Archive for the ‘Stained Glass’ Category
Stained Glass Artisan, Louis C. Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) is associated with Art Nouveau style stained glass lamps and windows. He was nicknamed “Rebel in Glass” because he ventured into many avenues of art glass. He founded Tiffany and Company soon after the Civil War and employed several artists to carry out his artistic ideas.
Tiffany had studied painting in Paris and when he returned home, he studied Medieval techniques in glassmaking. From his experimentation of many techniques of glassmaking, he came up with his beautiful “drapery” stained glass which he used to represent the folds and ripples in the robes and gowns of figures in his stained glass windows.
Tiffany’s first figure stained glass window was built in 1878 using opalescent glass from the Heidt glasshouse. He made his first glass tiles at Heidt glass house, his factory in Brooklyn. Tiffany’s stained glass designs were unique and constructed with an aim for stability so that they would last and be enjoyed for generations.
Much of Tiffany’s work no longer exists. Without a thought, people threw away Tifffany stained glass lampshades; and, church and cathedral stained glass windows have been destroyed over time. Some of Tiffany’s stained glass lamp shades, when found, are now valued up to tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Tiffany’s stained glass products were not intended to be mass produced but, rather, were created for individuals or church memorial gifts. Probably only less than half of Tiffany’s stained glass products are still in existence. Those are mostly already in museums or are kept by prominent collectors. So, it is unlikely for you to accidentally run across a Tiffany stained glass lampshade or stained glass window panel that will make you wealthy.
You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Stained Glass. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.
Tiffany was an avid painter who painted all his life. His painting ability was very useful to him in designing his significant stained glass windows. His “cartoons” were not merely patterns on paper, but often they were full-size oil paintings on canvas. For Tiffany, stained glass windows were simply another form of painting.
Interestingly, Tiffany’s stained glass windows for public buildings were signed, but stained glass windows he built for individual homes were not signed. He thought the families who lived in the homes would be able to attribute to the fact that he or his company had made their stained glass windows. This has caused problems proving stained glass windows were his.
One of Tiffany’s better known designs was the Wisteria Table Lamp (c. 1900) of which many reproductions have been made. The beautiful stained glass lamp shade is a resemblance of a vine, leaves, and wisteria blossoms dripping all over in beautiful colors.
Tiffany’s stained glass works can be seen in various places. One such place is the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where the interior of the chapel Tiffany designed is assembled. It had been designed for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After the exposition, it had been stored in Tiffany’s mansion until the mansion burned down. The chapel parts and all its stained glass windows were salvaged and rebuilt in the museum at Rollins College.
There are several of Tiffany’s stained glass windows in New Jersey. Stained glass windows at Saint James Church in Fordham, Bronx, New York represent some of Tiffany’s best work from the late 19th century through 1929. Other Tiffany stained glass works can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, City.
Many references to locations where Tiffany’s stained glass windows and other art can be seen can be found online.
When word gets around about your command of Stained Glass facts, others who need to know about Stained Glass will start to actively seek you out.
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By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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Stained Glass Projects for Children
So what is Stained Glass really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Stained Glass–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.
Stained glass is a beautiful art form that combines the use of various colors, shapes, textures and transparencies with light to illuminate, decorate and inspire the mind, spirit and eye of the beholder. Children have always been, and will always be, fascinated with shapes and colors which makes the art form of stained glass perfect for them.
Unlike a coloring book page which is colored once and then maybe taped to the refrigerator for a few days before finding its way to the garbage can, a stained glass creation can bring enjoyment and help boost a child’s self-esteem for many years to come. There is nothing better than a beautiful constant reminder of the child’s great “achievement”.
In its early days, long before Christ was born, stained glass was made by mixing different metals with sand and soda and heating them at high temperatures so that the colors were actually a part of the glass. This type was thicker and the colors were rich and dark. Throughout the decades styles and tastes changed and new ways of using stained glass were needed. As people wanted to get more detail in their stained glass windows and also allow more light in, they began to use the technique of painting on the glass, rather than mixing the colors into while making it. This would be the easiest way to introduce a child to the art of stained glass. Many craft stores and mass marketers carry ready made stained glass kits that allow the child to make beautiful sun catchers or Christmas tree ornaments.
Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.
These kits are very easy to use. Most have kid friendly designs with raised metal borders and the child can use an eye dropper to add a stain to the different areas of glass. These kits are basically fool-proof and allow the child to easily create something beautiful without any smudges or smears.
