Do you wonder about stained-glass?

Learning stained-glass offers a great opportunity to develop new creative skills.
You can keep it simple with a very small design, or be more patient and consider a big project to fit a window frame.

In my introduction workshops I propose easy projects which are ideal to have a full experience about what stained-glass is.
I usually explain the process comparing it to drawing or painting. And here are below the essential to know.

Drawn Lines vs Lead structure

Usually when you draw lines on paper, you create patterns and shapes, and blending graphite will help to create 3D. Colours are an option.
When you create a stained-glass pane, the lead came is like the drawn line on paper. It gives shape to your idea, but it also structures the pane as it joints the pieces of glass together.

Importance of Light

If we consider first watercolour, it offers a sense of light thanks to its translucent properties. Hence the importance to play with the white of the page. As far acrylics or oils are concerned, the light needs to be enhanced by the use of titanium white in mixes. But when it comes to stained-glass, you use the real sun light! It is a major difference with other arts. It defines it as “environmental art” where the connection with nature is essential.
Read the following points to learn about stained-glass in churches, the role of light, and the importance of stained-glass during the Medieval times.

Images for illiterates

It is important to remind that the purpose of stained-glass leads us back to Medieval Times when stories of the Bible took shape on windows in churches. It is the power of images to give access to the content to everyone, especially illiterates people.

The third dimension

The other aspect is how light travels through the window pane and gives life to colours on the walls and floor, this is the third dimension. There is here a shared experience of Beauty which can be felt as a magic or spiritual experience. The glass properties enhance light and offers a new perception of it involving time and space.

Orientation of churches
Did you know that churches are oriented East? This makes the main entrance facing West. Next time you visit a church, notice how cold colours are used on the left side (North): blue, purples and some green. The nearer we get to the altar, more greens and yellows are present in the compositions and on the right side (South) colours become flamboyant with a lot of yellow, gold and red. Stained-glass panes are composed and installed within the architecture following the sun travelling East to West.

Have your own experience!
If you wonder about having a try, I organise day workshops to introduce stained-glass step by step. I provide all material including tools, lead and glass.

- Draw your own design
- Create your templates to cut the pieces of glass
- Learn how to safely nibble glass
- Assemble all pieces with lead cut to the right measures
- Solder

Find below a few examples of stained-glass art works.
It is a very satisfying process :)