Here’s what to do when you need to use a tracing brush to paint a really fine line:

1. Load your brush by twizzling it in the paint as usual
2. Then draw your tracing brush against the palette and twirl it as you go so that the hairs all roll up like a rolled-up umbrella

This gives a beautiful point to the tips of the hairs.

A well-shaped brush

It also slows down the descent of paint, because the paint must now go round and round in a spiral (rather than dropping straight down the vertical hairs of your tracing brush).

Here’s a close-up shot. Look at the umbrella-like shape. Look at the pointed tip of the brush.

See how, with a shape like this, the paint must go round and round until it reaches the glass?

Imagine the delicate line that it’ll paint.

Gorgeous!

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When you use a blender, it’s important to act decisively. This is perfectly compatible with acting gently, of course, if this is what’s required.

Gentle decisiveness will get the job done (while indecisive gentleness is just the same as dithering).

That’s why we usually hold our blender as you see right here:

A good firm way to hold a blender

Now whether you grip with three fingers (as shown) or four is not important (it will in part depend on the length of your fingers).

What is important is that those fingers (three or four) push the shaft of the brush against the base of your thumb. And that your thumb grips back.

With a really good grip like this, your also adopt a firmer frame of mind. And this will help you move the wet paint decisively and confidently to where it should be.

Hello again!

Yes, remember it’s a case of …

1. Doing all your water-based painting as usual
2. Doing all your oil-based painting as usual
3. Loading a soft toothbrush with a watery solution of water-based paint
4. Flicking spots of water onto the oil-based paint, especially where there is a good covering of oil

This creates texture and the appearance of age.

A large part of the effect is outside of your control, so it’s a good idea to practice on a test piece first.

Remember: less is often more.

Here’s a close-up which I’ve taken from the picture top-right:

Remember - there's a lot of chance here, and less is often more

And why did this come to mind today?

Well, David and I had tea with a tycoon, and he loved our glass painting, but he wanted us to paint something that looked 18th or 19th century and as if it had come out of one of the world’s finest auction houses …

Actually, his exact expression was: “I don’t want anything that a footballer’s wife would chose”.

Note: in this country, footballers are paid an extraordinary amount of money which is not matched by the taste of their (very temporary) wives whose responsibility it is to spend it all.

Sincere apologies to any footballer’s wife who happens to read this. Rest assured, we can paint you something that looks brand new …

P.S. Doing all this work on the front of your glass means that the back of the glass is nice and clear and clean for all your silver staining. And yes, you can also use this technique on the on the back of your glass where your silver staining is – provided (of course) you learn to stain with oil (not water or vinegar, which just waste your time and money).