Splashes ofcolour

 decor

Adding some stained glass decor pieces can make any drab room look bright and pretty. You! takes a look....

What is the first thing that you observe as soon as you enter a house that is well kept and beautifully decorated? It is the accessories that catch your eye instantly. Of course, there are many more elements that attract you, like the colour scheme, decorative items, paintings, different theme for different rooms etc. But the fact is that accessories add that special finishing touch and flair to a particular room - in short they transform the space into ‘your space’.

So, if you are planning to revamp your house then adorning your place with decorative items and wall adornments can do the trick. One great way is to add stained glass in your room or home and bring it to life with splashes of colour. Read on to find out more on what actually stained glass painting is...

History of stained glass paintings:

Stained glass is an ancient art that can be traced back to the early Egyptians. You probably know the art form best from seeing stained glass in the windows of churches (in movies or documentaries). These windows are paintings that use light, glass and a metal framework to create a design.

The earliest stained glass windows were created for the Roman Catholic Church, which often told Bible stories in form of pictures. This was at a time when most people couldn’t read, so these luminous paintings were one of the few representations of the glory and transcendent nature of their spiritual beliefs. At that time, stained glass windows were probably one of the most dramatic, instructive and important works of art that most people were exposed to.

Many of these ancient masterpieces have been lost as a result of religious upheavals and political strife, but many still remain, like the stained glass windows at Chartres Cathedral in France, or at Canterbury Cathedral in England.

Initially the mosaic technique was used, which was a combination of pieces of glass of various sizes and colours worked to a given design by placing them in juxtaposition. These pieces of glass had to be kept in place by some other material, and the best medium for the purpose was found to be lead, applied in strips made with lateral grooves for the reception of the edges of the glass.

The early windows were purely ornamental transparent mosaics; later, when figure subjects were portrayed, the artist, on account of the limitations of the mosaic method, was compelled to use paint in order to get the proper effect.

Decorative pieces:

Stained glass is usually one of the features that define old buildings but it’s actually more versatile than that. It is a beautiful expression of art that makes use of both sunlight and generated light to enhance its beauty. Stained glass always adds style and charm to a home. You can use stained glass in any style and more than that, it can complement almost any window or door. Stained glass doors and windows will add colour to your home, making the space more inviting and special. Also, you can decorate your house with beautiful wall hangings. If you have a penchant for lamps then stained glass lampshades are the perfect choice to brighten up your home. You can liven up your space with beautiful stained glass mirrors to give depth to your room or get a centre table for your living room that has stained glass painting on it. A little attention to fine detailing in decoration of your home can give it a touch of elegance and style.

DIY:

Nowadays, you don’t even need coloured glass to form an artwork with stained glass; you just have to get some lead, glass painting colours, a piece of clean glass and you are good to go. With some practice, patience and a few important tools, you can create pieces of art yourself.

Want to try out glass painting? Well, making it yourself is not difficult and requires only a steady hand and creative mind. Here are a few simple steps that you can follow and make an art piece all by yourself...

Things you need:

          Glass (any size and thickness you wish)

          Liquid lead (available in bottles and tubes from arts and crafts shop)

          Transparent glass paints (available in variety of brands and shades from arts and crafts shop)

          Paint thinner (available from hardware stores and are used to thin the transparent glass paints)

          Thin marker (for tracing the design on the glass)

          Paint brushes of various sizes.

          Masking tape

Method:

1. Get a book that has designs that you like or search the net. Not all patterns have to come from glass books: you can modify pictures from colouring books or quilting patterns.

2. Pick the design that will fit your decor, and lay it down on a large piece of tracing paper. Slowly and carefully trace the design onto the paper.

3. Paste the tracing to the back of the glass panel, with some sticky tape.

4.  Get your stained glass painting tools.

5. Use the lead to trace/draw the pattern onto the glass panel. Allow it to dry completely.

6. Paint the glass design, with the colours that you have selected with a paint brush.

7. Allow to dry for a day. And your master piece is ready.