Stained Glass Art Techniques

There are many stained glass techniques utilized in the creation of these works that have not been previously mentioned. Some of these are glass painting, rondels, “chunk glass”, cabochons and tiles. With painting on glass, the paint is applied with a variety of techniques and usually manipulated before firing. After firing, the paint becomes a permanent part of the glass like the glaze on a piece of pottery. Silver staining is an aspect of painting in which a permanent yellow stain is applied using silver nitrate. Rondels are glass pieces which a made by a glassblower spinning small circles. They are usually 2? to 6? in diameter. They are essentially a small version of crown glass. They can have a dramatic, visually kinetic quality. “Chunk glass” pieces are many kinds of broken slabs, cullet or plate in which the fissures of broken glass are evident. Cabochons are small lenses, used like jewels. Tiles can comprise many kinds of pressed or cast glass components. There are many opportunities to combine techniques and components. An example of this is beveled flashed glass. Flashed glass can sometimes be crown glass. The Clovis Glass treatment can be done to crown, plate and many other thick glasses. Sometimes there is an opportunity to use materials rescued or recycled from the past. Some works containing such materials also have “imperfections” such as scratches or chips. An acceptance of this is a part of the creative process. The many components and techniques used in making these works are not as important as the creativity required to compose with them. As in music with millions of possible combinations for tone, cadence, harmony and dissonance, stained glass has line, color, pattern and light. Honest composition, in some way comes from nature. Creating art in sympathy with architecture is a rewarding effort.