Another idea to capture the feeling of stained glass is to use black colored paper as your “lead came”. You will need to go through two sheets at once to create your design with various shapes cut out. You may use either thin colored crepe paper or two sheets of waxed paper that have had crayon shavings ironed between them as your “stained glass”. This is something that can be created easily with objects you probably already have laying around the house.
Children love to learn and using a stained glass project provides the opportunity to teach them on a variety of topics such as art appreciation, the history of religion, architecture for the older students and things as simple as colors and shapes for pre-school and kindergarten ages children. Any project that allows a child to be creative, spend time with their parents and develop their self-esteem is worthy of taking into consideration and stained glass craft making certainly meets those requirements. So why not make some cookies grab a stained glass art kit and your favorite child or children and spend some quality time creating stained glass art?
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John La Farge, American Stained Glass Artist
American stained glass artist, John La Farge was born in New York City on March 31, 1835 to french immigrant parents. Upon completion of his formal education in law he ventured to Europe to study art. After his return to the United States he made a brief attempt at practicing law, but soon gave it up to follow his passion for artistic expression. Initially, he painted landscapes later moving on to figures and stills and eventually caught a break doing drawings for a magazine. His first prominent assignment, however, was in 1876 when he was commissioned to handle the décor for the entire interior of the Trinity Church in Boston.
That accomplishment represents a milestone in American art as it was the first real mural painted here. Many art historians consider his painting on the end wall above the altar in the Church of the Ascension in New York his greatest masterpiece.
He became intrigued with glass making after becoming aware of certain inadequacies in the industry which limited the ability of an artist to create brilliant designs with varying transparencies without losing the polished finish. He then developed techniques in overlays (plating) and opalescent glass which has come to be known as American Stained Glass. Initially he used these new methods on privately owned homes despite the fact he had previously designed the old style stained glass window for the Trinity Church. The “Battle Window” in Memorial Hall at Harvard University, commissioned to commemorate Harvard’s Civil War dead, is considered to be one of his most significant works in stained glass. Other notable stained glass achievements include Watson Memorial in Trinity Church, Buffalo and the Church of the Ascension, New York.
I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.
While his leading competitor in the business, namely Louis C. Tiffany, chose to employ a staff and develop a factory, John continued to do his projects one at a time and mainly by himself. He began to perfect a technique of making jewel-like flower panels which were installed in the mansions of many of the wealthiest members of turn-of-the-century American aristocrats such as Cornelius Vanderbilt. La Farge is believed to have created several thousand stained glass windows over the course of his career some of grand and immense artistic and historical importance and others just a minute decorative touch in a private home. His last work of the jewel-like flower type is said to have been “The Peacock” which was purchased by the Worcester Museum.
La Farge won many awards including one from the Legion of Honor, which was given him for the stained glass window exhibited at the French Exposition in 1889. He was awarded a gold medal at the Pan- American Exposition at Buffalo in 1901 and three years later in St. Louis he was awarded a diploma and medal of honor for distinguished service in art. He was the initiatory recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Architectural League of New York’s. He was elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design in 1863 and became a full fledged Academician in 1869.
He presided as president of the Society of American Artists among other notable achievements before his death in 1910. La Farge will long be remembered for his contributions to American art and most especially his innovations and artistic expression in stained glass.
You can’t predict when knowing something extra about Stained Glass will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Stained Glass in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.
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Mastering Difficult Stained Glass Cuts
So what is Stained Glass really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Stained Glass–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.
You’re getting pretty good at the basics of scoring and breaking stained glass, but you’ve run into some problems with difficult cuts that seem impossible. There are techniques that will make difficult cuts in stained glass seem like cutting butter.
Scoring disturbs the molecules in stained glass, so you want to separate it immediately after scoring.
- Narrow Strips: A straight strip that is scored less than an inch away from the edge of the stained glass, it will be difficult to pull it apart with your hands. Use running pliers and align the bump in the pliers head on the score line and squeeze. This causes the score to run and break apart
- Straight Lines: When cutting straight lines on larger pieces, you can line up the score line along a table edge. Hold one side firmly on the table while using your other hand to pull down and away, snapping the pieces of the stained glass apart.
- Small Squares: If you have several squares of stained glass to cut, use a straight edge to measure the width, run your score line, then break the strip away using running pliers, breaking pliers, or your hands.
After you have your stained glass strip, measure and score across the strip the same amount as the width of the strip. You can quickly line up each score line on the edge of your Norton board and, one at a time, push down and snap off the small square stained glass pieces.
Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.
- Curves: If you are scoring clear stained glass, you can lay your glass on top of your pattern, smooth side up. Cut your stained glass down to just a little bigger than the piece which your are cutting – about 1/2 inch extra all the way around the piece.
Score all the way around the piece, just inside the black line of your pattern. Next, score several diverging lines from the pattern line to the edge of the stained glass. Break away pieces a little at a time. Never try to break away too large of a piece of stained glass because it will shatter.
- Circles: You can cut a nearly perfect circle out of stained glass by using a similar process as for curves. Score all the way around the circle, just inside the black line and then score several lines from the circle to the outside edge of the glass. Start breaking away small sections of the stained glass
- Concave Curves – Concave curves are difficult to break out of stained glass, especially if they are deep. Again, you will start by scoring just inside the black line of the pattern on the smooth side of the stained glass. From that inside line, gradually add several more similar cuts until you are on the outer edge of the highest ends of the curve. Use the ball end of a pencil cutter to gently tap runs into the scores; then break away one piece at a time from the outside, in. Sometimes it helps to rock each end of the score back and forth before pulling apart the curved stained glass pieces.
- V-cuts: V-cuts are next to impossible unless you happen to have a special band saw for cutting stained glass. Otherwise, a v-cut like you would have in a heart shape should be redesigned so it has a softer curve instead of a point.
Don’t be discouraged if once in a while the natural tendency is for the stained glass to just go ahead and break straight across.
This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.
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How to Install Your Stained Glass Window
Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Stained Glass. When you start sharing the fascinating Stained Glass facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.
Many centuries ago stained glass windows were used almost exclusively in grandiose cathedrals. The installation was easily achieved as on opening was made in the stone and concrete structure to the window specifications (or the window was made to the size of the opening) and metal loops and bars were cemented into the window opening during construction specifically to be soldered to the metal bars and loops that are attached to the stained glass window. Stained glass in no longer limited to places of religious worship or even to just the rich and famous, so how does one go about installing a stained glass window in a modern day structure?
You have a several options available to you, assuming that you do not live in a grand cathedral and that your home was not specifically constructed with stained glass windows in mind.
One of the easiest ways to install your stained glass window is over the existing window. Your stained glass window overlay should measure about 1/8″ smaller around each edge than the original window. First make sure the existing window and inside window frame is clean and dry, you don’t want any dirt or moisture permanently pressed between the pieces of glass. First, check to see that the stained glass panel will fit into your window. You can place 1/8″ cardboard or wood spacers around the bottom of the window and run a small bead of caulk around the inside edge of the window frame.
Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Stained Glass than you may have first thought.
You may use either clear caulk or a colored caulk that matches your window frame. Now, press the stained glass panel into place and fill in carefully with additional caulk. Be sure to smooth the caulk carefully with your fingers, wiping the excess unto clean tissue and discarding immediately. It is important not to get the caulk on the stained glass panel (if you do simply wipe it away with clean fingers and wipe them with clean tissue). Once the window is caulked in place you will need to secure it there for 24 hours to allow the caulk to set properly.
Using wood blocks or stacked pieces of cardboard brace the window in place and tape across the bracing for the next day. At this point, you may consider the job complete or you could add some wood trim around the inside for a more finished look and added stability. Another easy solution would be to use your stained glass panel as a window hanging and simply solder hooks to the rebar on your stained glass panel secure a chain into the window frame and hang the stained glass panel. This option allows you to take your stained glass with you if you move.
The next option may require some professional help. You may want to have your stained glass panel put into a wood, aluminum, or vinyl window frame. The stained glass window can be protected on either side with tempered glass which will provide better insulation to your home as well. At this point the window can be installed in the same way as a normal new or replacement window, by screwing it into the window frame. Whatever method you choose, your new stained glass window is sure to add beauty, value and enjoyment to your home.
Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Stained Glass.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!
Mastering Difficult Stained Glass Cuts
If you have even a passing interest in the topic of Stained Glass, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of Stained Glass.
You’re getting pretty good at the basics of scoring and breaking stained glass, but you’ve run into some problems with difficult cuts that seem impossible. There are techniques that will make difficult cuts in stained glass seem like cutting butter.
Scoring disturbs the molecules in stained glass, so you want to separate it immediately after scoring.
