Glass making dates from 3500 B.C.
Back painted glass consists of a sheet of glass with a painting on the back. To back paint on glass, you work in reverse order from traditional painting --- you paint details and accents first and the background last. This means that you must be very careful when painting the details as changes cannot be made without damaging the underlying work. Not only can you use the back of a flat sheet glass as a canvas, but you can paint on the back of decorative and utilitarian household items made from glass, such as candle holders, wineglasses and plates.
Preparation and Basic Method
Before painting, you must select the piece of glass to paint on, and then select an appropriate paint for the effect you want. After choosing the type of glass, you should clean it with soap and hot water, dry thoroughly, and then clean the glass with alcohol to remove any oils. Do not touch or handle the glass while painting, as your skin oils can affect how the paint adheres to the glass. Then, begin by painting details. For example, to paint a winter holiday wreath, you would paint the berries first, let it dry, and then paint the greenery. Remember that any letters and symbols must be painted mirror image to how they normally read, so that they appear correct when the glass is viewed.
Paint Selection
Glass paints come in both opaque and transparent colors. If you want a painted effect, opaque paints -- which are usually acrylic -- provide solid color that does not let light through. If you want the look of colored or fused glass, use transparent paints -- which are often resin based -- that let light through. Glass paint markers are ideal for detail work, writing and quick projects. Markers are also easier to apply, making them a good choice for beginners and children. You can create special effects using specialty mediums. For example, you can create frosted, iridescent, shimmer and crackled effects. Or, you can use dimensional outliners to create a puffy appearance or use an outliner that gives the look of leaded stained glass. Some paints require that you apply an undercoat and overcoat before and after the color.
Using Baked Paints
Baked paints provide durability to the painting on items that will receive lots of washings and wear, such as dinner plates. If you bake all the colors at the same time, the colors will bleed together. You can do this purposely to provide an antique look to the glass. To keep this from happening, you must bake the item after adding each layer of paint. For example, if painting the previously mentioned holiday wreath, you would bake the item after painting the berries and again after painting the greenery.
Using Stencils and Transfers
Stencils can speed up the painting process. For example, it is a lot easier to paint letters and symbols using a stencil or even a transfer, which can be purchased at craft stores. Some even have adhesive so they stay in place while you paint. To use a stencil, simply place the stencil on the viewing side of the glass and paint on the opposite side.
