Category: Stained Glass
A Brief History of Stained Glass
It is quite evident by the architectural choices being adopted by public edifices that stained glass has almost certainly become fixtures in our modern world. From churches to our homes, stained glass is everywhere accentuating the style and aesthetic of whatever building the décor inhabits. However, this wasn’t always the case.
In fact, stained glass came very close to extinction not long ago. So allow us to dedicate this blog to discussing about the brief but important history of stained glass. Stick around until the end of this article to learn how you too can create mesmerizing stained glasses using Creative Resins’ stained glass paint solutions.
So without much further ado, let’s get started.
The Inception
History shows that the first actual man-made glass was discovered almost 4000 years ago in Mesopotamia. It is believed that Mesopotamians and Egyptians were the very first people to make glass accessories. It was not until the Romans entered the picture that the art of glass-making was perfected, eventually resulting in the creation of stained glass we see everywhere today.
The Romans typically used stained glass on beads and windows. After some time, this art of stained glass-making spread all over the Middle East and eventually made its way to major regions around the world.
The Islamic Period really saw the art of glass-making flourish with the popular alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan inventing 46 unique recipes to make colored glass. He is also credited for teaching future glass-makers how to precisely cut colored glass to construct jewelry, décor, gemstones, and more.
It was this integral moment in history that turned Stained Glass into a popular art form that went on to be used largely in the skilled worker’s industry. Eventually, the trend spread throughout the world, thus imbuing buildings across the globe with their own unique personality and story.
Stained Glass Popularity in Churches
Once the manufacturing of stained glass was pushed into high gear, several churches all across Europe started using them in the early 7th century. With stained glass becoming a defining characteristic of churches, it was only obvious that they would skyrocket in popularity. This was not only because of the aesthetic appeal it gave churches but also because of the fact that they were being used to relay important bible teachings. It was pure visual storytelling.
This popularity of stained glass almost came to a screeching halt during the renaissance era, which saw religious iconography being outlawed and eliminated throughout the European continent. The demolition of stained glass only escalated in the early 16th century with Protestant Reformation seemingly destroying almost all major stained glass windows.
The French Revolution further contributed to the obliteration of many irreplaceable stained glass pieces. So it is incredible how stained glass has managed to survive and thrive in modern culture despite such a tumultuous journey through history.
The Evolution of Stained Glass
Stained glass managed to survive through those dark middle ages by avoiding controversial religious imagery. That combined with the change in people’s preferences and glassmaking innovations over the years has made stained glass extremely appealing and valuable in recent years.
Even the methods used to construct stained glass have changed and become rather convenient. For instance, it is relatively safer today to build stained glass than it was centuries ago, thanks to the introduction of modern tools. Lead Glazing has become obsolete. The glass is made in such a way that it becomes incredibly simple to place them in homes, offices, or churches.
Aiding in this process of making the process of creating stained glass convenient is the wide collection of Stained Glass paint solutions provided by Creative Resins.
Stained Glass Paint Solutions Made by Creative Resins
Creative Resins offers a wide range of Decorative resin paint products to replicate the lead framework with breathtaking and mesmerizing designs.
Our decorative resins are available in a wide range of colors to serve a range of creative purposes which include, simulating the look of lead or stained glass for windows, creating an outline on glass for decorative purposes, and giving a transparent, opaque, and translucent or texture finish to the stained glass.
Our glass paint products give your glass surface the exquisite look they need without erasing its natural aesthetic. The glass paint products we offer are heat resistant, waterproof, and UV stable. In fact, we offer a 10-year warranty on our products to further validate our claims.
We also offer a spray paint variation for stained glass to add to your decorative endeavors with extra ease and convenience. So feel free to browse through our catalog of top-quality paint products and decorative resins for making stained glass today.
You can explore our products here.
7 Ways to Use Stained Glass at Home
One can argue that there isn’t anything quite like a stained glass door. Exuding dazzling light, fascinating patterns, and stunning colors, a stained glass door will instantly enhance the appeal of any space it occupies. Though stained glass is a common mainstay in churches and similar architectural edifices, today it has made its way into residential homes as a crucial part of their décor.
If you too wish to have stained glass doors in your homes, you’ll be surprised by the sheer creative options you have at your disposal with regard to its integration. This article will acquaint you with a few modern ideas that are quite popular today when it comes to installing stained glass doors in homes.
So without much further ado, let’s get started
1. Kitchen Backsplashes
A stained glass backsplash can be a great way to upgrade the style of your kitchen. Stained glass is relatively cheaper than materials commonly used in manufacturing backsplashes. You can easily customize the colors and design of your backsplash glass to best complement the overall visual style of your kitchen. Stained glass backsplashes are very easy to clean and maintain.
