Glassline Paints on Clear Glass

Got a bunch of clear glass scrap & wish you could dress it up a bit?

Need a bunch of color, but can't afford all of them?

I love using Glassline paints to create patterned glass and this technique is one of the easiest ways to get a complicated look. Shake the bottles well and add water if you need to thin them out. Use a skewer if you need to stir. I always start my line in an extra bowl, to make sure that the consistency is right. This bowl becomes my bowl o' brown. All of those colors mix and dry in the bowl, then when I want a brown wash, I add water and brush it on the glass.





After you've checked the speed that the paint is coming out of the bottle, you're ready to lay down some lines. Draw them out touching each other or spaced out. Experiment to see the different effects you can get. When the lines are still wet, slowly drag a toothpick across the paints, pulling the colors sideways and into each other. Zig zag from one edge of the glass and the back.



After the paints have dried, load them up in a kiln (on top of kiln washed shelves or ThinFire).
Fuse to a low temp just to tack the paints on. Then, when the pieces come out of the kiln, you can cut the glass up to incorporate into other projects.

Sample Firing Schedule

(that works in my kiln)

250 dph - 1000 degrees F - 30 minute hold

200 dph - 1100 degrees F - 20 minute hold

500 dph - 1350 F - no hold

full - 900 degrees F - 30 minute hold

150 dph - 700 degrees F - 0

0000

By the way, I've had my set of paints for at least 3 years and have not run out of any of the colors. I do have to mix them every time I use them. I do recommend buying an extra tip set (little metal tips that screw on to the top of the bottles to make bigger or smaller lines). It's also helpful to have an extra squeeze bottle filled with water to clean out the tips AS SOON AS you're finished with the color.

On a side note: Check out the Frank Stella inspired plate I made with Glassline paints and frit in this post.