How to use acrylic paints on glass. Painting on glass. Types of glass painting

Painting glass surfaces allows you to create unique products that can decorate the interior of a living space or office. A wide selection of materials and stencils in specialized stores makes it possible for both professional and novice artists to do this. Before starting work, you should understand what glass paints exist and how to apply them correctly.

Types of painting materials for glass

There are several main types of coating depending on the purpose of application and the basis for production.

For stained glass

Stained glass paints are a decorative material that is abrasion-resistant and resistant to water and sunlight. Stained glass paints allow you to decorate mirror surfaces, glass vases, dishes, photo frames, etc.

Before using a set of stained glass paints on stained glass windows, it is necessary to apply an outline that will prevent the coloring composition from spreading. After drying, stained glass paints become transparent. The paint kit most often includes paint for applying contour lines.

There are organic solvent-based materials and water-based paints, which differ in their area of application.

Acrylic

These water-based materials are opaque and their application is reminiscent of oil painting. For application, it is better to use a wide brush, and if the surface has a large area, then it is worth taking an acrylic composition in the form of an aerosol.

Oil based

Oil paints are opaque, so they are intended for painting matte surfaces. Before application, they must be diluted with an oil topcoat, which makes the material resistant to water with the addition of detergents. However, the coating is not heat-resistant.

Silicate based

Silicate heat-resistant glass coatings resemble watercolors, but they must be cured at temperatures between 700 and 800°C. This can be done at home in the oven, if the size of the product allows.

Application of a fixative

When purchasing a set of stained glass paints, you should know that after they are applied and dried, fixation is necessary.

The universal fixer for any paint is varnish. But, in addition to this function, it is used as a solvent if the material has thickened, or when mixing paints. Porous surfaces are also varnished before painting, which makes it possible to make them smooth, simplifying the painting process.

Application

Stained glass paints have their own application technology. First you need to purchase:

a set of stained glass paints;
contours for drawing on a glass surface;
ready-made stencils, which you can make yourself if you wish;
ethanol;
brushes;
cotton swabs;
toothpicks or needle.

Before you paint with stained glass paints, you should choose a pattern. You can take freely available templates and stencils for copying. Further, all work is carried out in stages and in a certain sequence.

Before painting glass, it is degreased with alcohol. If the artist has the talent and skills, then the pattern is applied with a marker. Otherwise, you can fix it on the back side of the product or transfer it to the front side from the stencil using carbon paper.

Each detail must be carefully outlined, avoiding breaks. Then you should wait for it to dry completely, the time indicated in the instructions.

Stained glass paints are applied in a dropwise manner, and then distributed with a brush from the center to the periphery in an even thick layer. Errors should be corrected immediately with cotton swabs, without allowing the coating to dry.

Having painted all the details of the same color, you need to thoroughly rinse the brush, wipe it dry and start working with a different shade. Stained glass paints form air bubbles in their thickness, which can be removed with the tip of a needle or a toothpick. To speed up the drying process of the finished pattern, you can use a hairdryer.

Application of acrylic coating

Painting on glass with acrylic paints also begins with degreasing the working surface and applying the design yourself or using a stencil.

While do-it-yourself stained glass paints are applied only to the contoured drawing, this is not necessary for their acrylic counterparts.

If you make an outline, the image will resemble a stained glass window. And without its use, the pattern will be stylized as a work of painting.

After drying, kitchen set items should be coated with heat-resistant varnish to increase their service life and preserve the colorful designs.

It is worth considering the fact that decorative, heat-resistant water-based acrylic paints dry very quickly, but require baking in the oven for durability.

Use of balloon covers

Aerosol paints are most often used for painting large glass items, although professional artists also use them to decorate small parts. This can be done without extensive drawing experience by using stencils or construction tape.

The following types of aerosol formulations can be purchased in specialized stores:

oil;
heat resistant;
acrylic;
latex and others.

Most often, aerosol paints for stained glass and other glass products have an acrylic base.

Production has also been established for processing certain types of tableware.

The advantages of aerosol materials include:

quick readiness for use;
ability to penetrate hard-to-reach places;
good adhesive properties;
long shelf life without changing quality characteristics;
no tools required for application;
resistance to abrasion and fading;
rich color palette;
high drying speed.