For experimenting with colors and patterns, we suggest you use Creative Resins’ very own collection of Decorative Resins Stained Glass Paint.
2. Doors
Doors are undoubtedly the most important part of any household. However, doors tend to block the flow of natural light into the house. This is not the case if you choose to go with stained glass doors instead. You get the same level of privacy as before but with the added benefit of some much-needed natural light brightening up the interior of your home.
3. Partitions
Partitions divide a space into multiple smaller areas. Partitions can make the interior of your home look shoddy… a problem that can be solved if you use stained glass partitions instead. With such partitions, you get the intended purpose served without compromising on style. You can go with patterned partitions for something fancier or opt for opaque plan glass partitions if simplicity is what you are going for.
4. Windows
If you want to add a distinct character to the inside of your home, then stained glass windows in the way to go. These window panels can be personalized as per your wish and sensibilities. You can also experiment with different colors and patterns to create a unique mood or vibe in your home…. something that will leave witnessing eyes stunned.
Similar to stained glass doors, you get the privacy you need with some much need brightness seeping inside your home. These windows are also easier to clean and maintain than their traditional counterpart. All the more reason to opt for this option.
5. For Decorations
You don’t have to go big with stained glass to achieve a desirable result. You can also bring the same visual appeal with stained glass by making minimalistic decorative choices like using stained glass to frame mirrors or hand ornamental pieces from your ceiling to catch the light. Stained glass fixtures is another great idea for the kitchen bathroom. Stained glass lampshades also make beautiful home décor.
6. Shower Doors
Shower doors are the most inexpensive way to give your bathroom a complete makeover and make your showers more enjoyable. The light and colors that pervade your bathroom are said to have a positive effect on your mood. As such, it can be great when you hit the showers first thing in the morning for a beautiful day ahead.
7. Basement Blocks
Homeowners typically use blocks at the bottom of their homes to get some privacy in their basements. You do achieve privacy at the cost of style. Stained glass basement blocks help you get that privacy while adding a touch of personality. These blocks are known to provide extra insulation, which is necessary to reduce heating and cooling costs.
The Bottom Line
As you can see from the above suggestion, you can do a lot with your stained glass. The only thing you need to do to achieve a distinct style and visual appeal is to customize the stained glass with different patterns and colors. To do that, you can take help from any of our decorative resin-stained glass paint products, available at unparalleled priced and delivered straight to your threshold in no time upon order.
Explore our range of decorative resin stained glass paint collections.
Crafting Stained Glass with Quality Resins
Nothing spells awe-inspiring visuals quite like a stained glass. Stained glass windows and doors have been used all around the world to enhance the visual appeal of religious edifices, palaces and other such places for centuries. You can find remnants of stained glass architecture dating all the way back to the 7th century.
Needless to say making Stained Glass was a job done by very experienced craftsmen that were highly skilled in the art of glass making. The process was very labour intense. There are very few places now that offer these medieval skills and the demand for traditional made stained art glass has dwindled over the decades due to the requirement for modern glazing with thermal efficiency, speed of production as well as being economic to produce. However, replicating the look of stained glass isn’t impossible if you have the right solutions and paint products at your disposal. In this article, we would like to walk you through all the steps that will help you create stained glass while recommending a few products from Creative Resins that can assist you in the process.
- Designing the Panel
Gone are the days where you first need to hand draw an outline of what you want your stained glass panel is to look like. Now days, Computer Aided Design (CAD) software packages are common place throughout all sectors of industry and can be used to design and rescale your stained glass panel with ease. Creative Resins purpose made software package, Creative Studio, is readily available to do exactly this and will also convert your CAD drawing into a plot file that can then be used to put an outline bead of resin onto the glass surface using the Wizard Illustrator machine. Fast and efficient and endlessly repeatable this combination of software and machine are the perfect combination for companies looking for fast repeatable production offering the highest standards of finish at a very affordable cost.
- Traditional Colours and Texture of Stained Glass
Making coloured glass in the old traditional methods was a labour of love and highly skilled. Ruby Red was one of the most expensive colours to manufacture created by adding gold and copper together when the glass was molten. If you find a stained glass that has a high composition of red you know someone’s spent a lot of money on it. Conjuring different colours within the glass structure wasn’t just a matter of combining different metals like cobalt to create the colour blue. The old traditional stained glass craftsmen often aimed for deliberate imperfection when manufacturing glass because that’s what gave the glass its distinct texture, colour and value which in the bye gone ages was essential in creating attractive stained glass panels. Today a range of coloured paints and textures supplied by Creative Resins allow for exactly the same results to be created onto modern processed glass providing endless design opportunities at a fraction of the cost.