- Narrow Strips: A straight strip that is scored less than an inch away from the edge of the stained glass, it will be difficult to pull it apart with your hands. Use running pliers and align the bump in the pliers head on the score line and squeeze. This causes the score to run and break apart
- Straight Lines: When cutting straight lines on larger pieces, you can line up the score line along a table edge. Hold one side firmly on the table while using your other hand to pull down and away, snapping the pieces of the stained glass apart.
- Small Squares: If you have several squares of stained glass to cut, use a straight edge to measure the width, run your score line, then break the strip away using running pliers, breaking pliers, or your hands.
After you have your stained glass strip, measure and score across the strip the same amount as the width of the strip. You can quickly line up each score line on the edge of your Norton board and, one at a time, push down and snap off the small square stained glass pieces.
Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Stained Glass? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?
- Curves: If you are scoring clear stained glass, you can lay your glass on top of your pattern, smooth side up. Cut your stained glass down to just a little bigger than the piece which your are cutting – about 1/2 inch extra all the way around the piece.
Score all the way around the piece, just inside the black line of your pattern. Next, score several diverging lines from the pattern line to the edge of the stained glass. Break away pieces a little at a time. Never try to break away too large of a piece of stained glass because it will shatter.
- Circles: You can cut a nearly perfect circle out of stained glass by using a similar process as for curves. Score all the way around the circle, just inside the black line and then score several lines from the circle to the outside edge of the glass. Start breaking away small sections of the stained glass
- Concave Curves – Concave curves are difficult to break out of stained glass, especially if they are deep. Again, you will start by scoring just inside the black line of the pattern on the smooth side of the stained glass. From that inside line, gradually add several more similar cuts until you are on the outer edge of the highest ends of the curve. Use the ball end of a pencil cutter to gently tap runs into the scores; then break away one piece at a time from the outside, in. Sometimes it helps to rock each end of the score back and forth before pulling apart the curved stained glass pieces.
- V-cuts: V-cuts are next to impossible unless you happen to have a special band saw for cutting stained glass. Otherwise, a v-cut like you would have in a heart shape should be redesigned so it has a softer curve instead of a point.
Don’t be discouraged if once in a while the natural tendency is for the stained glass to just go ahead and break straight across.
Sometimes it’s tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I’m positive you’ll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!
How to Buy Stained Glass
When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.
If you have a retail stained glass shop, you probably already have a wholesale account set up with a supplier like Ed Hoy’s or Delphi Glass, but what if you don’t have a shop and you are a stained glass hobbyist? There are several places you can go to buy stained glass.
You can establish a retail account with some of the same stained glass supply companies with which retail stores set up their wholesale accounts. Most require credit cards to pay for your purchases if you order by phone from their stained glass catalogs. Some allow you to pay by check, but wait until the check has cleared before they ship your stained glass order.
Stained glass magazines are full of advertisements for stained glass suppliers and you can search on-line. The magazine advertisements and articles also show pictures of some of the stained glass available so you get an idea of what the different types of glass look like. The stained glass suppliers’ catalogs have color pictures of all the glass and colors they offer. The only problem is that you can’t get a true feel of the glass and see exactly how it looks with natural light going through it.
If you can visit a stained glass warehouse, you will be able to see for yourself the many colors and textures of stained glass. This will help you so you know in the future what you are ordering. Be sure to call the stained glass wholesale warehouse or store before you travel there to be sure that they are open. Some wholesale stores only allow people with wholesale accounts in their warehouses by appointment; some have certain days when retail buyers are allowed.
The more authentic information about Stained Glass you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Stained Glass expert. Read on for even more Stained Glass facts that you can share.
There are many types, textures and colors of stained glass from which to choose. Sample boxes from different stained glass manufacturers can be purchased, but are very expensive and not practical for a hobbyist. You can create your own sample box by cutting squares or rectangles of about 1″ x 2″ of the glass that you do purchase along the way. Label them with the manufacturer’s name, the color, and the universal order number which stands for the name, color and texture.
When you order stained glass by phone or by mail order, the glass can be sent to you in 12″ x 12″ sheets or up to 1/2 sheets. Most full-sized stained glass sheets are 24″ x 48″ and do not ship well, so they have to be sent by freight truck, which is quite expensive. If you order over $1,000 worth of full-size stained glass sheets for your retail store, you can offset the cost of freight through your retail pricing. If you are a hobbyist, it isn’t practical.
