Achieve a stained glass effect with low-pigment or washable watercolor paints.
Window paintings are an artistic way to spice up home decor, advertise sales or promotions on store window fronts, or engage kids in a fun community or family craft project. The purpose of your window painting will determine which kind of paint is best for your project.
Cling Paint
Instead of buying sheets of predesigned window clings and sticking them onto your windows, try using window cling paint. This special paint is applied to glass just like regular liquid paint, but when window cling paint dries, it becomes an easily removable, cling-like plastic. Window cling paint is an excellent choice for seasonal or temporary designs and makes a fun craft project for kids.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is excellent for temporary window designs, as it removes easily with paint thinner or mineral spirits. Keep in mind that thicker strokes, coats, or layers of paint will dry bold and opaque, but may be more difficult to remove. Apply warm, soapy water to the window to soften and loosen paint for easier removal when it's time to wash the design off of the glass.
Enamel Paint
If your window painting will be permanent, it is best to use enamel paint. Enamel-based paint will not chip, fade or wash away as easily as other paint mediums. Use stencils or freehand sketch the design or picture on the window with a light-colored, washable marker before applying paint. Since enamel paint is permanent, drawing your design this way will help you prevent or fix mistakes before committing your enamel paint-dipped brush to the window. Once your paintwork has dried, paint a coat of window and tile treatment sealer over the paint to lock in colors and protect your work from cracking, chipping, fading or peeling.
Watercolor Paint
Liquid watercolor paints make excellent window-painting mediums because the bright, semi-translucent colors allow sunlight to penetrate the design, making colors pop. Most of the brightly colored window advertisements you see driving past car dealerships and other glass storefronts are done with watercolor paint. Called watercolor window splashes, these painted window signs so frequently incorporate the use of watercolor paints because the brilliant, eye-catching result captures attention and draws customers. Student-formula watercolor paint tubes contain less pigment than professional formulas, offering more translucence, easier removal and color-blending ease. If your window painting project is a very temporary or kid-based activity, use washable watercolor sets for easy fixes and removal.
