PAINTING ON GLASS: CHOICE OF MATERIALS AND PAINTING TECHNIQUES

Painting is a perfect way to express your creativity whether it's on paper, canvas, glass or even fabric, and it's also a fun activity you can do with your kids. That said, painting on canvas or in a notebook won't require the same supplies and materials as when painting on glass. Whether you're inspired to create a piece of stained glass, personalise glass objects or simply explore a new artistic technique, painting on glass is within the reach of all adventurous artists, whether they're beginners or more confirmed.

From the choice of materials and paint to tips and techniques, here is all our advice for painting on glass.

● Paint that is adapted for painting on glass, such as acrylic paint.

● Paintbrushes. Choose paintbrushes that are fine-tipped and have soft bristles for the details, and wider brushes for coverage of larger surfaces. Select paintbrushes that are adapted to acrylic paint.

● A palette for mixing your colours.

● Stamps and sponges.

● Stencils.

● A solvent such as rubbing alcohol or acetone to clean the glass beforehand and remove every trace of oil or dirt.

● Masking tape for straight edges and to protect the areas you don't want to paint.

● Sheets of paper and a graphite pencil to sketch your ideas before committing them to glass.

● An acrylic paint fixative or sealer to seal and protect the paint on your glass surface.

A clean and well-prepped surface will make the paint adhere better.
 

● Soak a clean rag with rubbing alcohol, acetone or a special glass cleanser. Avoid using products that contain oil as they might prevent the paint from adhering to the glass.

● Wipe the glass surface with the rag, making sure you do so evenly and focusing on the part you'd like to paint.

● Leave the glass to dry completely before painting, which will allow the solvent to evaporate.

If there are areas on the glass you want to leave unpainted, or if you'd like straight edges, use masking tape to demarcate the areas on your glass surface.

A candle jar with a stained-glass effect, personalised plates or glass frames... the creative possibilities for painting on glass are endless. Choose the painting technique that is best adapted to your project.

For this, all you will need is paint (acrylic for example is good), paintbrushes, a glass surface and your creativity.

1. Prepare your supplies and make sure your paintbrushes are clean, and your palette is ready.

2. Before applying paint to the glass, you can draw your desired pattern on a piece of paper that you can hold up behind the glass surface to paint, which will make it easier to trace.

3. Apply the acrylic paint on to the glass. You can add multiple layers to create effects of depth.

4. Leave the paint to dry completely between layers.

---

---

Stencils are a perfect way to create precise and repeated motifs and patterns if you'd rather not do them by hand.

1. Place the stencil on the glass surface and fix it in place with masking tape.

2. Apply paint by offloading it on to the stencil using a sponge or fine-tipped paintbrush, making sure you stay within the stencil.

3. Wait for the paint to feel dry to the touch and gently remove the stencil.

Foam paintbrushes, stamps and sponges provide texture and gradients on your glass surfaces.

1. Start by preparing your colours on the palette.

2. Dip the foam paintbrush or sponge into the paint and apply them to the glass by gently dabbing the surface to create patterns and gradients.

3. You can also mix the colours directly on the glass by layering the paint.

The time it takes to dry depends on the type of paint you've used (acrylic paint, enamel paint, glass paint for stained glass, etc.). If you're using acrylic paint, you should leave it to dry for 24 to 72 hours.

---

---

During the drying process, make sure that the painted glass object is placed in a safe place that's dust-free. Lay it flat or leave it standing according to its shape and to avoid paint drips.

If possible, leave the object in an airy, well-ventilated place so that the humidity dissipates more quickly.

Once your object feels dry, you can fix the paint so that it withstands water and abrasion.

● Use a fixative: for most glass and acrylic paints it is essential to use a fixative to protect your paint, increase its longevity and prevent the paint from chipping. Apply an even layer of fixative, following the manufacturer's instructions. This should typically take a few hours to a day.

● Set the paint by oven baking (only for some paints): if you've used a paint specifically designed for baking, follow the manufacturer's instructions for this step.

---

---