Now, I'd like to introduce you to the Modular Method. It's a cross between the Vertical and Horizontal methods because the more intricate parts of the design are done horizontally on Leading Blanks as CLINGS, but then peeled off, positioned on the panes and the painting of the borders and background are done directly on the window. Advantage--you don't have to lead the hard parts with Redi-Lead AND you save the price of the panel or surface. Complete instructions for the Modular Application can be studied in detail in the Circle of Roses Modular Patterns section. If you have ANY doubts, these instructions will answer all your questions. They start from the beginning, as if you've never picked up a bottle of Gallery Glass. It's so easy.
But what if your window isn't a double hung "one over one" and you can't possibly use pink in your color scheme? Not a problem. Here is the same rose design created for a bay window--usually a decorator nightmare, no matter what window treatment you choose. It uses the same rose and bud pattern, but the arrangement makes it appear quite different. You get the idea.
First, do multiples of the Rose and Bud patterns as CLINGS. Outline and paint them on the Leading Blank and let them dry. Then peel them off and arrange in a pleasing design. Outline the borders and dividing lines with either your pre-made leading strips or use Redi-Lead strips from the Value Pack. Paint the background and border colors directly on the glass. And within one weekend, you've created a major work of art AND saved a significant amount of money. After you have learned the simple steps in the Modular Method, you will have another option in your repertoire of glass painting skills. Confused? Go to the patterns and instructions which are posted below--and read through the expanded instructions. Don't worry, it's not really anything new, just a combination of several application principles and we will have many examples of the Modular Method in coming months.
Miss Carol I have always wanted to make a suggestion to Plaid about a new line of paint...I have had numerous people who have approached me about doing a stained glass painting that they can put in their garden for the sun to shine thru....I do wish Plaid could devise a Gallery Glass formulation that could be placed outside in the yard/garden...that the elements would not harm.....what ya think?
ReplyDeleteGreat Idea. We have been searching for a formulation that would be weather proof for many years--primarily for garage door windows, front doors and entry windows. But there are so many different climates to consider. We can make one that works pretty well in the deep South, but deosn't work the same way in North Dakota. The other drawback is price. It is 5 times more expensive. The stores don't want to raise the price. It's a great suggestion and one that is dear to my heart and will continue to be on my permanent Gallery Glass "wish list". But keep the suggestions coming, please.
ReplyDeleteDo you think there is any "medium" that you could mix with the Folk Art Enamel paint that would give it a transparent look that you could use outside in the garden for a stained glass look?
ReplyDeleteNo, an interesting idea, but there is not a clear medium that will make the Enamels transparent. All craft paint is colored with pigments (which are opaque) not transparent dyes, because the amount of "hide" is what makes acrylic paint valuable.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are some things that you can try for those outdoor projects. But, I can't tell you about them, in print--because they're not for everybody and they are still experimental techniqus. If you will email me , I will give you the benefit of my knowledge and experience. You can try them and see how you come out. You might be surprised.
I so wish I had a job at Plaid LOL....oh the ideas that run thru my head sometimes LOL...do they still have the demonstration positions for people to go town to town demonstrating plaid products? Gallery Glass is my primary specialty but I also deal with Mod Podge and TRYING to learn one stroke painting among others
ReplyDeleteYou ARE an IDEA Man, Bradford. Unfortunately, we don't hire people to demonstrate any more. When I came to Plaid 30 years ago, there were craft wholesale distributors in every region of the country. And the manufacturers would hire people to teach and do Make-It-Take-Its at their periodic Open Houses--to which craft store owners would go to learn about the products and see new lines. But now, all those layers are gone from the marketplace--the wholesalers, the craft store owners and the demonstrators. Sad, really. But who knows, maybe we'll all go back to that system, some day. Stranger things have happened.
ReplyDeleteit would be nice.....too many ideas running around lose in this big head of mine...Ive been wondering lately if you could make preformed sheets of GG and once dry cut out small narrow strips of the GG and form tight coils with them and a version of "quilling" with the GG...like I said too many ideas in this head of mine LOL
ReplyDeleteMiss Carol -
ReplyDeleteWhat is the "protective sealer" used for? Could Mr. Bradford use it to "seal" a project for outdoors?
Hi Laurie..I have a bottle of that sealer but I think its just to protect your work from fingerprints and stuff like that....sure wish it did though...I had even thought about using marine grade polyurethane to see if it would protect it....how long you been doing GG Laurie?
ReplyDeleteBradford is exactly right. It gives the project a harder finish and makes it more difficult to deface or scratch the work--important if you are putting it in a public place. But because it is waterbase, it is not much more weather resistant than the paint itself. In an uncontrolled environment everything is a threat-- heat and cold, unlimited moisture exposure, UV light, etc. In a previous weatherometer test, samples that were sealed with solvent based varnish came out worse--looking like the palms of your hands after a 2 hour hot bath. The sample that looked the best after 3 months--was just the paint and leading without any additional top coat. Hard to believe, right? The paints were upgraded to be as UV stable as they're going to get 15 years ago, so my advice would be to make sure the project cures INDOORS until it is totally dry (15 to 30 days maybe). Then put it out in the weather and see what happens. Please, report back. We're all interested in your results.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any ideas regarding recreating the look of stained glass on a painted wall? (This is part of a display in a local museum; we are recreating a church interior but are having trouble with developing a technique that looks like stained glass for our faux windows>)
ReplyDeleteYou can paint the Gallery Glass on the wall with black lines between and it will be shiny, but it won't be transparent. You can do them on plexi and build window shaped shaddow boxes with twinkle lights poked through a white backer board--behind the painted plexi, but if the boxes aren't more than about 2" deep, the lighted pattern may be too "spotty". I have an example of this technique on the blog under Project Categories>Window Makeovers>Gallery Glass Tiffanesque. It shows the windows, but not the twinkle lights behind the Prayer Room Windows that will be placed on a solid wall.
ReplyDeleteWhat if you had a carpenter build the window shape from moulding, and put picture frame type grooves on the back? Then you paint the design with Gallery Glass on clear plexi and put mirrored plexi directly behind (2 layers)? It will bounce the lights in the room back through the transparent GG and give you a nice effect if you can't electrify the display. If you want to test the idea, take a painted piece you already have and hang it with a mirror behind it in the location of the proposed windows. It will give you a chance to check out the light bouncing idea BEFORE you go to all the trouble and expense. Send us a picture when you're done--interesting project!
If you are not carrying the sealer anymore, what do you recommend using?
ReplyDeleteIn doing Gallery Glass projects, I always choose the modular method because I find it much more comfortable to do. Also, I have always been a fan of stained glass paint windows. The rose and bud patterns are very beautiful and intricate, and the light pink color on the sides is very pleasant to the eyes.
ReplyDelete*Nancy Ferdinand