Glass crafts. Frozen glass mosaic: making stained glass windows with your own hands

Pictures on glass by Elsa Kolesnikova have the amazing property of changing their shade depending on the lighting, time of day and even the weather outside the window.

And when the sun is outside, it seems that each painting is literally soaked in the sun’s rays, and itself radiates light and warmth...

It's difficult to draw on glass. Firstly, you need to draw from the reverse side, which means that it is difficult for the artist to keep track of what exactly he is drawing and how it turns out.


You have to navigate by memory, following the application of strokes.


And painting on glass does not forgive mistakes, because they cannot be corrected. One small inaccuracy, a tiny “puncture” - and all is lost.

The finished work is secured with enamel and allowed to dry thoroughly.

We create a stained glass window with our own hands. Master Class

Beauty always fascinates. Especially if this beauty is an extraordinary pattern on window glass or a stained glass window playing in the sun’s rays. Looking at painted windows, we often don’t realize that we can do it ourselves - with the help of our master class, conducted by interior designer and artist Natalya Povyakel. She called her technique “home stained glass.” It can be used almost everywhere: to paint windows, glass in interior doors. Home stained glass is ideal for conditional zoning of space: hung on thick twine or chains, stained glass will delimit the territory of the apartment and become a bright decorative element. With the help of such painting you can update the glass tabletop and emphasize the originality of the glass shelf. Small stained glass windows in a frame are a wonderful gift. At the same time, you don’t need to be an artist from God. All you need is imagination, a little time (our master class took 4 hours) and patience (it will take the whole night for the stained glass window to dry).

Step 1. Select tools

We went to an art salon store to buy the instrument. The brushes were chosen from synthetic fiber: natural hair can deteriorate after the first painting with chemical-based paints. We bought special paints and contours for stained glass. It is important that they are from the same company: materials from different manufacturers may not be compatible in consistency, and because of this the stained glass window will spread. It’s easier to buy a special set for this type of work. For window glass it is better to use transparent paints. If you are creating a picture on glass that will not transmit light, matte paints are more suitable.

COST OF BEAUTY

Brushes, 2 pcs. - 90 UAH.

Paints - 7 colors + 2 tubes of contour - 118 UAH.

Nail polish remover - 2 UAH.

Total: 210 UAH.

Step 2. Prepare the sketch

It could be an original drawing, a copy of a photograph, an outline of a loved one’s hand - it’s better to get your hand drawn on simple drawings.

Step 3. Translate the image

We place the prepared sketch under the glass and transfer the drawing onto it, carefully tracing the lines with a stained glass outline. We start working from the top so as not to smear the outline. Completing the line, we tear off the hand. Each element must be completed separately.

Step 4. Apply paints

The contour should dry well. This will require at least 5 hours. Then we decorate the elements of the finished drawing with stained glass paints (remember children's coloring books). If you don't have enough colors, you can mix the ones you have, creating different shades. To ensure color purity, the brush should be washed with nail polish remover after each paint. We wet a clean napkin or cloth with it and carefully wipe off the lint.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

“You have to love your instrument very much. And it will love you back,” says Natalya, lovingly washing her brushes after the last stroke.

To clean the instrument thoroughly, use a solvent and a cloth. Cleaning up the “sincerities” on the stained glass window. If you need to remove a small element, you can arm yourself with ear sticks.

Step 6. Let's admire it!
The paints must dry very well. If they are damp, they will spread all over the glass. The best option is to leave the stained glass to dry overnight. If you need to finish the job urgently, you can use a hairdryer to speed up drying.

The next day we turn the resulting beauty upside down. After all, we carried out all the work from the inside out. And... enjoy!

If the drawing subsequently gets boring, it can be easily removed using the same solvent.
Tatyana Shaginyan

A real mosaic is a picture laid out from tens, hundreds and even thousands of tiny pieces.
You will now see how such paintings are created - this is a real work of art.
It requires perseverance, attentiveness and a desire to create.

