Stained glass supplies can help you create beautiful images.
Stained glass is glass that has been colored or shaped in some way. Traditionally, stained glass art uses smaller shapes of individual glass to make a larger whole. Stained glass is often used in religious and secular buildings to add life and color to a space that might otherwise feel foreboding or too cavernous. Individual artists also have been drawn to the medium as well, allowing them to create more intimate works of art. If you like to use stained glass you will need supplies. The right supplies can help you create work that satisfies your own vision and intrigues the viewer as well.
Instructions
1. Check your inventory. If you've worked with stained glass before you may have items still on hand to use in new creations. Supplies include the kind of stained glass that you want to use in the color you prefer. Supplies should also include additional items that you can incorporate into any finished design including solder, copper foil, safety tape, marking pens and working safety glasses. If you teach classes in making stained glass you will need items that help beginners as well as material for more advanced glasses. Think carefully about each step in the glass making process and what you and your students need to carry it out.
2. Create a list and include all supplies that you have on hand, material for any intended future projects and a timeline as to when you will need it all. The list should cover all the details as well, such as exactly when you plan to finish a specific area of each piece and how long you expect it to take until it is finished. The list should be as specific as possible and include exact measurements and precise colors as well as all necessary safety precautions. If you are using items that expect heavy wear such as running pliers and a soldering iron check to make sure that the item is in good working order before you start. You may need to order additional items as the term progresses or if you work with a particularly large piece of art.
3. Use multiple sources. Working with stained glass can be a fairly specialized medium. Certain supplies may be easy to come by. Others may require working with a handful of companies that have what you need. Use every resource at your disposal including online companies, local art stores and even hardware stores. If one store does not have what you need another might be able to help you find it.
4. Make sure you have enough storage. Proper storage of materials is essential. The right storage can make sure that your stained glass sheets remain free of cracks. Establish an area in your workspace for each particular item. Buy bins and label them clearly. Include a separate place for safety items so you always know where they are.
