Every stained glass instructor is different, but the things you will learn from someone who has already been through the frustrations of learning the art of stained glass are invaluable.

Learning in a stained glass classes will save you a lot of time and grief that you would encounter if you were self-taught.

You will learn the basic techniques for scoring, breaking, grinding and leading stained glass at the stained glass classes. You will also learn about the basic tools necessary to complete a stained glass project.

What will you learn in stained glass classes?

In your stained glass classes, you will learn how to select stained glass for your projects. You will learn about different types, textures and colors of stained glass and how to optimize the use of colors in your design at stained glass classes.

You might not create your own design for your first project. You will probably do a simple stained glass sun catcher from a pattern. Depending on the length of your stained glass classes, you might also make a small stained glass panel.

American stained glass artist, John La Farge was born in New York City on March 31, 1835 to french immigrant parents. Upon completion of his formal education in law he ventured to Europe to study art and became stained glass artist.

After his return to the United States he made a brief attempt at practicing law, but soon gave it up to follow his passion for stained glass artist.

Initially, he painted landscapes later moving on to figures and stills and eventually caught a break doing drawings for a magazine. His first prominent assignment, however, was in 1876 when he was commissioned to handle the décor for the entire interior of the Trinity Church in Boston.

That accomplishment represents a milestone in American art as it was the first real mural painted here. Many art historians consider his painting on the end wall above the altar in the Church of the Ascension in New York his greatest masterpiece.

He became intrigued with glass making after becoming aware of certain inadequacies in the industry which limited the ability of a stained glass artist to create brilliant designs with varying transparencies without losing the polished finish.

Stained glass is a beautiful art form that combines the use of various colors, shapes, textures and transparencies with light to illuminate, decorate and inspire the mind, spirit and eye of the beholder.

Children have always been, and will always be, fascinated with shapes and colors which make the stained glass art perfect for them.

Unlike a coloring book page which is colored once and then maybe taped to the refrigerator for a few days before finding its way to the garbage can, a stained glass art creation can bring enjoyment and help boost a child’s self-esteem for many years to come.

There is nothing better than a beautiful constant reminder of the child’s great “achievement”.

In its early days, long before Christ was born; stained glass art was made by mixing different metals with sand and soda and heating them at high temperatures so that the colors were actually a part of the glass.

This type was thicker and the colors were rich and dark. Throughout the decades styles and tastes changed and new ways of using stained glass art were needed.

Whether you are an experienced or new stained glass crafter or artisan, it is important to think about safety in your stained glass workshop or studio.

There are the obvious hazards of working around glass, but tools and chemicals can also be hazardous.

When you go to your stained glass supplier, do not bring small children. There is too big of a risk of being cut by glass and being exposed to toxic fumes, dust and lead.

Some safety tips to be followed to avoid accidents at stained glass warehouses

Most stained glass warehouses post signs requesting that small children do not go into areas where the stained glass is stored. Your local retail stained glass supplier would appreciate not having the stress of having a “bull in a China shop.”

When carrying sheets of stained glass, wear gloves that help you have a good grip on the glass. The gloves should protect your hands from cuts from the razor sharp edges of the stained glass.

Grip the glass on each side. Carrying it with one hand on top and one on bottom creates a hazard that the glass could snap in two. If you grip from each side and the sheet of stained glass breaks, you have a better chance of letting the glass slip away from you without being cut.

You’re getting pretty good at the basics of scoring and breaking stained glass, but you’ve run into some problems with difficult cuts that seem impossible.

There are techniques that will make difficult cuts in stained glass seem like cutting butter.

Scoring disturbs the molecules in stained glass, so you want to separate it immediately after scoring.

Mastering Difficult Stained Glass Cuts

Narrow Strips: A straight strip that is scored less than an inch away from the edge of the stained glass, it will be difficult to pull it apart with your hands. Use running pliers and align the bump in the pliers head on the score line and squeeze. This causes the score to run and break apart.

Straight Lines: When cutting straight lines on larger pieces, you can line up the score line along a table edge. Hold one side firmly on the table while using your other hand to pull down and away, snapping the pieces of the stained glass apart.

Small Squares: If you have several squares of stained glass to cut, use a straight edge to measure the width, run your score line, and then break the strip away using running pliers, breaking pliers, or your hands.

Accounts vary on the earliest use of stained glass mainly because it was invented before recorded history.

