Glass paintings may be created with enamels, stains or colors.
Glass painting is performed to decorate and make glass less transparent. Glass can be painted using several techniques, some of which require additional firings. The glass paintings may be categorized according to their theme (e.g., animal, bird, abstract) or according to the materials used to make the painting.
Matte Paintings
Matte paintings are obtained using special matte glass paints or regular acrylic colors. Matte paints are used to color the glass in darker shades of brown, blue, green or black and are applied in thicker layers. These types of glass paints require one or two firings at high temperatures. Acrylic colors may be used to obtain matte effects on glass and a wider range of colors are available. The glass doesn't require an additional firing. The paints can be applied using paintbrushes or can be airbrushed and can be mixed with gum arabic or gum acacia to make them stick to the surface. Unfortunately, though, these paints may peel, making the paintings not very durable.
Oil Paintings
Shinier glass paintings are made by applying oil colors that can be airbrushed on the glass. This technique doesn't require firing, but the paint is prone to peeling and chipping. A different technique of oil glass painting involves firing and the results are permanent, because the colors are fused to the surface. The paints contain oil and turpentine and after application, the glass should be fired to a lower temperature than in the case of other types of glass paints.
Silver Stain Paintings
Silver stain paintings are not silver as the name suggests. A silver stain painting is made using stains that contain silver nitrates. The colors of the silver stain paintings may be red, orange, golden and yellow. Most artists use this type of stain to create accents and combine the silver stain with other colors or enamels that are fired to similar temperatures.
Enamel Paintings
Enamel paints allow the artist to create with a wide range of colors that are applied with a brush. The colors are made up of fine glass particles that have a low melting point. The paintings may be both transparent and opaque. The artist may use several layers of enamels, each requiring a separate firing. To ensure that the paints stick to the glass surface, the enamels should be compatible with the glass.
Vinegar Trace Paintings
Vinegar trace paintings are made with a thick paint combined with vinegar, alcohol and gum arabic. The vinegar trace paints are typically used to create outlines for certain designs or patterns. The paint yields a limited number of colors, including black, dark brown, dark green or blue.