Despite the abundance of advantages, aerosol paints also have some disadvantages:

impossibility;
complex application technique;
mandatory use of stencils for drawing small details - this increases the consumption of expensive paint;
aerosol materials of different colors cannot be mixed;
use personal protective equipment such as goggles, a mask or a respirator while spraying.

When using aerosol acrylic paints, you should strictly follow the instructions to avoid the formation of drips and other defects.

When decorating glass surfaces outdoors, you need to choose windless, cool weather.

You can fix the applied pattern using transparent acrylic varnish.

Making coatings at home

Despite the fact that the production of such glass materials is at a high level, and a set of stained glass paints can be easily bought in a store, some artists prefer to make them themselves.

They are prepared on the basis of an organic substance such as gelatin, which must be diluted with BF-2 glue or transparent furniture varnish. To give the desired shade, fabric dyes are added to the mixture. They can be replaced with regular gouache.

If you are creating stained glass windows with your own hands for the first time, then after applying freshly prepared paint, it must be secured with colorless varnish to avoid the pattern being washed off with water.

Painting plexiglass

Before painting plexiglass, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of this process and purchase the necessary materials and tools.

First, the surface is cleaned of grease, dust and dirt using alcohol. Then the product is placed in a heated tsaponlak dye solution for a time that ranges from 30 seconds to 15 minutes. This indicator determines the saturation of the tone.

After the staining process is completed, the glass is quickly transferred to a container with cold water until completely cooled. Next, you need to wipe the plexiglass with a dry cloth or felt to add shine. If the color of the product is not bright enough, it can be made more saturated by repeating the entire cycle from the beginning, after thoroughly drying the treated surface.

When deciding how to paint plexiglass, it is worth deciding in advance on the color scheme and the presence of sketches, which are applied after basic painting using stencils and a paint brush.

Having decided to decorate your home with glass items painted with your own hands, you should try different techniques and coatings, and then decide on your choice. In specialized stores, you can first take materials of basic colors for dyeing, and then independently obtain different shades from them. Or you can immediately purchase a set of stained glass paints and stencils so that you no longer limit the flight of your imagination.

Features of painting on glass with acrylic paints

Glass painting has been known as an art form since the Renaissance: artists used paints with the addition of metal derivatives. Since the end of the 19th century, a mass hobby began in America - “handmade” works were created, including painted pictures on glass and interior items.

After a long period of standard production, our time is once again marked by a craving for original things. Whether it’s a simple glass or a huge panel, the execution technique is quite democratic; anyone can, if they wish, get creative and decorate their home.

The article is primarily aimed at beginners who want to learn about glass painting.

Cicero argued that “a house without glass is poor.” Very different glass always successfully complements and enlivens any interior. Glass painting is placed on furniture elements and decorative items (vases, candlesticks, lamp shades).

Ornaments are also created on dishes: glasses, glasses, plates. Glass women's jewelry, which is often made with one's own hand, is colored with bright colors. And large forms of glass painting - stained glass - will add magic and luxury to any home.

Selection of acrylic paints

Acrylic paint consists of a natural or synthetic pigment, water and a binder (solvent, resins). Drawing on glass is possible with both acrylic and special stained glass paints.

Paints for painting on glass (covering):

They fit well and are light-resistant.
Opaque.
The colors are rich, bright, often with the addition of glitter, and are easy to mix.
Professional paints are odorless and have a fairly thick consistency - they do not “slide” off vertical surfaces when working.
The composition uses a special solvent for glass.
Abrasion resistant.
Packaging: jars, tubes, spray cans

Which acrylic paints to choose? The Decola brand has proven itself very well. A simple set of 6 basic colors (in 10 ml jars) will cost you about 150 rubles (excluding delivery).

Transparent
Ordinary stained glass paints: dry in about a day.
Baked: to fix them, they must be heated to a certain temperature.
Paints - pastes: are applied using a stencil onto the film, after drying they are separated from it and transferred to the surface of the object.

Stained glass paints for glass are more expensive than acrylic paints; for example, one 60 ml jar costs 200-250 rubles.

