GLASS PAINTING

Painted glass bowl

There’s a huge growing trend and it’s the art of glass painting. It appeals to fine artists just as much as it does to crafters and decorative painters.

But you’re probably wondering if you really can turn a wine glass into a work of art. And absolutely, you have no idea even where to start.

Hang around a little and we’ll guide you along the way. There’s a ton of information for you right here.

Don't miss this...

Have you seen our latest Glass Painting Pattern?

Why not create beautiful hand painted gifts this year?

As we mentioned, painting on glassware is very popular and the demand for project ideas and techniques is growing. In response, the manufacturers in the art industry have risen to the challenge. They’ve come up with new lines of specially formulated paints mediums and other products.

Following this trend, craft magazines are featuring more and more interesting designs for glass surfaces. And indeed you will find free designs here as well to get you started.

Why not try our latest wine glass painting tutorial?  Check it out right now!

From wine glass painting ideas to tips for painting stained glass, we cover all the bases by explaining in detail how to paint glass. If you want to start right now, here's a great pattern for hand painted wine glasses.

We even give you a small introduction to reverse glass painting.


WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Painting on glass presents a few challenges.

First, unless the glass surface is frosted, the surface is very slick and virtually has no “tooth” for the paint to grab onto.

Second, glass is fragile. We’ve had our share of disasters while a project was nearing completion, but from these accidents we can share our tips to help prevent this sort of thing from happening to you.

And third, most of the desired surfaces for glass painting tend to be round in shape…wine glasses, vases, mugs and jars to name a few. This means that one hand is doing the work while the other supports the object. A balancing act to be sure!





DO I NEED TO BE AN EXPERIENCED PAINTER?


The free projects featured on this site are meant for beginners.

You can start with simple designs and decide to move on to very elaborate ones as your confidence grows. Best of all, you can do your artwork on just about any glass surface!

WHERE DO I START?

First you need practice pieces.

Go through your own cupboards or scan garage sales and look for possible candidates. Just don’t start with a really special wine flute your favorite aunt gave you as a gift…not while you’re learning anyway!

Next, shop in art supply stores or online for glass paints. Choose one brand or manufacturer whose product description matches the look you’re going for. Do you want a transparent effect or do you want an opaque (can’t see through) effect?

Also, you'll need a way to apply the paint. This will depend on the project instructions.

Basically you will need a variety of synthetic brushes in different sizes which are meant to be used with acrylics. This link should help you select the right brush type.

Then you have to wash your glass pieces and prime them as instructed by the various manufacturers.

So reading the labels before starting your project is very important.

Are you going to be painting on the underside of a plate? If so then you’ll need to learn about reverse glass painting. The way the paint is applied is very different than if you’re painting on the front of the object.





CAN I MIX AND MATCH DIFFERENT GLASS PAINTS?

It’s strongly recommended that you don’t mix the paints and mediums from different manufacturers.

Each company has a special formula and it differs chemically from the others. This means you could end up with an unstable finish or one that doesn’t stand the test of time. What a shame that would be!

Now, go clear a spot on the kitchen table and have fun with your new hobby!

Glass Painting E-Books


CBP0001 - Martini Safari


CBP0016 Pinecones and Boughs


CBP0003 - Stained Glass Summer Daisy


CBP0010 - Holly And Berries Plate


CBP0017 Polka Dot Snowman and Friends 


CBP0023 Weeping Willow Frosted Vase


Show and Tell

If you have photos of glass projects you've done, we'd love to have you share them here for all to see. People are just fascinated by painted glass! So now's your opportunity to show your stuff!

What Other Visitors Have Shared With Us

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

glass painting large canvas 
I am using a large 48" vinyl clear canvas. Can I use a glass paint without heating in oven? 2. could I possibly use a heat gun to cure?