When creating stained glass windows, a variety of glass is used - from transparent to dense. Over time, quite a lot of remnants of dense, opaque glass accumulated, and the studio decided to try to put them to work - to start laying out mosaics. Six years have passed since that moment, and now mosaic can safely be called the second main specialization of the studio. For such important work, craftsmen were trained and workshops were equipped.

In one of these workshops, a spacious room with high ceilings, mosaics are assembled.
The light pouring from the high windows illuminated the huge tables on which paintings of varying degrees of completion were laid out. Along the edges of each table, among the scattered pieces of glass, lay all sorts of tools: pliers, intricately shaped wire cutters, glass cutters, knives and markers. The craftsmen were bending over two mosaics and working.

Along the walls there were tall shelves with bathtubs, each of which contained ready-made modules - small rectangular pieces of glass. A narrow staircase pressed against the wall led to a small balcony. With every step, pieces of glass creaked and crunched underfoot - the craftsmen, in order not to look away from their work, threw the scraps directly onto the floor.

At first glance, the mosaic did not differ much from stained glass - the same pieces of glass that need to be cut out and fit into the picture. But if you take a closer look, a whole sea of ​​differences opens up. “It all starts with cardboard - a drawing of the future mosaic. Only if he comes to the stained glass artists with the colors marked - here it will be yellow, here - blue, then we just see the general lines and sketch"

Today, mosaics are laid out in two main ways. In one, glass is cut exactly to the size of a certain area - a flower petal or a dragonfly wing - akin to a Florentine mosaic. With another, closer to the Roman mosaic, the picture is assembled from small rectangular pieces. “I don’t like cutting glass - you immediately depend on the colors that are on the finished sheet. Smalt is closer to painting - each module is like a brush stroke. And here we have much more freedom - we are our own artists. Suppose I decided that the hair on the mosaic should be gold - and I make it gold.”

But this is far from the only difference between mosaic and stained glass. The work here is much more delicate - sometimes you have to lay out modules a little larger than an eyelash. And they still need to be cut out of glass and, if necessary, polished. The modules have to be fitted tightly to each other, with the smallest gaps. It’s not for nothing that craftsmen call this work jewelry.

If necessary, the module can be polished on a special machine

“We usually lay out modules starting with a specific element. Here, for example, is a berry,” and Andrey showed me a sketch of a new mosaic and began to move his finger around the angular, stylized berry, “I’ll lay it out first, then a row around it, then another row. But sometimes it happens differently - look at how Andryukha works,” and Andrey nodded towards another master who was working on the mosaic icon of St. Nicholas, “he first laid out the face and brushes, secured them and inserted them into the overall panel. And now everything else is being built around them.”

Most of the mosaicists in the workshop have an artistic education, but Andrei, when I asked how he started doing mosaics, answered with a grin: “I actually came here to work in the garage, I have no artistic education. I come and they ask me: “Have you ever laid out a mosaic?” Well, I answered no. No problem, they say, we’ll teach you. That’s how they taught me that I’ve been working here for six years now.”

The modules are laid out on mounting film - a self-adhesive sheet that holds the glass pieces in place. When the whole picture is assembled, arakal, another self-adhesive sheet, is glued on top of the front part. After this, the mosaic is turned over and the mounting film is removed, and in its place they put a base - a special fabric, onto which the mosaic elements knitted with arakal are finally glued. When the modules are firmly fixed to the base, the arakal that has become unnecessary is removed.

Mosaic based on Gustav Klimt's painting "Water Snakes". Andrey worked tirelessly on this mosaic for three months.

Such cunning manipulations are done so that the artist, when typing, sees the front part of the mosaic - the way it will appear after installation on the base. There is, however, also a so-called reverse set, when the mosaic is assembled in a mirror image directly on the arakal. But glass for mosaics is a whimsical thing: often one side can be strikingly different from the other in pattern and color, and it can be predicted. It will be very difficult to predict what the mosaic will look like in the end when it is set back.

“And after that the most interesting part begins – rubbing the seams. The grout is selected to match the color of the modules and, if necessary, the desired color is added. But after this, the work may change beyond recognition: some areas will lighten, others will darken, and some colors may merge. And nothing can be done about it - you can only imagine each time what will happen in the end.”