Some historians claim it was first used as a domestic luxury in the homes of wealthy Romans in the first century.

Stained glass eventually gained recognition as an art form sometime in the fourth century as Christians began to worship openly and built elaborate churches to celebrate their religion.

History of stained glass

Other historians point to evidence in ancient ruins that implicate the use of stained glass in pagan traditions and decor.

You may never know the exact origin of the medium of stained glass. It is clear that the spread of Christianity is directly related to the expansion of stained glass across the globe.

The twelfth century began what is known as the Gothic Era and stained glass windows took center stage in elaborate and monumental cathedral designs.

Beginning with the innovative designs on the St. Denis, stained glass windows were used to bring light, both literally and metaphorically, into cathedrals to enhance the worship experience.

Most of the stained glass from the St. Denis Cathedral was destroyed during the French Revolution but a few select fragments and even some entire windows can be found on display in varying locations throughout Europe.

Stained glass isn’t just for windows any more. The beauty of your garden can be enhanced by capturing the beauty of the sun’s natural light through stained glass art.

Stained glass ornaments in your garden will capture the sun’s natural light and they will sparkle as the light dances off its surface.

A stained glass stepping stone or garden stone path provides a wonderful mixture of color and design leading to the entry to your flower garden.

Different designs for the garden using stained glass ornaments

Stained glass mosaic garden stone designs are fun to do and can be placed throughout your garden. You can make them yourself with regular concrete mix or special colored Diamond CRETE(tm) Garden Stone Concrete. You can make your own wooden molds or purchase molds from your retailers or wholesalers.

With Tiffany Garden Borders patterns you can build a 4-foot concrete and circular garden border around your flowerbed, tree, birdbath, backyard pond, and sundial or herb garden.

If you aren’t experienced at scoring, breaking and grinding stained glass, just break random scraps of it and arrange them in a design, or in no particular design, in your concrete form.

Since stained glass making is such a fine art much attention is paid to the type, colors and quality of glass used and/or the quality of the paint used on the glass.

The soldering iron, while absolutely crucial to the outcome of the project is often given little or no consideration and attempts to use one borrowed from a friend or found in the tool bin in the garage are often made.

Types of soldering iron

The right soldering iron and type of solder can make the difference in the overall quality of the finished stained glass window or other project, however, and should be given more attention.

Using a low wattage soldering iron as one might find handy from household projects is a bad idea. Irons of less than 75 watts do not retain enough heat to handle the large amounts of solder that are needed to complete your stained glass project.

When the iron loses heat from constant use, the solder suddenly becomes sticky and slow and the joints become messy and unstable. Not only will your stained glass project look unprofessional, it may well fall apart!

Stained glass is actually an incorrect name for a type of art encompassing many different ways of decorating glass for windows, mirrors, lamps or other projects.

Stained glass may be made from many pieces of colored glass cut into a design and soldered together with lead or copper cames (metal strips), it may be painted, etched, actually stained with various metal oxides or even sandblasted.

Sandblasting is a fascinating way to add texture and interest to your stained glass art project. Rather than adding colored, sandblasting gives a unique frosted or abraded look.

This can be used as a decorative “frame” for your stained glass project before painting and setting it in the kiln, or you can create the entire design through sandblasting alone.

Sandblasting equipment can be quite expensive, so you will most likely want to borrow or rent the equipment. You may also consider paying a professional to sandblast your prepared design.

Be prepared to make several phone calls and be clear about what you would like to have done. You will likely be charged a set fee per square foot of the stained glass project.

Making Stained glass is a beautiful and unique art form that has existed for centuries.

Although many different techniques, such as painting on the glass, have been created over the years, the process of makeing stained glass, true stained glass remains nearly unchanged after all this time.

Raw materials needed for makeing stained glass

Making stained glass begins with some basic natural raw materials like sand (silica), soda or potash, lead oxide or lime and one of the various metal oxides to provide the different colors used in making stained glass designs.

These raw materials, in their proper proportions are then mixed in a large vat and heated to 2500? F turning the mixture into molten glass which can then be processed in a variety of ways depending on the effect desired for a particular piece of making stained glass.

For instance making stained glass used in stained glass windows, a lump of the molten glass is caught up at one end of a blow pipe, blown into a cylinder-like shape, cut, then compressed into sheets and cooled.