by Zachary Zeller
Many people think of only those pretty stained glass windows found in churches when art glass is mentioned. But art glass refers to any decorative glass that is created by an artist using a small furnace in a glass studio. There are art glass patterns for a vintage look, a contemporary one ¦you name it! Look around online and you will find free patterns galore!
Once glass making was being done by machine, there was a movement toward turning art glass into a fine art. This is amply represented by schools such as the Bauhaus in Germany, The Applied Arts in Prague, and Corning, in New York.
It is amazing that anything as beautiful as art glass can be both fragile and durable at the same time. Anyone familiar with Lalique, Tiffany or Steuben, will know what I mean. You no longer have to pay a fortune to have beautiful art glass in your home. With time, patience, the right supplies, and practice you can make it yourself.
On the web, you can find hundreds of art glass patterns, from the very simple to the most complex, and from free to pricey. There are patterns for windows, lamps, sun catchers; an endless array to choose from. Browse the galleries to see how the finished designs look. It will be difficult to make a choice.
the loose fragrant cavendish
and the shag,
And the bright Virginia
loose under the bright glass cases,
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)
Here is a small sample of what you will find online:
* Light Romance-Sun catchers and stained glass panels, in an eclectic collection from simple to intricate and from art deco to Southwestern
* Stained Glass Patterns-A collection of free designs.
* Acadian Glass Art- Line drawings for some classic glass patterns.
* Warner Criv Patterns-Over 173 free stained glass patterns organized by category.
Our ideal ... must be a language as clear as glass—the person looking out of the window knows there is glass there, but he is not concerned with it; what concerns him is what comes through from the other side.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)
You need to have an outline of what is entailed before you embark upon this adventure. Once you have planned your design, or found a free art glass pattern, you need to cut out the individual pieces and apply them to the glass that will be cut. Then you score and break the individual pieces with a glass cutter and grind off the excess glass be careful.
Next you foil each piece. Foiling is when copper foil is placed around the edges of the stained glass. It is sticky on one side to allow it to stick to the glass and provide a surface for the solder to adhere to. Then solder it all together and clean up. You will get better with each piece you do. Display your art glass proudly!
Prices for the art glass patterns that are not available free of cost vary, depending on who the artist is and how complex the design. If you are a beginner, I recommend that you limit your learning to simple free patterns. Before you know it you will be making, jars, bowls, goblets, bottles, ashtrays, jewelry, mosaics, lamps and glass panels!