The work went on as usual - small pieces of glass, one after another, lay on the table, forming a future picture. I finished filming, watched the mosaicists at work a little more, and then left the workshop. Before leaving, I looked into the studio office and met Leila there. We started talking - about art, about photography, about the internal affairs of the studio. “You can get tired of any work, even creative work. Any artist can get burned out and then need a break. If we see that a person has fallen into a stupor, then we try to give him some other work - sort out samples, go somewhere.”

At the end of the conversation, Leila took out a large black box with glass samples from under the table: “Now I’ll show you what... if you don’t like them, then you have nothing sacred.” With these words, she threw back the cardboard cover, and even rows of thin plates appeared to my gaze. With burning eyes, Leila began to sort through them, and soon took out one piece of glass: intricate multi-colored stains spread inside the thin transparent square. In the thickness of the next square, a colony of mold seemed to have grown, and another sample was pierced by airy white feathers.”

“When you’re tired of everything and have no strength, this is what helps you not give up and move on.” And in these words there were feelings much deeper than simple devotion to the profession.

2. Twenty years ago, “Alexandria” was created as a stained glass studio, and I have already talked about how they work here using this technique. When creating stained glass windows, a variety of glass is used - from transparent to dense. Over time, quite a lot of remnants of dense, opaque glass accumulated, and the studio decided to try to put them to work - to start laying out mosaics. Six years have passed since that moment, and now mosaic can safely be called the second main specialization of the studio. For such important work, craftsmen were trained and workshops were equipped.

3. In one of these workshops - a spacious room with high ceilings - I saw how mosaics were assembled. The light pouring from the high windows illuminated the huge tables on which paintings of varying degrees of completion were laid out. Along the edges of each table, among the scattered pieces of glass, lay all sorts of tools: pliers, intricately shaped wire cutters, glass cutters, knives and markers. The craftsmen were bending over two mosaics and working.

6. Along the walls there were high shelves with bathtubs, each of which contained ready-made modules - small rectangular pieces of glass. A narrow staircase pressed against the wall led to a small balcony. With every step, pieces of glass creaked and crunched underfoot - the craftsmen, in order not to look away from their work, threw the scraps directly onto the floor.

10. At first glance, the mosaic was not much different from stained glass - the same pieces of glass that need to be cut out and fit into the picture. But if you take a closer look, a whole sea of ​​differences opens up. “It all starts with cardboard - a drawing of the future mosaic. Only if he comes to the stained glass artists with marked colors - yellow here, blue here - then we just see the general lines and sketch,” one of the masters, Andrei, told me.

12. Today, mosaics are laid out in two main ways. In one, glass is cut exactly to the size of a certain area - a flower petal or a dragonfly wing - akin to a Florentine mosaic. With another, closer to the Roman mosaic, the picture is assembled from small rectangular pieces. “I don’t like cutting glass - you immediately depend on the colors that are on the finished sheet. Smalt is closer to painting - each module is like a brush stroke. And here we have much more freedom - we are our own artists. Suppose I decided that the hair on the mosaic should be gold - and I make it gold.”

16. But this is far from the only difference between mosaic and stained glass. The work here is much more delicate - sometimes you have to lay out modules a little larger than an eyelash. And they still need to be cut out of glass and, if necessary, polished. The modules have to be fitted tightly to each other, with the smallest gaps. It’s not for nothing that craftsmen call this work jewelry.

19. If necessary, the module can be polished on a special machine

20. “We usually lay out modules starting with a specific element. Here, for example, is a berry,” and Andrey showed me a sketch of a new mosaic and began to move his finger around the angular, stylized berry, “I’ll lay it out first, then a row around it, then another row. But sometimes it happens differently - look at how Andryukha works,” and Andrey nodded towards another master who was working on the mosaic icon of St. Nicholas, “he first laid out the face and brushes, secured them and inserted them into the overall panel. And now everything else is being built around them.”

