Know nothing about painting, but I have a new project

[Tre V]

Ok guys, I'm counting on you to save me.. I'm in the planning stages of a new project, 26"x36" foiled stained glass panel. I drew out the pattern based on a statue in Santa Clara Ca. Our Lady of Peace Church. The panel is good sized. You should see the statue.. it's 38' tall. Anyway I want to paint the detail on the face..eyes and mouth, but I've never done that before, complicated by the fact that I don't have a kiln.  My neighbor is a professional glass artist  www.collupyglass.com , and although I don't know him well, he's a very nice guy and I'm sure he would fire something for me. But I'd only like to ask him to do one firing since it's an imposition.  Tell me what to do!
 

[Stephen Richard]

Get a hold of vitreous paint (such as Reusche - many suppliers of ounce quantities).  I suggest tracing or shading black. 

You need to re-do the part of the cartoon for the face to be as realistic as possible.  I.e., remove all the cut lines.  You will need just a single piece of glass.

Get a copy (from the library or other place) of Albinus Elskus' book on painting on glass.  Peter McGrain has one out too.  Most of the others are about cold paints.

You will find out about the techincal stuff from them. 

You can also see some things on the blog:
http://glasstips.blogspot.com/
Use the subject headings  "Glass Painting"  and  "Paints and Enamels"

[Tre V]

Will do! Thank you very much.

[Kev]

Stephen, I was going to suggest the same thing about using one piece of glass for the face, since the detail was gong to be painted on. Maybe your neighbor will actually paint the face for you, and save you the expense of buying painting supplied and tools to do it.

[Tre V]

I have the brushes and I have some ceramics/oven type paint. I may get some of the kiln paints, try it myself, and then if I just can't get it right, beg for mercy. I will see if I can get the books/dvds first and learn as much as I can first. One way or the other, knowledge is a good thing.

[Kev]

Absolutely right Tre. The DVD's of Peter McGrain doa  wonderful job of explaning things. I'm a visual person, so seeing it done on the DVD was a big help for me.

Give it a go..I sure you will love it as much as I do. Won't be long after that, that you will want a kiln....it's a very satifying thing and opens a whole new chapter to glass work....the possibilities are endless.

Go forth friend...venture out of the box............

[TodB]

It wouldn't hurt to add "look at old/traditional stained glass windows" to your homework assignment.
- Tod

[Tre V]

Field trip!