- Glass Production
The production of glass has moved on leaps and bounds over the past decades and is now an immense part of the modern construction industry. Safety glass such as tempered and laminated have transformed the way glass can be used by designers and architects providing the opportunity for structural glazing. It has also revolutionized the window and door industry where safety glass is a paramount requirement. This has also led to a surge in demand for decorative glass. This demand has been met by the development of the Creative Studio design software, the Wizard Illustrator resin dispensing machine as well as the wide range of decorative outline simulated lead contours and endless glass colour and textured paints all available from Creative Resins.
- Outline the design and Painting the Glass
Now that your design has been created using the specialized Creative Studio design software it is ready to be transposed onto the chosen glass sheet. This is an exciting part as the design you have prepared is turned into reality in front of your eyes. The mesmerizing Wizard Illustrator dispenses a resin bead onto the surface of the glass exactly as you have designed it. Allow the resin outline to dry and then complete your work of art by infilling the sections with the vast range of colours and textures available. Creative Resins have you covered in this department. We offer a line of decorative resins that are perfect for designing stained glass panels.
Allow us to introduce you to some of these solutions that you can try today to achieve the ideal stained glass effect.
I) Supreme Outline Resin
Supreme Outline Resin base is the original formula designed to replicate the mesmerizing look of traditionally leaded and stained glass windows designed and formulated by Creative Resins over 40 years ago. The product is still going strong today and 1000’s of stained glass panels have been made using this system in more than 50 countries worldwide. Supreme Outline is an equal ratio two-component system comprising of Supreme Outline Base and Supreme Outline Hardener. It is a solvent-based system formulated using Epoxy and Acrylic resins which chemically cure and is a non-isocyanate product.
The Supreme Resin Outline is applied as a glossy contour line on the surface of glass or any other substrate replicating the look of visually arresting traditional leaded and stained glass windows.
Purchase Link: Supreme Resin Outline
II) H2O Outline Resin
Creative Resins’ remarkable H20 Outline Solution allows you to replicate the mesmerizing look of traditionally leaded and stained glass windows. H20 Outline resin is a two-component system of equal parts used to apply a resin bead on the surface of glass or any other substrate in to simulate the look and feel of traditional authentic leaded and stained glass windows.
The H2O Outline Resin system is mixed together in equal parts and applied to the surface of the glass using the Wizard Illustrator resin dispensing system. The two components mix immediately prior to being dispensed onto the surface creating a very high-profile contour that looks and feels like real lead. It is a blend of Acrylic and Epoxy resins that quickly harden to replicate a traditional stained glass look.
The Resin Outline exhibits excellent mechanical properties which include high UV stability, weather-resistance, and the ability to form a permanent bond with the surface of glass. H2O Outline Resin can be used to decorate glass in composite doors, windows, shower and wet rooms, bars, and hotels. It has a low VOC content and is virtually odorless. It also has a fast cure time.
Purchase Link: H2O Outline Resin
III) Decorative Infill Resins
To further enhance the look of stained glass panels, we offer a wide range of quality infill resin solutions that are guaranteed to give a distinct but stunning look to your glass panels. Our decorative resins are available in wide range of colours to serve a range of creative purposes which include, simulating the look of lead or stained glass for windows, creating an outline on glass for decorative purposes and giving a transparent, opaque, and translucent or texture finish to the stained glass. These resins will give your glass panel the texture, colour and effect you wish them to imbibe.
Purchase Link: Decorative Infill Resins
IV) Wizard Illustrator
Applying the above resins or paint solutions on your glass panel to create stained glass effect can get tricky. Creative Resins’ Wizard Illustrator simplifies the process considerably.
The Wizard Illustrator kit is a unique decorative glass technology that uses a computer-controlled resin dispensing system to create designs onto glass. It can very well be called a wizard dispensing system, thanks to its ability to dispense resin onto glass. Constructed from industrial strength aluminum with heavy-duty stainless steel guide rails and self-adjusting sealed bearings, these industrial wizard illustrator tools are robust, fast and quiet, and above all exceptionally reliable.
An innovative twin component compact ‘Resiflo’ pump system controls the precise delivery and mixing of the Outline Base and Hardener creating a resin bead/contour that simulates traditional lead giving perfect results time and time again. A limitless range of infill colours and textures are available to create the perfect decorative art / stained glass panels.
The Bottom Line
If you wish to create a stained glass panel to augment the interior or exterior of your residential or commercial building, we suggest you take note of the above tips and buy products from us at Creative Resins. We offer the best paint solutions and resins to create stained glass panels in the UK. You can purchase the products listed above today by clicking on the links provided below each listing.