23. Most of the mosaic artists in the workshop have an artistic education, but Andrey, when I asked how he started doing mosaics, answered with a grin: “I actually came here to work in the garage, I have no artistic education. I come and they ask me: “Have you ever laid out a mosaic?” Well, I answered no. No problem, they say, we’ll teach you. That’s how they taught me that I’ve been working here for six years now.”

24. The modules are laid out on mounting film - a self-adhesive sheet that holds the glass pieces in place. When the whole picture is assembled, arakal, another self-adhesive sheet, is glued on top of the front part. After this, the mosaic is turned over and the mounting film is removed, and in its place they put a base - a special fabric, onto which the mosaic elements knitted with arakal are finally glued. When the modules are firmly fixed to the base, the arakal that has become unnecessary is removed.27. Such cunning manipulations are done so that the artist, when typing, sees the front part of the mosaic - the way it will appear after installation on the base. There is, however, also a so-called reverse set, when the mosaic is assembled in a mirror image directly on the arakal. But glass for mosaics is a whimsical thing: often one side can be strikingly different from the other in design and color, and it will be very difficult to predict what the mosaic will look like in the end when it is set back. “And after that the fun part begins – rubbing the seams. The grout is selected to match the color of the modules and, if necessary, the desired color is added. But after this, the work may change beyond recognition: some areas will lighten, others will darken, and some colors may merge. And nothing can be done about it - you can only imagine each time what will happen in the end.”

28. The work went on as usual - small pieces of glass, one after another, lay on the table, forming a future picture. I finished filming, watched the mosaicists at work a little more, and then left the workshop. Before leaving, I looked into the studio office and met Leila there. We started talking - about art, about photography, about the internal affairs of the studio. “You can get tired of any work, even creative work. Any artist can get burned out and then need a break. If we see that a person has fallen into a stupor, then we try to give him some other work - sort out samples, go somewhere.”

29. At the end of the conversation, Leila took out a large black box with glass samples from under the table: “Now I’ll show you something... if you don’t like them, then you have nothing sacred.” With these words, she threw back the cardboard cover, and even rows of thin plates appeared to my gaze. With burning eyes, Leila began to sort through them, and soon took out one piece of glass: intricate multi-colored stains spread inside the thin transparent square. In the thickness of the next square, a colony of mold seemed to have grown, and another sample was pierced by airy white feathers.” “When you’re tired of everything and have no strength, this is what helps you not give up and move on.” And in these words there were feelings much deeper than simple devotion to the profession.

The modern art of home decoration is constantly developing new styles, techniques and materials. Not so long ago, another interesting direction appeared - painting on glass. It has already become popular in the USA, many European countries, and gradually came to Russia. If you would like to learn more about decorating walls on a glass surface, including those made by yourself, then this article is for you.

What types of paintings on glass are there?

To have such a decorative element in your home, you can go in different ways. The simplest and most hassle-free is to purchase a reproduction applied to a special base made of anti-reflective glass. The image can be the creation of your favorite artist, a family photo, etc. This glass painting can decorate the living room, study, bedroom and any other room of your choice. Often such decorative elements are used in offices.

Another option is to make it, but this requires appropriate materials and some hand-made skills. However, if you have inspiration and a strong desire to learn, you can always take advantage of a variety of master classes. The rest of the article will describe how to make a painting on glass, including using paints and beads.

How to paint glass at home?

To work you will need:

• glass on which you will draw;
• oil or (on a transparent surface they look most beautiful and delicate);
• palette (if you have paints in tubes);
• brushes of different sizes;
• a jar of alcohol;
• cup of water;
• dry rags.

Alcohol and rags are needed to clean and degrease the glass surface, water is needed to rinse the brushes before changing colors. The best brushes are made from squirrel tail.

With the help of these simple devices a picture is drawn on glass. You can make it with your own hands in 2-4 days, depending on the complexity of the work.

If you have the skills of an artist, then you will cope with this work much faster. Alternatively, you can place a template previously drawn on paper under the glass and trace its contours by moving a brush over the transparent surface. After finishing the work, it is not recommended to dry it with a hairdryer, as the air flow can dislodge paint particles.