Choosing a varnish for fixing

Preference is given to acrylic varnish; depending on the surface of the painting, they choose between matte and glossy options. The varnish is used for decoupage on glass or for fixing acrylic paint.

Advantages of acrylic varnish:

Almost odorless (can be used indoors)
Incombustible
Durable and elastic, easy to apply
Dries quickly
Can be diluted with water
Does not change paint color
Dries quickly
Low price, large jar - enough for a long time.

To add texture to glass you can also use:

Craquelure varnish - it is used to create “cracks”
Structural pastes - imitate the surface of leather and stone
Marking paints - you get beautiful stains, like on marble.

The cost of acrylic varnish in online stores is about 150 rubles per 50 ml.

Selecting brushes and other auxiliary tools

Glass is painted with painting brushes (small objects), construction brushes can be used for large surfaces of work.

Shape: Round (conical end) brushes - for painting inside contours, or thin - for applying small strokes. The varnish that fixes the design is applied using flat brushes.

Material: Brushes can be with synthetic or natural hairs (kolinsky, squirrel). Synthetics are resistant to solvents; brushes made from natural materials are recommended for use only with water-based paints.

Sizes: thin and round brushes No. 2 or No. 1 for small shapes, round brushes up to No. 18 for large areas. Flat No. 12-18 for applying varnish. The number indicates the width of the brush in millimeters.

Auxiliary tool: palette knife - a special metal spatula. Needed for mixing paints and applying them in an even layer. It is also useful for cleaning the palette.

On average, the price of a brush ranges from 15 to 30 rubles.

Technology of painting on glass with acrylic paints on large surfaces with your own hands: windows, stained glass windows, doors

For home craftsmen, making stained glass with your own hands will not be a particular problem.

What you will need for this:

sheet of glass of the required size
paper - graph paper
pencil, thin felt-tip pen, eraser
brushes of different sizes, palette knife
stained glass paints
acetone or alcohol
acrylic varnish - gel
paper napkins
sketches for painting on glass (you can draw it or get a ready-made one on the Internet)

What to do:

draw a sketch on graph paper with a pencil, then trace it with a felt-tip pen
thoroughly degrease the glass surface with acetone or alcohol
place the glass on the sketch, outline the image, carefully squeezing the volumetric outline out of the tube
dry the workpiece for 30 minutes
apply with a brush inside the contours of the paint, mixing them on the palette if necessary
let the stained glass window dry, varnish it, and install it in its intended place.

Technique for painting glass with acrylic paints on interior items with your own hands: vases, lamps, tabletops, glasses

Using acrylic paints, you can decorate your interior and breathe new life into completely ordinary things. Vases, bottles, glasses, lampshades and glass dishes will become real works of art - and no one will doubt the authorship.

Dot painting: this technique has been known for a long time - for example, remember the faces of the Australian aborigines, clothes from India, frescoes of ancient Persia. Today, dots collected into patterns (point-to-point) are again at the height of popularity.
Double stroke technique (onestroke): a dark color is applied to one edge of the brush, and a light color to the other. The brushstroke is made by pressing and turning the brush to obtain a two-color image, the drawing is completed with dot painting. It turns out very similar to the famous “Zhostovo” painting.
Blurs and stains: paints of different colors are used, but always of the same brand. Colorless paint is added, creating a “marble” pattern, drips and stains.

What you need to prepare for work:

Detergent + surface degreasing liquid (acetone or alcohol)
Cotton pads, paper napkins, cotton swabs, toothpicks - for correcting the design
Sketch of the drawing
Scissors, palette for mixing paints, varnish brush
Colored acrylic contours on glass, with or without glitter, in tubes
Fine felt-tip pen
Matte or shiny acrylic varnish

What to do - step by step:

Remove all stickers and labels from the surface of the item.
Degrease - first wash with hot water and regular dish soap, then dry with a paper towel. Wipe with acetone or alcohol using a cotton pad.
We cut the prepared sketch into stencils - along the contours of the lines.
We apply parts of the drawing using stencils using a thin felt-tip pen.
By squeezing out the outline from the tubes - carefully, using lines and dots - we form a pattern.
Finally, using a wide brush, cover the design in 2-3 layers with matte acrylic varnish. Before applying the next layer of varnish, be sure to dry the previous one.
Nuances: the dots will turn out better if you hold the tube at a right angle. The lines are at an angle from 30 to 45 degrees.