You can purchase most of the stained glass you need through a local retail stained glass shop. Some will special order glass for you, but don’t be surprised if a small shop owner cannot accommodate you by special ordering a piece of stained glass. Wholesalers require them to meet minimum dollar amounts and the small stained glass shop or studio owner probably will not be able to meet that minimum based on your needs, alone. Stained glass shops with a larger client base will place stained glass orders more frequently. You might have to wait until the shop has a large enough stained glass purchase order.
Stained glass varies in texture and color. Your supplier may not be able to match additional stained glass sheets; so, purchase all the stained glass for your project at the same time.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!
A Brief History of Stained Glass
Accounts vary on the earliest use of stained glass mainly because it was invented before recorded history. Some historians claim it was first used as a domestic luxury in the homes of wealthy Romans in the first century. Stained glass eventually gained recognition as an art form sometime in the fourth century as Christians began to worship openly and built elaborate churches to celebrate their religion. Other historians point to evidence in ancient ruins that implicate the use of stained glass in pagan traditions and decor. While we may never know the exact origin of the medium of stained glass it is clear that the spread of Christianity is directly related to the expansion of stained glass across the globe.
The twelfth century began what is known as the Gothic Era and stained glass windows took center stage in elaborate and monumental cathedral designs. Beginning with the innovative designs on the St. Denis, stained glass windows were used to bring light, both literally and metaphorically, into cathedrals to enhance the worship experience. Most of the stained glass from the St. Denis Cathedral was destroyed during the French Revolution but a few select fragments and even some entire windows can be found on display in varying locations throughout Europe.
The bold lines and strong figures of Gothic style stained glass were eventually phased out as Renaissance artisans leaned toward greater detail, more delicate coloring and increased realism. Stained glass windows evolved into something more like a painting on glass than an architectural element and some of the notable elements such as lead lines disappeared. Although there were numerous pieces created and even some masterpieces, due to the difficulties in expressing the great detail of requisite to the Renaissance era, true stained glass became somewhat of a lost art.
So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Stained Glass. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.
Stained glass had been primarily used by the Catholic Church and much of the precious art form was destroyed during the 1600′s by order of King Henry VIII after his break with the Church. Not only were cherished stained glass windows recklessly destroyed, but many of the glass making facilities were ruined as well. Religious unrest was not the only factor in the decline of stained glass. During the Baroque period the fashion leaned toward more intricately detailed interiors and elaborate wall painting which necessitated the use of clear glass in the architecture. Many of the remaining stained glass windows were left unmaintained and allowed to decay during this period and very few new stained glass windows were created.
During the late seventeenth century the hearts and imaginations of the people returned once again to the Gothic style of architecture. This revival was apparently motivated by the need to escape the harsh realities of “modern” life including the daily grind of factories. With the return of Gothic architecture emerged a newfound interest in stained glass. Artists initially continued to use the technique of painting on glass, but eventually realized the superiority of the old pot metal glasses used in medieval times. Since the old techniques had not been used for such a long time, the technique used for making the lead lines had been lost and the artisans of the period floundered when trying to recreate the dynamics of the Gothic stained glass. This coupled with a reluctance to give up the newer more detailed “modern” depictions of scenes and figures lead to windows with an interesting design with the old architecture and an unusual blend of the old and new stained glass styles.
During the nineteenth century, artisans La Farge and Tiffany created new variations of opalescent stained glass. La Farge tended towards architecture and window designs with a small private studio, while Tiffany boasted a larger studio that branched out into other areas, like the Tiffany Lamp which has become a household name. Today’s stained glass artists are bound by no particular style or religious themes. Much of the work they do involves restoration, but can also be seen in both small and large decorative touches in homes of people from almost any economic background. New and innovative techniques are constantly being discovered and stained glass continues to add interest to our lives.
It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on Stained Glass. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of Stained Glass.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still having the Free Adsense Templates available for instant download
Designing Your Own Stained Glass
This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Stained Glass. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Stained Glass.
Creating works of art in stained glass in an immensely satisfying and interesting hobby. To get started you might decide to take a class or grab a couple of how-to books and prepare for a little trial and error. Either way, your first few projects will probably be made either from a pre-made kit or with a pattern from a book or printed from a website. You may soon decide that you are ready to create your own stained glass design and bring it to life. Although the idea may seem daunting at first, you will soon find the challenge inspiring and realize that designing your own stained glass is not as difficult as you first thought.
