• Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
Call us at 888.619.2226
Glass Paint
  • Home
  • About
  • BUY ONLINE
  • INFO
    • PRODUCTS / DATA / VIDEOS
    • HGTV
    • FAQs
    • Make Your Own Colors
    • LIMITED WARRANTY
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • 0Shopping Cart

Could glass paint replace stained glass?

March 22, 2017/in Blog, Glass Paint/by eileen
Could glass paint replace stained glass?

Could glass paint replace stained glass?

If you follow events in the art world, one of the most interesting emerging controversies surrounds stained glass. While the term “stained glass” can apply to glass that’s been painted, colored, enameled, tinted or truly stained, it typically refers to the latter. Artisans have stained or colored glasses for thousands of years, but as an art form, stained glass emerged during the Roman Empire.

Glass paint could be a safe substitute

Today, the safety of stained glass manufacturing methods has been called into question. The intense colors used in stained glass art derives mostly from toxic metals that are added to molten glass during production. Mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and selenium are all known neurotoxins. At the high temperatures required for glass production, these metals are vaporized and are released into the air. They accumulate in significant quantities around glass furnaces. Expensive exhaust filtration systems can be installed to capture the toxic particles, but the cost of these systems is often beyond what an art-glass furnace can or will spend.

That’s left artisans looking for a substitute for glass colorants. As it turns out, they may not need to look far. At its artistic high point in the Middle Ages, stained glass production underwent a significant transformation. Artisans stopped using heavy metal additives to achieve color in glass and turned instead to glass paint techniques. For about 500 years, most “stained” glass was actually painted glass. In the mid-1800’s, European and American glassmakers revived medieval stained glass production techniques, and those are the glass formulations that are under fire today.

Although it was largely reserved for churches during the Middle Ages, decorative stained glass made its way into homes and businesses. About 90% of the stained glass that’s produced today is intended for display in homes and offices. Historic preservation and restoration are actually driving the question about stained glass manufacturing. Antique stained glass windows were often installed in higher-end homes from the mid-1800’s until the Great Depression. Only a fraction of this stained glass art in historic homes still survives. A similar question is facing historic churches – how best can stained glass art be preserved?

Environmental and health concerns about stained glass windows (which typically contain lead beading), may render the question academic. While the number of glass furnaces that can safely produce true stained glass diminishes, more artisans may move to the use of glass paint, which dominated the stained glass art world for about 500 years. A significant number of painted glass artworks survive, and artists are scrambling to relearn glass paint techniques.

Modern glass paint offers a number of options, including a wider range of colors. It also eliminates the need to fire finished glass pieces to bind the paint to the glass.

GlassPrimer™ glass paint was not specifically designed for fine art applications, but it provides exceptional coverage, a broad range of colors and can be used in both interior and exterior applications. It’s also UV-resistant, so it won’t fade, even in direct sunlight.

For more information about GlassPrimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our website.

Photo Credit: Lawrence OP, via Flickr

Tags: glass paint, stained glass
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
You might also like
Wright's Mile High Illinois TowerRemoving glass paint
Iconic Glass Structures – China Central Television HeadquartersIconic Glass Structures – China Central Television Headquarters
Wright's Mile High Illinois TowerGlass fiber development aids aviation
glass-paint-bottle-to-bottle-glass-recyclingGlass bottle-to-bottle recycling facility set to open
Glass paint can transform a bad sceneGlass paint can transform a bad scene
Wright's Mile High Illinois TowerWright’s Mile High Illinois Glass Tower
Wright's Mile High Illinois TowerIconic Glass Structures – Sage Gateshead
Wright's Mile High Illinois TowerCorning puts Gorilla Glass in Automobiles
Popular
  • Customer Reviews / Post your ReviewsMarch 1, 2010 - 9:21 am
  • Glass Paint ForumMay 10, 2010 - 3:55 pm
  • We are Professional Grade Glass PaintSeptember 11, 2014 - 11:51 am
  • VOC Compliance…September 11, 2014 - 11:59 am
Recent
  • What kind of paint can be used on glass?October 17, 2017 - 5:05 pm
  • Tips for using glass paintOctober 17, 2017 - 4:55 pm
  • How to use glass paintOctober 17, 2017 - 4:47 pm
  • Backpainted glass backsplash is a great seasonal project
    Backpainted glass backsplash is a great seasonal projec...June 29, 2017 - 12:00 pm
Comments
Tags
art glass backpainted glass colored glass commercial glass container glass decorating with glass energy efficient glass flat glass frosted glass glass glass bridge Glass Building glass buildings glass coating glass coatings glass decorating glass decoration glass design glass doors glass paint glass paint bathroom glass painting glass paint kitchen glass paint projects glass pool glass printing glass recycling glass strength Gorilla glass how to paint glass iconic glass structures interior glass low e glass metallic glass opaque glass painted glass painting glass photovoltaic glass radioactive glass recycled glass recycling glass safety glass smart glass stained glass tempered glass

Categories

  • Activator
  • Blog
  • Glass Paint
  • Home slider
  • home-first-coloum
  • home-first-row
  • home-second-column
  • home-testimonial-row
  • Skip
  • Uncategorized

ABOUT

Glass Paint – self-priming/permanent-bonding glass paint began outside of the USA in early 1997. In late 2003 Glass Paint moved to the USA for distribution in North America.

QUICK MENU

  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Glass Paint FaQs
  • LIMITED WARRANTY
  • PRODUCTS / DATA / VIDEOS
  • Sitemap

Products

  • Complete Package, Glass Paint Component “A/B” GPPP083®/GPUC083® (Self-Priming Glass Paint/Catalyst) Complete Package, Glass Paint Component “A/B” GPPP083®/GPUC083® (Self-Priming Glass Paint/Catalyst) $265.00
  • Glass Paint Component “A” GPPP083® (Self-Priming Glass Paint only) **Catalyst required Glass Paint Component “A” GPPP083® (Self-Priming Glass Paint only) **Catalyst required $190.00

CONTACT INFO

USA / International

Toll Free: 888.619.2226
Atlanta, Georgia: 718.374.5229
Brooklyn, New York: 718.374.5229
Fax: 888.619.2226
E-Mail: [email protected]
© 2024 Glass Paint. All rights reserved - Enfold Theme by Kriesi
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
Backpainted Glass Is An Ideal SurfaceBackpainted Glass Is An Ideal SurfaceGlass paint can transform a bad sceneGlass paint can transform a bad scene
Scroll to top