Wrong choice of colors. for stained glass they are more liquid and transparent; for painting small forms they use thicker and opaque ones.
Wrong brush material: natural hairs can fall off under the influence of aggressive glass solvent, which is included in some acrylic paints. Read the labels carefully!
Pressing too hard on the contour tube: too much paint, uneven lines.
The spout of the tube with a contour for painting on glass is not cleaned in a timely manner with a napkin: there are uneven smeared dots.
Wrong direction of painting: all small objects are painted from bottom to top; stained glass windows - from top to bottom and only in a horizontal position.
Failed color mixing: first test the resulting shades on a “draft” version or a sheet of paper.
Often beginners miss the technique of how to paint on glass. Applying paint to glass too slowly: the paint may dry out around the edges, resulting in unsightly stains.
Brushes that have not been washed with running water (immediately after use): you can safely throw them away, they are damaged and cannot be restored.

Creating your own masterpiece of glass painting, as it turns out, is not very difficult. It is important to think over the work plan, choose a design and paints, then it’s a matter of technique. And the glass, which has received a piece of your soul, will come to life and sparkle with new colors. Good luck in your creativity!

Acrylic paints are easy to use and allow even novice needlewomen to paint decorative plates, glasses or any other glass elements that ordinary paint would not stick to. A rich selection of color palettes and the convenience of tubes make this type of creativity truly enjoyable and comfortable and allow you to create real paintings. So let's learn the basics of painting using acrylic paints on prepared glass. A master class that is suitable even for beginners will help you learn the technique.

Painting with acrylic paints on glass: master class for beginners

When choosing acrylic paints, you should pay attention that they differ in stained glass and coating.

Topcoat paints are similar to ordinary gouache; they are dense and opaque. To draw with them, the most minimal skills are required; they “forgive” the inept strokes of beginners. Most often, such paints are water-based, so they easily chip or even wash off from the finished product. To prevent this from happening, after painting the craft must be coated with a special varnish (usually water-based acrylic), securing the design.

Stained glass paints.

Stained glass paints provide a transparent finish and look very beautiful on large images. To work with them, it is better to already have experience in the technique of carefully painting contours. You can find several types of stained glass paints in stores:

ordinary - you need to wait about a day for them to dry.
baked - to fix the image, it must be heated in the oven in accordance with the instructions
"sticky" paints. This is more of a children's option, but it is very fun to use. To obtain an image, you need to apply it to a smooth surface, wait until it dries and then peel it off like a film. Then, using this film, you can stick it like a sticker on any surface.

What is needed for painting with acrylic paints on glass:

acrylic paints. A set of topcoat paints of six colors will cost only 150-170 rubles, while stained glass paints are much more expensive - one jar costs about 250 rubles.
special acrylic varnish for fixing finished images. It can be of several types: for application with a brush or for spraying from a can. The latter is more convenient, but more expensive than the first option. An ordinary 50 ml jar of liquid varnish can be bought for 160-180 rubles.
several good brushes of different thicknesses (from No. 1 for writing thin patterns to No. 18 for applying varnish) and shapes (round and flat). The cost of one brush is 20-35 rubles.
palette knife - a special metal spatula for mixing paints. At the initial stage, you can do without it.
artistic outlines, especially if you plan to work with stained glass paints.
toothpicks and cotton swabs to correct the image in case of errors.
palette (for starters, you can replace it with a regular disposable white plate)
paper and pencil. They will be useful for preparing sketches of the future drawing, and it is also better to practice the first strokes on a sheet of paper before applying them to the glass.

Let's look at the basic techniques for high-quality glass painting

There are several basic glass painting techniques using acrylic paints: dot painting, stencil painting and hand painting with brushes. Dotted application of paints will allow you to create very fashionable images in an ethno-style.

Stencil painting is one of the simplest techniques. The greatest care is required when cutting out the template itself, especially if it contains small parts.

Finally, hand painting is an option for advanced artists. Using this technique, you can create real paintings on dishes. The photo below shows several examples.

