It is not that difficult to get indulged in activities that you know are going to be meaningful to you in any way. Especially so if the said activity happens to not be hard to accommodate. Getting involved in practices involving creativity and art is more than just what meets the eye. It is about what it can mean to you beyond physical appearance.
So, today, we will be talking about the basics of glass painting that you must definitely know about; for an artsy outcome.
A thorough guide to Glass Painting
The best thing about glass painting happens to be the fact that you don’t have to be an art expert to make it happen. As long as you are familiar with the basics of painting and follow the guide step to step, it will be relatively easy for you. Following this guide, you can do glass painting, make your picture frames, and paint glass vessels, however, you like.
Now, for the steps that you need to take:
Make preparations for Glass Painting
1. Make arrangements for materials
You need to gather all the material that you are going to need for the process. Also, you will need to pay close attention to the materials that you are bringing into use. Essentially in the case of your choice of paints. Even in the class of glass paints, there is a wide range of paints that you need to select from.
Among painting markers, solvent paints, acrylic glass paints and acrylic enamel paints, acrylic enamel paints happen to be the best ones for painting. Besides these, you are going to need paint brushes, cotton buds, sponges, markers, pens, plastic sheets, glass vessels and many more things.
2. Prepare the glass
Take a thin glass sheet and cleanse it using alcohol and a soft cloth. Ensure that no dirt or permanent mark is left behind on the glass sheet or it will lead to cracks in the paint after drying up. After cleansing the sheet, draw your intended figurine or picture on the sheet using pens and markers.
Highlight the edges of the outline of the picture to know the parts that you will be painting. Fix the glass sheet over a fixed surface to paint in a better way using a plastic sheet or tape.
Get started with Glass Painting
3. Draw a proper outline for the picture
Use a painting pen or marker to outline the picture over the plastic sheet. Try to prevent any kind of smudging over the picture to not damage the outlook of the glass painting. Outline the picture thoroughly. It will make it easier to colour the picture. Now, remove all the excess markings made during the process. Remove these uneven markings using a toothpick or a safety pin.
4. Paint the picture
Start painting the picture using acrylic paints. Paint the picture from the outer outline to the insides. This will make it easier to colour the picture. Also, change the range of the colours from darker to lighter end. It means first you will use darker shades of colours. And, after that the lighter colours. Be careful in the process.
If you have made a possible mistake, remove the paint right away using a nail polish remover or wet earbud. Paint the picture multiple times to make layers of paint over it. It will give a deep overview of the picture and will make it more realistic.
Give finishing touches
5. Let it dry
Let the paint over the glass sheet dry. It is possible to use direct sunlight to dry the paints. If not possible for the time being, you can also use a hairdryer. Also, keep in mind the necessary changes that you can make in the picture while drying it. There might be certain flaws that will be visible in the picture while drying it up. This will offer you a relatively good opportunity to make amends for the errors that you make along the way.
6. Righten the flaws in the drying
There might be certain areas in the picture where the paint is cracked. It will be good if you were to repaint the said areas. Pay attention to any unpainted spot. If found any, paint those right away. Ensure that there is a thick coating of paint all over the glass sheet. If the paint appears to be thin over a certain area, put multiple layers of paint over that area to make it right.
7. Display your art
Display your art in your personal space. You can frame the glass sheet and hang it over the walls to make it more appealing to visitors. Or, you can just slide it under any glass table or your working table to make it more homely. It is also possible to place the said glass sheet under any transparent glass counter to make it appealing and enticing to the people who are looking at it. Make multiple such glass sheets if you want to cover a larger area.
What are the articles that I can glass paint over?
Following the above-mentioned steps, there are multiple things that you can paint over. The most popular of the articles happen to be as follows:
- Used wine bottles: Vintage wine bottles or broken wine bottles are good articles that you can try out your art on.
- Wine glasses and jars: There is nothing that will appeal be more attractive to guests more than the efforts that you make in your culinary articles.
- Windows and ornaments: You can use these objects inside as well as outside the house. But, in both cases, it will look equally magnificent to outsiders.
- Pendants: You should do it only when you have got enough experience in glass painting. Following the above-mentioned steps, you can also glass paint over small surfaces like glass pendants.
Conclusion
The best thing about glass painting is the fact that one does not need to be an expert to practice it. It is a thorough process of trial and error. What makes it even more appealing is that one can glass paint even with the materials that are available in general art and drawing practices.
In turn, the results are more satisfactory than the efforts. Also, it greatly adds up to the beauty of the place where you put the painted glass at.
Also read: How To Make Your Drawing Room More Lively?
