Stain Glass Table Top

May 25, 2009

: The crooked eye

I have been contemplating this project for over a year. Several months ago, I finally began sketches, line drawings, and watercolor and marker drawings for the composition and worked out the colors. I transferred the design to sketch (tissue) paper and positioned on table top. I let the design age for several weeks while I mentally pondered details and refinement of the design. I changed several sections and was, now, ready for cutting glass, and perform a dry run. Once satisfied I transferred design to an adhesive paper. I will construct the design using the mirror image for the reason that I work the design from the back side, this enables the front to be level and smooth, and the irregularities of the glass thickness would be forgiven by substantial layer of tile adhesive. This differs in that usually each tile is “buttered” with adhesive, then, placed on the table or object. Working in the reverse is not terribly complicated but it does affect the composition and over all color positioning. I have used this technique in creating mosaic chairs and side table and the adhesive paper keeps everything tidy until it is anchored to the surface.

Once the adhesive has dried, usually 24-48 hours, the excessive adhesive is removed from between the stain glass, and all smudges are cleaned from the top. This is when the last tweaking of the design is implemented and finalized. The grout I use is a dark charcoal gray. The walnut table top dimensions are: 20” x 16″

Oh! The pink has to go, NOT sure what color will replace it perhaps orange, or red mixed with orange. Nonetheless I am glad my calling in life is not a stain glass person, I appreciated the medium and all the more since I have dabbled with mosaicing but I prefer textiles by a long shot. Give me felting or give me painting. I have begun the fire piece with the black mohair wetted and awaiting the reds, rusts, and oranges.