Learn a simple DIY bottle decoration tutorial

You will need:

acrylic paints
contour on glass and ceramics
brushes
nail polish remover with cotton pads
toothpicks
cotton swabs
palette
glitter
water based acrylic varnish
sandpaper (needed if the label is hard to come off of the bottle)

1) Soak the bottle in hot water with added detergent.

2) Remove all labels from the bottle (if they don’t come off easily, use sandpaper). Degrease the glass using nail polish.

3) In this example, there is already an image of flowers on the bottle, so you don’t have to draw them yourself using templates. We outline the flowers.

4) If necessary, correct the jumping using a cotton swab and toothpick.

5) Mix paints on the palette and paint the flowers.

6) After a few hours, the image can be varnished and, if desired, glitter can be added to the drawings.

Video on the topic of the article

For greater clarity, we suggest watching the following videos, which demonstrate step-by-step painting of glass objects with acrylic paints.

For some people, the thought of painting on glass with paints can be a little scary and apprehensive, but there is nothing scary about it. Even during the Renaissance, glass painting was quite popular. At that time, instead of paints, natural materials were used - metals or their oxides. Now we can choose from a huge range of different colors. In addition, the technology has become simpler and more accessible due to the low cost of acrylic paints, stencils and additional materials used when painting on a glass surface.

To work with this technique you will need: acrylic paints and varnish, brushes, toothpicks and cotton swabs, colored outlines or felt-tip pens, a special thinner and palette, and, of course, the glass itself.

Preparing glass for painting.

You can use any glass object as a canvas for painting - windows, bottles, mirrors, plates, etc. Before you start painting the glass, it must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt on the surface. The surface must be perfectly clean. If there were stickers or labels on the glass, then you should get rid of their traces so as not to spoil your future work of art. Hot water with a soap solution or adding soda will help get rid of labels and traces of stickers: just leave the glass in it for 15-20 minutes. As a final preparation, it is necessary to degrease the dry glass surface with alcohol or acetone.

How to paint on glass with acrylic paints?

When the object to be drawn is completely ready, you can begin the drawing process.

Having chosen a drawing, you need to display it on the glass, and before that, determine its location on the object. There are two ways to transfer an image to glass:

Just draw with a marker on the glass, only for this you must have the talent of an artist.
Place the finished drawing under the glass surface, gluing it with water, and trace the outline with a marker.

The most convenient way to draw the boundaries of the future drawing is “Outline”. Contour is a special paint that is sold in tubes with a long, thin tip. You need to paint it very carefully - if you press a little harder, all the paint will splash out and you won’t get beautiful borders of the picture. But if such a problem happens to you, you can fix everything with a cotton swab. After you have applied the outline, leave the glass to dry for 1-2 hours.

Drawing an outline is not necessary in the glass painting technique, but it allows you to achieve a result similar to a stained glass window. If you want to achieve a different, more realistic result, you can use a regular felt-tip pen to outline the image on the glass.

Now that the outline of the future image is completely ready, you just need to paint over your work with acrylic paints and leave to dry. Some water-based paints need to be baked in order to firmly fix them on the surface of the glass; here you need to carefully read the instructions for the paints used. The baking temperature and duration must be indicated on the manufacturer's packaging.

Some useful tips:

It is better to paint over several layers. In this case, each layer must dry well before applying the next one.
To ensure even layers, add more paint to the brush and quickly spread it over the glass surface.
To add texture to the design, use a foam sponge or a stiff brush.
Don't be afraid to mix colors to get the shade you want.
After work, be sure to wash your brushes, otherwise they will dry out and you will have to throw them away.
To make the drawings last better and last longer, it is advisable to cover them with acrylic varnish.

The key to mastery of glass painting is continuous practice!

Draw on glass and create new masterpieces that will delight you and your loved ones for many years.

On glass with stained glass paints – The process is exciting and creative. To give the interior a unique character and unleash your creative abilities, you should try yourself as an artist! Therefore, it is not surprising that recently this type of hand-made has become increasingly popular.

As it turns out, glass is an ideal material for making all kinds of fantasies come true. And the process of painting with different colors helps to achieve spiritual harmony and tranquility.

