love affair with stained glass

I have waited a very long time, it seems, to be able to put this big guy up on the web. The recipient of the gift couldn’t see it until it was done… she’s a friend and is aware of and participating in all the same social networking sites as i do. I couldn’t post it, really, anywhere on the web. But now it is given over into the hands of his new cherisher (“owner” somehow seems wrong) and I can plaster the photo all over the web:

Isn’t he gorgeous? I was satisfied with the the reaction to the reveal. There was a high-pitched scream, some squeals, hugs and lots of “OH MY GOD”‘s, that had I been in a motel, I would have banged on the wall. Someone took photos of the joyous moment, I’ll get them up soon. No video though, sorry =)

I was able to try several new, to me, techniques with this one. I have never used the glass beads in such profusion before. A random one here and there, like the center of a flower, but never strung together or stacked up like they are in this piece. This is my first dark background, too. strange but true. I love it. On my monitor, it looks like a deep purple. In reality, when the sun hits it, it flashes a deep, dusky fuschia. Really really pretty.

I also used pre-made facetted jewels, which I haven’t done before. That was interesting. I wish I haad figured out how to get the large jewel for the necklace in the piece, instead of lying on top. The purple is washed out and dull the way it is.

My favorite trick, by far, however, was the addition of the bake-able paint. I was thumbing through the delphi glass catalog one night, looking at the stuff I usually don’t look at: fusing, faux-metal jewelry, etching, glass painting, etc. They had a page with a bunch of glass paints on it, some of them in slim tubes with a fine point. Normally, I bought inexpensive glass paint to do the details I needed, and painted it on with a tiny brush. And you just have to hope it doesn’t come off.

With these paints, you draw it on using the fine needle-nose tip, then bake it in the oven to seal it. The paints are then washable, etc. Score!! That is exactly what I needed!!! I bought a few and took them home to try them out. They work fantastically with two exceptions, easily remedied. One: when you cut the tip, only take a teeny tiny bit off. The first one I cut, I took off what I thought was a small bit and the paint flowed out way too quickly, and the line was much too fat. Two: when you lay down a fat bead of paint, it can bubble in the oven. The test piece that I did with the over-cut tip is the only one that bubbled. Less paint is better. The gold was very thick, the lines didn’t relax into each other, either, the paint didn’t flow easily. All that aside, these things are fantastic!!! The brand is Pebeo, and they come in pots too.

You can see the bubbling in the word “pewter”, and a little bit in the “pearl”, at the poiint where there was a double layer of paint. But like I said, easily fixed. Also, I bought the pewter color thinking it would be perfect for the black patina which, for me, comes out more of a charcoal grey/pewter color. It looked too silvery though, and I will use the black color in the future. The vermeil color worked well with the copper patina.

I used the paint to draw on the eyes, the trunk henna and the scroll detail on the dias.

I traced the glass piece on a piece of paper, drew the design, outlined it with black and then transferred the whole thing to the light table, laid the glass piece over the design and traced it. Let it sit for 24 hours, and then baked it in the toaster over to seal the paint. worked like a charm. The oven didn’t seem to harm the copper foil either… the foil darkened slightly, but didn’t curl up and I had no problems when I went to solder the pieces together.

Really happy with him. I admit… it was hard to hand him over. I am certain I will be doing another one, for myself or another Ganesha fan. Not for a couple years though, lol.