Choosing Stained Glass for Your Project

Most beginner stained glass artists think choosing glass for their project is the easy part of the process, but in reality it is harder than it seems. Choosing just the right glass is a very important first step because your choice deeply affects the whole look of the finished piece. The wrong glass can make an otherwise perfect panel seem very undesirable.

The obvious first thing to be considered in choosing glass is the color. Many commercial patterns come with color suggestions, but nothing says you have to go by them. You know the look you are trying to achieve, so choose your colors accordingly. Remember that stained glass doesn't come in every color known to man, and your supplier may not even have all the colors manufactured.

Color choice is a very personal matter, so take a lot of time deciding what you want. Some computer programs (like Glass Eye) have color samples that purport to be the actual shades of different manufacturers' glass. You can insert the colors and textures into the pattern and decide if it's the look you want.

That's fine if you live nowhere near a stained glass store. But this is one time having a local glass retailer is a real asset. You can go to the store and look at the actual glass you will use in your project, not just a small sample or a computer-generated image. Take all the time you need for this, as it will make a lot of difference in your finished piece.

Once you have a color, there are some different types of glass to consider as well. Here are the basic types of glass we work with at our studio:

Cathedral - totally transparent glass with clear vibrant color, usually only one color per piece

Wispy - cathedral glass laced with "wisps" of white opalescent glass (about 3/4 cathedral and 1/4 white glass). More translucent than full opal glass, you can generally see through it

Streaky - two or more cathedral colors swirled together unevenly across the surface of the glass

Iridized - can be assorted colors, but the glass has a shiny surface that resembles oil on water in certain light. The rainbow-like surface looks like different colors in different levels of light.

Opalescent - semi-opaque glass which has a dense milky appearance due to the percentage of white glass (usually a 50-50 mix of cathedral and white, though sometimes there is more white)

Fracture/streamer - combines bits of glass "streamers" (long lines of color) with flakes and chips of colored glass, all scattered over a clear or single-color background. Note: it's very showy but use sparingly as it can overpower the surrounding glass.

Ring Mottle - opalescent glass with ring-shaped markings across the surface. Background (behind the rings) looks mottled.

In deciding what type of glass you will use, you need to first consider where the finished piece be displayed. Stained glass is a unique medium in that it is designed to have light streaming through it, not reflected off the surface. Under these conditions, like in a sunny window, all the types of glass will work and look gorgeous.

Work to be displayed on a wall, though, won't have the benefit of a light source behind it, so more opalescent types of glass would be more suitable. Note how the light impacts the area where the finished piece will be displayed and choose accordingly.

A lampshade will have a limited amount of backlighting, so colors won't be as vivid as they are in a window. However, you don't want to be looking through the glass at a light bulb or the spider that connects the top-you want to see the design on the shade. Keep the types of glass you choose more opaque than cathedral, and a little brighter than you might use for a window.

Finally, a mosaic piece has no light at all from behind, so colors will be greatly impacted. Also, you may see the glue or concrete right through cathedral glass, which could take away from the look of the over-all design. Choose your glass type accordingly.

The best way to determine which glass type to use is to look at the glass in the light where it will be displayed. So, if the piece will have natural sunlight behind it, don't check the glass on a light box. Take it to the window and see how it looks there. For a lampshade, that light box would be perfect. If your project is a mosaic, put the glass on a table or counter to see how it will look in the finished piece.

Now that you have determined the best type of glass for your piece, you are well on your way to creating the best stained glass art you can. Other factors you will need to consider in choosing glass for your project are the texture and grain of the glass. Don't worry if the glass you purchase has tiny "wrinkles" or unusual streaks or marks. Imperfections are what give art glass it's character, and they can be used to help you achieve the look you desire.

If you still have questions about the best glass for your particular project, your local stained glass retailer should be happy to help you make your choices.