You should start with small items. So, with the help of artistic painting, you can transform an ordinary glass glass beyond recognition, turn an ordinary smooth glass into a work of art, and a bottle into a mysterious container for all sorts of little things. Having had enough practice with small objects, you can move on to painting on a larger surface, for example, on window glass.

Advice! By changing the design each time for a new holiday, you will create a unique mood in the room.

For inspiration, you can turn to the paintings of famous artists. Perhaps the impressionists and representatives are most suitable here. You can also use only your own imagination.

Preparation of materials: choosing paints

Before you get started, it is very important to choose good glassware. Low-quality materials will ruin any drawing, even a skillfully executed one, and will not bring any pleasure from the work. Therefore, it is better to spend money once on purchasing quality tools for the job. To make glass painting voluminous and interesting, you should use stained glass paints. They are distinguished by a translucent texture, which allows you to examine the glass through the colored layer after the paint has dried. Thus it turns out stained glass effect.

water;
synthetic.

Water-based compositions are ideal for beginners, as they have the following advantages:

the ability to be easily washed off, which will allow you to quickly correct an unsightly stroke;
no odors;
the ability to easily mix, which will allow you to achieve almost any shade and degree of saturation without problems.

However, water-based paints also have a significant drawback - they are not resistant to high humidity in the room.

When choosing paint, carefully study the label. Look for an inscription confirming that the paint is suitable for painting on glass and. Don't be lazy to find out the date of manufacture. If it is expired, the paints will be dried out, and such paints are very difficult to work with.

Selecting Brushes and Other Tools

It is equally important to choose good brushes for painting on glass. If you are using acrylic paints (i.e. water-based), then purchase soft tools for the job. Brushes must contain artificial bristles.

Advice! Get several brushes of different thicknesses at once, since you will have to draw small details and various lines.

Another necessary tool is tubes with contours (outliners and contour pastes). They are needed to draw the contours of certain areas, which is caused by the need to separate paints that differ in color. This will ensure that there are no sloppy overlaps at the junction of the drawings due to mixing of paints. These tubes also have another purpose. Thus, they will allow you to shade some fragments of the picture thanks to a clearer drawing of the lines.

When choosing the color of the outliner, be guided by the general nature of the design. Depending on it, opt for outliners in black, gold, silver and other colors.

Step-by-step instructions for stained glass painting

For painting with stained glass paints on glass, we will give an example of a master class. The general procedure includes the following steps:

First you need to degrease the base on which the drawing will be applied. This is necessary to make the painting durable and for a smoother application of the paint.

Then you should make a sketch of the future masterpiece. To do this, apply the outline of the composition to a dry surface. This way you will outline the boundaries of individual zones, each of which will be painted in its own color.

Having thus prepared a template for the composition, you can begin applying paint. Don't be upset if you don't manage to do it carefully the first time. You must first get used to it and feel the ideal layer thickness. If you apply paint too thinly, there is a high probability of streaks appearing after the painting dries, and the shade of the surface will be uneven. If you apply them too thickly, paint from adjacent areas can easily move. Understanding the required thickness of a paint layer will only come with practice and time.

Advice! If at first you find it difficult to apply paint as carefully as possible, you can play up your lack of artistic skills. To do this, choose drawings not in classical and realistic styles, but compositions in the spirit of cubism, abstractionism, etc.

Once the paint is applied, the work is not over. Now you need to wait until the “canvas” is completely dry. To speed up the process, you can use a hairdryer. However, professionals do not recommend such drying, as it can cause the paint layer to crack and certain areas to darken. So if you do not want to specifically achieve such effects, then it is better to avoid drying with thermal means.
At the final stage, the composition should be coated with varnish. It will give it shine and fix the design.

The nuances of proper glass painting

Don’t think that painting on glass with stained glass paints is an expensive pleasure. You can save on buying paints. To do this, purchase not individual containers of paints, but the entire set.

To make the painting process safe, do not forget about some precautions. Avoid contact of the paint and the painting itself with food and drinks. The paint should not get into the oral cavity. That's why, decorating glasses, glasses and saucers, they should not be used further for their intended purpose. Their main current function is to serve as a decorative item. This is if you want to completely protect yourself. However, it is quite acceptable to paint “acting” people.