How to Paint a Stained Glass Head

Things you’ll never get from a book

Books are great. And being glass painters – apart from using an electric kiln, things haven’t changed much in 1000 years – we love traditional and well-made things. Like books.

Yet books can’t do everything. For instance, I can use words to describe the consistency of the paint until I am blue in the face … and you’d see what I meant in just 5 seconds. Easy. Quick. Clear.

So it didn’t take us any time at all to decide this was a project to write up and also put on video for you.

How to trace, shade and highlight a stained glass head

Thing is, you won’t get to see this kind of close-up detail unless you actually get to spend several days sitting alongside a glass painter in their studio.

And maybe that’s not too likely to happen, because it’s difficult to paint when you know someone is watching your every move …

David’s very good at it, though. (Nerves of steel!)

And both of us are good at using film to capture what happens on the palette, the consistency of the paint, how to load the brush, how the brush comes down on the glass, the angle of the glass, where the bridge is in relation to the glass – and essential details like that.

These are vital details you’ll never get from a book.

And the great thing is, this is not “just” about how to paint a stained glass head.

Absolutely not.

It’s a sequence of techniques you’ll be able to use time and time again, on hands, clothing, clouds, flowers, animals …

Watch the 96 minutes of online video, try things out for yourself, and you’ll be able to use these same steps and manoeuvres on countless other projects which come your way.

Right – what do you get?

Here’s what you get:

Immediate access to an exclusive video channel containing 96 minutes of online video demonstration on how to paint a stained glass face
Immediate access to a photo-packed 13-page PDF download
60-day risk-free, money-back guarantee

What’s in the video forum?

You get to watch 96 minutes of online video. You see what we do. You can watch and copy. Watch as often as you like. Watch wherever you choose.

Essential techniques you absolutely have to see:

Prepare the glass for painting
How to prime the surface with an undercoat
How to trace the main lines
How to lay down half-tones
Softening the lines and half-tones
More about softening and shading
How to reinstate and block in
Highlighting and softening
Painting with oil
Highlighting in oil

Best of all you get to see the palette, the consistency of the paint, how to load the brush, how to move from one thickness of paint to another, how to keep the palette organized, how to hold and move the brush, and vital things like that.

Have a quick look at this 3-minute excerpt on painting with oil on top of unfired water-based paint:

And just see what others say:

“I have spent a most pleasant time watching your online video demonstrations for the painting of St. Martha – they are great. Thank you!” (Peta Crooks, South Africa)

“I love the videos and guide to St. Martha – this is exactly the kind of guide I was looking for!” (Virginia Robbins, Boston, US)

“I’ve just been watching your excellent videos to accompany the St. Martha project. It’s just great to see the techniques demonstrated like this. It’s the best way of seeing what to do” (Sara Burns, Shropshire, England)

“I have enjoyed your videos and am going to probably wear them out while I learn from them” (Jack Delaney, Washington, US)

“The new videos are wonderful! Thank you so much for your care and generosity. Looking forward to trying this lovely approach to things” (Dorothy Plater, England)

“I’m viewing them again and again. Wonderful information on them. You guys are the best” (Guy Pondrom, Missouri, US)

What’s in the PDF download?

The download contains the kind of fascinating detail you will already expect from us:

Overview
Close-up step-by-step photos
Clear instructions
Full-sized water-colour design
Full-sized black-and-white line-drawing to show you traced lines
Full-sized photo of finished work

Coupled with the information you already have in Glass Painting Techniques & Secrets from an English Stained Glass Studio, you will know enough to attempt such a project for yourself.

“I’m finding the PDF on face painting so valuable as I am in the midst of painting two portraits for a Lutheran Church window to be installed in just over a month” (John Olsen, Ohio, US)

Step-by-step techniques and photos to support the 96 minutes of online video

Who’s it for?

As always with our publications, this guide is excellent for serious amateurs and professionals.

You’ll learn a particular sequence of techniques that you can also use in other painting projects.

In other words, whether or not you choose to paint a stained glass head, you can use the same sequence for leaves, clouds, hands, animals … what you will.

All that matters is your enthusiasm and interest.

Give that, and we will work together just wonderfully.

E-mail support

100% risk-free money-back guarantee

Detail you won’t see elsewhere

The brushes you must have and use. How to hold them. How to shape them. How to load them with paint. How to clean them.

How to organize your palette. Where to push the paint. How to control it. How to re-mix dried paint. How to move from runny paint to thick paint (and vice versa). How to move from dark paint to light paint (and vice versa).

How to build up layer upon layer in a single firing. The consistency and application of the essential undercoat. Copy-tracing and strengthening. Softening and reinforcing. Highlighting. Painting with oil and highlighting with oil. All in just one firing.