haven't plugged in my Glass Eye program (note to self...see motto)
3.Now look at the photo with glass in mind. Where are the planes of the face? Where can I make reasonable cuts within my skills? Start drawing out the shapes on the photo. Don't worry too much about the cut lines as much as the outlines of what you're seeing. You can break up difficult cuts later on the carbon piece.
4. Sandwich an old fashioned piece of carbon paper between a fresh piece of paper, with your outlined photo on top. Staple them together on the top of the page.
5. Using a different color ink (so you can notice what you've forgotten to trace" trace your pattern lines again. Before you take the sandwich apart, peek to see if you've gotten all the lines.
6. After you take it apart, look at it again to see if you need to adjust any lines or break up any difficult cuts.
7. At this point, I take a photo of my cartoon, and use Rapid Resizer to make it the size I need.

I have no doubt that most of the pros are rolling their eyes as this is probably much more cumbersome than necessary, but it's what works for me. I guess the point is... I was nervous about trying my own patterns freehand and had no confidence in my artistic ability. This works for me.

[Audrey]

Whatever works! It is the end product and enjoying what you are doing  that counts since you are not trying to make a living at it. Don't worry what the pros think.
 I have not been able to find carbon paper. I should look again. Maybe I will be lucky.

[jackie]

try office depot they have carbon paper in blue,,,,,,,,,,,

[Tre V]

http://www.officemax.com/technology/ink-toner-ribbons/ribbons/porelon-ribbons/product-prod2565554?history=p1arocdm|prodPage~15^freeText~carbon+paper^paramValue~true^refine~1^region~1^param~return_skus^return_skus~Y

[Anne]

try office depot they have carbon paper in blue,,,,,,,,,,,

I got mine at office depot.

Tre, that's often the way I approach it too. Once I have my cartoon done I'll scan it and pop it into Adobe and resize it that way.  Easy peasy. I often just take my pic, scan it then put it into Adobe then draw my lines from that and keep playing with it till I have it the way I like it.  Adobe can make resizing so smooth.

And yes Karen, I do know what you mean:), glad you have that out of the way.

[Kev]

You can buy large sheets of carbon paper from Glasscrafters. I used to buy it all the time. Before Glasseye, I always used large sheets of drafting graph paper and then used the carbon paper to make my copies.

[glassman52]

I can draw to some degree as close friend and I (as teens in the 60s) use to design and paint florescent (black light) psychedelic posters and we became pretty good at it. I still have some of them and they were all free hand.
Tracing for me is also a good practice in drawing as I will trace a profile and then attempt to copy it free hand. Practice, practice, practice! Carbon and tracing paper get = use but a light box seems to be the way to go.

[PiscesGlass]

I'd be willing to bet that when most of us started out and for awhile after that, we began with stained glass patterns from pattern books.   There are some excellent methods already described in this post.

 I did not really begin creating my own patterns until I took a class (after a downsizing..Out of my 19.5 year job) with a local studio.  The teachers there were wonderful.  I had a picture that someone wanted me to make a panel from..and not the first clue how to go about it. 
Nel told me to make a photocopy of the image, and enlarge it to the size I wanted the final piece to be.  I had started by drawing in much of the background..but also wanted to capture the detail of the piece, so we put the photocopy on the light table..and voila..I could fairly easily see the detail I needed to draw in.  That was done in pencil..with an overtrace of sharpie marker.  And an extra copy could be had, by overlaying another piece of paper and tracing the lines once more on that.  I also could have taken it to a copy place and had it copied.

Now I do most of my drawings on Glass Eye software, I still draw by hand.  But Glass Eye makes it so darned easy to have more than one exact pattern, as Rebecca as already attested.