In a similar way, you can paint not only a flat surface, but also a three-dimensional one (vase, bowl and other vessel). In this case, the paper template is placed inside the product.

How to make bead applique on glass?

Another interesting option is an image laid out using beads. Such work may turn out to be more labor-intensive than drawing, but the result will not disappoint. A picture made of beads on glass can turn out to be very original and eye-catching. To work you will need:

• glass base;
• sample;
• beads of different colors and shades (depending on the complexity of the pattern);
• glue (for example, PVA);
• dry and wide brush;
• toothpicks or matches.

You can use a regular photo frame as a base. Mosaic is done in various ways. You can carefully pour the beads onto a surface previously greased with glue, and then distribute it using a match or toothpick. Remains of beads are cleaned with a dry brush. Another option - painstakingly laying out one bead at a time - can be used on narrow and small forms. The optimal approach can be called a mixed technique, which uses the two methods described above.

What is a modular painting?

A special type of item used for wall decoration is an image that is divided into parts of different sizes. They are called modules and, when combined together, form a single composition. There can be either a plot or simply a geometric picture on glass. Modular - that's what it's called.

The number of composition elements is not limited by strict rules: there can be three (triptych), four (polyptych), five or more (multi-panel). Modules are usually rectangular (located vertically) or square.

This is one of the varieties of how you can decorate a room. It is important to remember this nuance: a picture on glass (modular) must be combined with the surrounding environment in style and color scheme. In custom production, modular paintings are printed not only on glass, but also on a number of other materials, such as canvas, fabric, etc.

Details and accessories are an integral and very important part of any tastefully decorated interior. A picture on glass is an original and modern interior decoration, as well as an excellent gift for almost any occasion.

Among the various creative trends, the top ten has recently been supplemented by the composition of mosaic glass. Modern methods and materials make it possible to create mosaic canvases that are durable, colorful and practical. It’s worth turning your attention to mosaic glass, which is used to create panels of varying complexity at home. As a result of a fascinating creative process, a waterproof coating will be created that can be safely used for interior or exterior decoration.

Mosaic as a form of creativity dates back more than 6,000 years.

This fact is confirmed by fragments of the floor and walls discovered during excavations of Sumerian temples.

In ancient Greece, mosaics were laid out using river pebbles. Despite the meager range of colors, craftsmen created beautiful patterns on the floors of homes even from gray stones.

Ancient Rome had a special love for mosaic tiles. It was in this country that people began to willingly create bright paintings from broken glass, which were durable, matte and colorful. The name of this mineral is smalt.

Description of mosaic glass

When the term “mosaic” is mentioned, many people imagine beautiful stained glass windows of foreign cathedrals. But we hasten to immediately dissuade readers that the technique of creating stained glass and colored glass mosaics are significantly different.

Colored glass for mosaics can be of two types:

• glass modules;
• smalt.

The appearance of smalt is disc-shaped. Immediately before the creative process, the disc is split into pieces. Smalt is used mostly by professionals to create high-end mosaics. It does not have a transparent, but rather a matte structure. Broken glass tiles have quite a decorative and colorful look to fit into a modern bathroom interior.

For those who are just getting involved in this creativity, it is worth turning their attention to the modules. These are colored fragments glued to a paper base or packaged in plastic containers. Glass fragments can be of various geometric shapes and sizes. It is more convenient and safer to work with such modules.

Those who want to make mosaic paintings with their own hands will need the following materials:

1. glass cutters;
2. liquid nails, PVA glue or transparent silicone;
3. tile grout for seams;
4. smalt or glass modules;
5. marker, construction pencil.

A product made from broken glass should not cause injury, so you should use safety glasses and gloves throughout the entire creative process.

Technology for creating mosaics from broken glass

Do-it-yourself mosaic from glass modules. The creative process begins with visiting a finishing materials store and preparing the work surface.

