It’s a rough world out there. Your best skills are needed more than ever. That’s why it’s so important you look back and take account of all the things you’ve learned here these past 12 months. So this week and next, we’ll select a handful of techniques you must master absolutely. I’ll start right now with …
Oil. Any fool can make things more complicated than they are; it takes a touch of genius to make them simple. That’s why David’s post on oil-based stained glass painting is worth your time. You’ll find it right here.
Next, flooding: if your paint ever blisters and bubbles in the kiln, remind yourself of these essential points. There’s also a quick video demonstration you can watch. All here.
Now an embarrassing one, though it really shouldn’t be. But pricing your work is difficult enough, even without Saint John warning us how no man “might buy or sell save that he has the mark or the name of the beast” (Revelation, 13, 17). And so, if you can take the heat, here’s why you shouldn’t simply calculate the cost at which to sell your painted stained glass. Yes, you have to do much more, and this is why.
Last for today is comfort. All right, this isn’t a “technique” as such. But I still want to state this important reminder: it shouldn’t always feel like hard work. Indeed, to paint glass well, you also need to be relaxed. Watch this clip and you’ll get the idea.
Until the next time –
P.S. These are just four quick reminders from the 50 articles we published here in 2011. The only way to get them all is to join our free email newsletter. Once you sign up, you’ll also get the glass painting tips and techniques we only send to our subscribers. All free and always private (because we will never sell or give your contact details to anyone else).
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Stephen,
Thanks. I joined half-way through the year. I really can’t thank you and David enough. Aside from learning new things each week, it’s also great not to work alone if you see what I mean: my work is so much easier (and better) now I have this sense we glass painters are all “working together”.
Once again my thanks (even though I get the very clear message you enjoy the work you do here – ) and best wishes,
Peter
Hear, hear to what Peter says: your website is a marvelous resource, and it’s always one of the first things I tell my students about.
Happy 2012!
Kathryn
P.S. Once more about my students: this question comes up time and again when I say it’s possible to paint and paint and paint, all in a single firing … they ask, “What happens if (or when!) you make a mistake?” Any chance you can say more about this? Thanks so much. – K.
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your comment. You ask about “mistakes”. Well, I know Stephen has got a whole load of stories he wants to tell you about ‘accuracy’, and he’ll be sure to do that in 2012.
In the meantime, I looked through the archives, and I found this useful article from June 2010. I’m sure it’ll help.
Best,
David
Thanks, David! That’s just what I needed. And I’ll look forward to Stephen’s comments on accuracy – I’m sure they’ll be to the point and also make me smile!
K.
Hello Stephen and David,
just to wish a happy Christmas, a nice holiday for both of you and your families. Also for our glass art friends in your mailing list.
All the best from Kuwait
Hassan
Merry Christmas to you, Stephen and David, and a Happy New Year. And thank you for all the hard work you do supplying us with all these helpful hints.
With great appreciation,
Angela (from Texas)
Stephen and David,
Happy holidays!
Thanks so much for all your technical, artistic, and spiritual advice. Your newsletter makes me feel like a kid looking at the presents around the Christmas tree!
Best wishes,
John
Hi David and Stephen,
Merry Christmas!
I’ve enjoyed the adventure – that’s what it is to me. The skill is a joy to watch, and you cannot buy skill (as Stephen would say).
All the best,
William
Dear Stephen and David,
A very Merry Christmas to both of you and your families. Thanks for the faithful help you both have been to all of us. God bless you!
Mary
Dear Stephen and David,
I hope that both of you and your families have had a very “Merry
Christmas” and I wish for you all a very “Happy and Prosperous New Year!” Thank you for all of the information and technique that
you so willingly share.
Best Wishes for the Future…
Chuck…