How to get the Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glossy Brilliant paints to be less transparent and more solid  
I am doing a project on wine glasses and I need the paint to be more solid and less transparent. What do I need to do for the technique to get this effect. …

what brushes or paints should I use? 
I am new to glass painting. I want to have as streak free as possible colour on the candle jars I want to make for Christmas gifts. I will be painting …

Marabu 
More from Marabu! This is my hennah style white ceramic teapot, it is done with Marabu 3D relief paste. Simple black line work with gold and silver accents. …

Marabu 
I love glass painting because each canvas offers a new challenge! This dress bottle is done with Marabu 3D relief paste. Simple black line work with …

Painting on glass blocks 
I painted a design by Renee Mullins on an 8 in glass block. It looked great til I put the lights in and turned them on. The painting shows the unevenness …

Can any glass go in oven? 
I've bought the glass bottles for my very first glass painting however I am not sure if the glass can go in the oven??? There's no oven safe stated under …

Need Extra Fine tip for painting with Pebeo 160 
Hello, I have been painting glass objects with Pebeo Vitrea 160 paints, curing them in the oven. Even though I have purchased several 0.5mm tips and …

Painted Glass Door 
Hereby a picture of a door in my studio which I glass painted with Australian birds.

Love glass painting 
Glass painting is so unpredictable that if you try some new technique or material you never know exactly what you'll get as a result!

making opaque colored glass for use in mosaics 
In a mosaic book I read that you can paint plain clear glass and use it in your mosaic project being sure to put the painted side into the mortar. Has …

Newby glass painter 
I've got into glass painting pretty recently, and am still improving glass by glass! I use Marabu glasArt paints, they have both solid and translucent …

My favourite glass paints are Marabu and Viva Decor 
My name's Elena,I'm Belarusian. I'm not a professional artist, but I've always liked fine arts. Bright colours seemed especially attractive to me. Little …

Glass Painting and Brush Streaks 
I am new to glass painting and have started with Pebeo vitrea 160 transparent. How thick do I apply the paint and how do I avoid brush streaks?

pebeo 150 glass paint  
I love these paint and the effect they give but really struggle to achieve a flesh tone ! Anyone have any tips on what ones mix well to get a skin colour? …

Wine Glass Painting 
I painted my wine glasses with Folk Art paint and let it dry for one month. I went to wash it to see how it would handle being washed by hand and the paint …

Look at painted historic glass bottles.  
I especially LOVE to paint underwater scenes of reefs, wrecks or fish... on large glass bottles, from past years, which have been recovered from the ocean...or …

Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glass Paints 
The most recent piece I did was a 16" glass pendant chandelier, which came out nicely. After doing my sketch with Pebeo glass markers (and speed-dry-setting …

Find general glass painting tips. 
Thank you for the comments I received on my very first painted glasses. I have progressed a little since then and now have home made soy candles in my …

Painting glass chandeliers can change the look of your decor without costing a fortune. 
I have tried a variety of techniques to apply paint, from brushes (including a tooth brush) to sponges and even fingers. Using a sponge allows me to layer …

Reverse Window Painting Not rated yet
Can you please give me step by step instructions for painting on an old window? Also, I need a pattern for a sea turtle. Hello there...Cheryl here …

best paint pens? Not rated yet
Because my hand isn't as steady as I'd like, I use extra-fine paint pens for inscriptions I do on my glass painting (ornaments, glasses, etc.) rather than …

Painting on Glasses, try it on wine glasses or tumblers Not rated yet
Glass painting is such a unique art. I made several glasses for my whole family with Christmas and Easter themes and I fill the finished glass mugs with …

Glass Painting from Exotic Places Not rated yet
I love glass painting. You can chose the colors according to your imagination and still it turns out to be a different but a beautiful creation. Hi …

Click here to write your own.


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You Can Paint These Trees and More

Get Your Video Course Now


Introductory Price

Save 55%  plus
Money Back Guarantee


Glass Painting E-Books


CBP0001 - Martini Safari


CBP0016 Pinecones and Boughs


CBP0003 - Stained Glass Summer Daisy


CBP0010 - Holly And Berries Plate


CBP0017 Polka Dot Snowman and Friends 


CBP0023 Weeping Willow Frosted Vase