The surface of the wall must be smooth, with no depressions or cracks on it. On the wall or other surface that is intended to be transformed, a drawing is applied, dividing sectors by color. Then the glass modules are separated from the adhesive base and begin to fix them. Modular tiles can be glued directly to the wall with the front side facing outwards, carefully leaving gaps. If the drawing requires, then The glass is cut with pliers to the required size.. You can make a mosaic. But this will require experience with wire cutters.

After the design is laid out using glass blocks, the surface is left for a day for the glue to dry. Then dilute the tile grout for the joints according to the instructions and carefully fill the space between the fragments of the image. After one day, wipe the mosaic with a damp cloth, and then dry. To give the painting a finished look, it is recommended to open the glass modules with varnish. This will increase the service life and give the painting a holistic look with a pleasant gloss.

Mosaic laying technology - “reverse set”

There are several ways to create mosaic paintings. One of them is reverse dialing. In this case, the mosaic glass is glued face down onto sheets of paper. In this case, choose a glue with a weak fixation, for example, PVA. If paintings of significant size are created, then there may be several such fragments on paper. The technique for creating a mosaic in this case has the following sequence:

1. prepare the wall;
2. fragments, pre-numbered, are glued to the wall using silicone or liquid nails;
3. after all the sheets with modules have been glued, wait a day to dry;
4. then moisten the sheets with water, wait and remove;
5. prepare the grout mixture and fill the seams between the mosaic fragments;
6. after 24 hours, clean the surface of the grout and give the painting a completed look.

What is remarkable about this technology is that fragments of the future image can be created in advance and in another place. And the sheets with mosaic glass will be delivered to the installation site on the eve of their fixation.

Mosaic glass in the interior

What can be made from glass?

Glass mosaics can decorate not only the flat surfaces of the bathroom, an apron over the kitchen work surface or a panel in the living room; this technique can also be used to decorate three-dimensional objects. Examples of this include flower containers, vases, floor lamps, mirrors, garden furniture, bathroom accessories, crafts, tiles, etc.

Crafts made from broken glass can be especially useful for a schoolchild or loved ones as a gift or token of attention.

If you want to create a beautiful wall panel using the mosaic technique, then To do this, you need to prepare the following materials:

• glass modules or smalt;
• base for mosaic (glass, plywood, drywall, etc.);
• transparent silicone;
• glass cutters;
• glass cutter;
• sketch;
• tile grout;
• protective gloves and glasses;
• rags.

It is better to choose glass as a base for mosaics. This is convenient if you use a ready-made image of real size, which is placed under it and slowly, lay out the drawing, exactly following the contour and color of the original. It is recommended to glue colored tiles with transparent silicone; for ease of use of the glue, a syringe is filled with it. Frosted or dark-colored glass is laid out around the perimeter of the picture in the form of a frame. The dried work is treated with grout, wiped with a rag and varnished..

Stained glass mosaic also looks original, but its creation technology has some peculiarities.

What can be made from broken glass?

Experienced mosaic artists can use more than just colored glass as a material. They use fragments of tiles, colored pebbles, shells, eggshells, beads, broken glass, etc. A do-it-yourself glass mosaic, laid out around the perimeter of the photo frame, will attract the views of all loved ones.

You can make a glass mosaic on the wall with your own hands, using wet plaster coated with glue. Mosaic fragments, pre-glued onto sheets of paper, are simply pressed into the wall. After the solution has set, the paper is removed with a damp sponge. To seal the joints, gypsum or tile grout is used. To make the painting more expressive, you can add the desired color to the grouting mixture.

If there is no desire or opportunity to purchase ready-made glass fragments for mosaics, they It is recommended to do it yourself. To do this, you should, armed with a glass cutter, prepare pieces of the required size and shape (triangular, square, rectangular, diamond-shaped). The glass should be approximately 3 mm thick. It is best to paint white glass modules with spray paint.

For convenience, it is recommended to glue transparent pieces of glass to the film and spray paint on top. This method will allow you to obtain a high-quality painted front surface. When the paint has dried, the modules can be separated from the film and arranged according to color scheme. Oil- and alcohol-based paints are suitable for painting glass.

By the way, as an idea for a drawing, you can use simple embroidery patterns for needlewomen.