Glass Archive Organized by month.
July 2006 / August 2006 / September 2006 / October 2006 / November 2006 / December 2006 / January 2007 / February 2007 / March 2007 / April 2007 / May 2007 / June 2007 / July 2007 / August 2007

April 26, 2007

On the 24th we talked about the fact that when screenprinting onto warm glass you need to have a mesh frame so you can apply a stencil onto the frame. There are 2 ways in which you apply the stencil onto the frame – directly or indirectly. Applying a stencil directly involves using a photosensitive emulsion to coat the screen. An indirect stencil on the other hand could be a piece of paper with a design cut out.

April 24, 2007

When screen printing onto fused glass you either need to buy or make a frame with a mesh stretched over it. This frame can either be either wooden or metal. However, you might be better off with a metal frame as the wood one can warp.

So why a mesh? The mesh is important because you apply a design(stencil) onto the screen. Thus when you begin to print onto the glass the ink only passes through the mesh where the stencil is not blocking it from being applied to the glass below.

April 21, 2007

How do I use screenprinting to create glass artwork? When it comes to direct screenprinting onto glass there are two main ways the imagery is applied. These are direct printing and transfers. What's the difference? Well with direct screenprinting you put your work straight onto the glass. Transfers on the other hand are printed onto paper and then transferred to the glass by a plastic-like covercoat layer.

April 18, 2007

It might be argued that one of the most popular methods for printing onto glass is screenprinting. Popularity contests asside you might find this method of printing onto your glass artwork a good starting point for exploring the creative potential of glass and print.

April 17, 2007

The pen is mightier than the sword! That may be true but without the ink it would be useless. The same is true when it comes to certain types of printing on glass. Thus if you don’t have the right ink, then you will soon find yourself up that proverbial river without a you know what.

So what kind of ink is the right kind? That’s a good question but first lets back track. As we all know or do not know ink consists of a colorant and a medium. And when it comes to glass you will need a printing medium that burns away while the colorant remains. Therefore your going to need to use a vitrifiable colorant because regular ink will just burn away and you won’t have any image left on your glass when you pull it out of the kiln.

The most common colorant used for printing a fixed image onto glass is enamel. Enamels are low firing glass frits containing metallic oxides and you can purchase enamels for glass printing in either powder or paste form.

April 15, 2007

Photographic emulsion on glass? Yep, you can even put photos onto your warm glass art! People have been experimenting with applying photographs to glass for quite sometime now. However, there is still much room for more research into this area and innovative fused glass artists will find this creative potential a real draw. Photographic emulsion is also known as "liquid light" on glass.

April 10, 2007

When it comes to printing onto glass make sure to always take adequate steps to ensure your safety. Many of the printing mediums out there require you to wear a mask or respirator to help insure that you don’t inhale fumes. Also you should always make sure to read the directions carefully when using a new or unfamiliar product.

April 5, 2007

You can apply print to glass in many different ways. The following is a list of some of the most common types of glass printing.

• Direct screenprinting onto flat glass
• Sandblast resists
• Cold Colors
• Screenprinted transfers
• Digital prints and films
• Acid-etching resists
• Lino-printing and relief
• Photography
• Printing from an etching plate onto glass

April 3, 2007

I've decided that this month will be dedicated to tips and tricks on glass and print. Having said that I would like to say that there is huge potential for creative expression in the world of Glass and Print for both the fused glass artist and glass blower alike.

April 1, 2007

Looking to experiment with a new type of fused glass? Than try using an experimental new product called IIG for your next warm glass project. IIG stands for Instant Ice Glass and is a revolutionary new way of creating art. Instead of using your kiln you use your freezer to create stunning masterpieces.

Just mix the IIG solution with 2 parts flower, 1 part water and then place in your freezer over night. Before falling asleep concentrate really hard on how you want the piece to turn out. Alpha waves sent via your mind instantly react with the IIG solution and begin to create Chihuly like designs. By morning your new glass artwork should be fully formed and ready to display in fine art galleries across the world..............*sigh* if it were only that easy......happy April Fools.