Method

All the pieces in both the Panel Gallery and
Suncatcher Gallery were cold painted, using
vinyl graphic outline transfers to replace the
function of the 'cartoon' (working drawing)
used in traditional glass painting and to
simulate lead caming. Sometimes the illusion
is reinforced by self-adhesive lead.

If you would like to try glass-painting this way,
there are packs of outline transfers and individual
transfers available by ordering from the patterns
pages of this website.

At it's most basic level this method is very
easy to use and the results can be very
satisfying. The vinyl transfer outlines are
applied in one piece. Then the areas of
clear glass, defined by the vinyl, are flood
coated with transparent glass-paint. An
overall coat of clear resin is applied to seal
things and create beautiful flares, flashes
and highlights. Next; self-adhesive lead is
fitted, where appropriate, to simulate the
lead caming which holds together all the
component pieces of glass used to make
a traditional stained glass window.

However, the method is extremely flexible and
needn't be basic at all. Many of the tools of the
traditional glass painter can be employed to
enhance the piece.

Traditionally, glass painters have many constraints placed on them by the physical limitations of the
media. The fact that most people are unaware of all but the most obvious, is entirely due to the
enormous skill of these artisans.

When using vinyl graphics and cold glass painting methods, most of the old constraints no longer
apply. However, for centuries they have defined the way we think of stained glass - remove too many
and, I think it simply looks wrong. I'm happy enough with unlikely colours being adjacent to each other
but fine down the heavy outlining that caming imposes on a design and the window will be very much
enfeebled. Colours that appear deep and rich with plenty of black round them will look weak and
insipid without . . .

A vinyl pattern can be applied weeded (unwanted
material removed) or un-weeded in which case it
becomes a ready cut mask for airbrushing, half-tone
effects or even just simple colour application.

A vinyl pattern can also be used as an effective resist
mask for surface-etching pastes such as Etchall .