All stained glass art projects, big and small begin with a cartoon. The cartoon is a drawing on paper of what you would like your stained glass artwork to look like. The fact that you are translating your artwork into a stained glass piece provides some extra challenges. You will have to take into consideration the strength and integrity that the different sized pieces of stained glass will create. You will need to keep in mind the copper or lead “skeleton” that is created by your came. This skeleton needs to be thought of as not only a strength or support to the stained glass, but an integral part of the design itself. This can be an advantage as you are forced to stretch your creativity and add extra lines where you might not have initially considered, unexpectedly adding more depth to your design.
If you don’t have accurate details regarding Stained Glass, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.
There are many places you can and should look for inspiration for your stained glass design. You will find many books and websites about stained glass from which you may find ideas. Paintings, magazines, your home furnishings or any interesting pattern you see may provide insight. Your stained glass art may be a scene from a family photo, a familiar landscape or a completely abstract design.
Once you have decided on a design for your stained glass it is time to draw it out on paper. Think of the size your finished piece will be and draw the perimeter and begin planning the stained glass design within it. Once you have made the initial drawing, look it over and think about whether any of the pieces will be too difficult to cut and consider changing the lines slightly to avoid difficult cuts. Remember that smaller pieces with more leading between them will make the stained glass stronger, so consider adding lines in areas that are too large. When working on your first design, keep it simple so you can gain experience and build your confidence before moving on to more difficult pieces. Remember that even the great American stained glass artists like Tiffany and La Farge started with small jobs before they adorned America’s great churches!
Once you are satisfied with your pencil drawing, ink it in and make several copies. You will need one for cutting the stained glass design out and at least one other for checking that the pieces fit together. When placing your pattern pieces to cut your glass take into consideration any irregularities or streaks in the glass and consider how to use them to your advantage such as a streaky blue being used for a cloudy sky. Most importantly, relax and trust you intuition. Your stained glass will be a one-of-a-kind and an expression of your unique personality.
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By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get the Automated Traffic Blueprints for cheap
How to Decorate With Stained Glass
When you think about Stained Glass, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Stained Glass are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.
Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, stained glass was used only in grand Cathedral windows to bring in sunlight and illuminate the “hearts of men”. Many years later, wealthy aristocrats added the elegance of stained glass windows to their mansions and palaces. These days just about anyone can decorate their home with the beauty and elegance of stained glass. Back in the 18th century, stained glass artists like Tiffany and La Farge changed the face of stained glass and proved that the medium could be used for more than just windows. Light fixtures, lamps, picture frames and mirrors lined with stained glass are all beautiful additions to almost any home or business.
Where should you add stained glass? The entryway to the home is a good place to begin as this is where your guest’s first impression is made and it is also the first sight welcoming you home each day. Stained glass will add color and style to an otherwise boring door and window pane in your entryway. The stained glass will allow light in while adding very desirable privacy to your home. Modern stained glass comes in a variety of styles and colors and can easily be matched to any décor whether modern or classic.
Living rooms can benefit from unique and beautiful Tiffany-style lamps. Choose a color and style that compliments your upholstery, carpet and wall colors or go for a highly contrasting eclectic look. The stained glass lamp can simply blend in and be a useful source of light for reading or it can be the added bit of character that serves as a “conversation piece” in the home. Either way “a thing of beauty is a joy to behold” so add some joy to your living space!
The dining room is a great place for a stained glass chandelier. Beveled edges and translucent colors will add interest and excitement to your table setting. Lighting certainly sets the mood for the dining room and stained glass provides just the right feel. Food even seems to taste better when served in beautiful surroundings, don’t you agree?
Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Stained Glass? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?
The bathroom can be accentuated with a beautifully stained glass framed mirror and/or Tiffany-style light fixtures. How about a jewel-look stained glass soap holder? Use one of the main colors in the stained glass to match your towels, toothbrush holder, shower curtain and soap dispenser to for a fabulous, elegant rich look. These items don’t need to be expensive and your bathroom will look like it belongs to the Vanderbilt’s!
A beautiful stained glass window over the kitchen sink would certainly make doing dishes more enjoyable. Casual meals in the breakfast nook would seem more extraordinary when surrounded by beautiful stained glass. Dishes in one of the jewel-tones of the stained glass and a contrasting jewel-toned tablecloth would pull the look together nicely.
Saving the best for last…the bedroom! Beautiful stained glass lamps gracing the nightstands on either side of the bed could help to set the mood. A stained glass vase or jewelry box on top of the dresser could be just the touch you need.
There are so many ways to decorate with stained glass. You could easily put a stained glass piece in every room of the house either to compliment your decorating theme or even AS your decorating theme. Let your imagination run wild and enjoy your newfound love of stained glass.
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