Author: Joe_Majury, Contributing Editor

An Introduction to Simulated Stained Glass Although I refer to 'stained glass' in this article, I must point out that this term is not 100% correct. True stained glass uses colored pieces of glass cut into shapes and joined with lead. While leading is indeed used in the process I'm about to describe (though it does not actually contain any lead - but does simulate the look of lead as in real stained glass), we do not use stained glass. Instead, a specially formulated paint is applied onto a piece of glass or Perspex (plexiglass). It is quite different from glass painting, which you will see as the article progresses. The paint is used thick and when applied it is opaque. As it dries, it becomes transparent and has the texture of a clear solid plastic. In this article, I will be demonstrating how to apply the leading, the paint, and how to fix common mistakes. This is a VERY easy medium to work with, so I hope that this article gives you enough information to inspire you to go out and create a piece of stained glass yourself. Most importantly – have fun!

Ready To Start To begin with, you need a sketch and a frame. There are two ways to do this. My method was to draw the sketch first, then make the frame accordingly, but I am aware everyone does not have the facilities to do this, so the best way for most would be to buy a ready-made frame, then draw your sketch to fit inside the frame as shown here. I will take you through the other items, one by one. I have used glass here, but Perspex (plexiglass) might be preferable for some uses, such as in a child's room.

Paints For this demo, I will be using Gallery Glass paint. This is a special paint; it is applied thickly and takes approximately three (3) days to dry completely. When applied it is opaque, but as it dries, it becomes transparent.

Self-Adhesive Leading This leading comes in a pack of thin strips that you apply straight to the glass. The brand name is Redi-Lead. The lead is pliable, so you can create curves and nice flowing shapes. If the angle you want to create is sharp, like a right angle, just cut the leading and start with a new piece from your last point. You can also buy it in pre-cut shapes, like circles.

The Safety Blade You'll need a sharp blade for cutting the leading. Because I do my work in a day centre, I cannot leave open blades lying around, so I prefer to use a safety blade, which I can close while I’m not working with it, but at home any type of utility knife would do, as the lead is easy to cut.

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