"Layered" Mirror Frame

Alan Gear from Rainbow Glass shows how to create a picture frame using glass painted with fine lines of gel paint to create an interesting grid design. Here's the technique.

Materials:

water based glass paints
pre-lined paper
pre-cut piece of glass
pre-cut piece of mirrored glass smaller than glass
design accent shapes to decorate mirror
glass paint thickening agent
parchment paper
stirrer
scissors
two-sided tape
Liquid Gold outliner
acetone film sheets

Steps:

Figure A

Add paint to another container that has a top to avoid waste. Add a drop of thickening agent (figure A) and mix well.

Figure B

Cut parchment paper cut in a small triangular-shape (figure B). Roll triangle into a cone shape. Scoop paint into the cone and fold the open end over like an icing tube.

	Figure C
	Figure D

Cover the back side of the mirror with two-sided tape (figure C). Adhere the mirror to the center of the glass (figure D).

Place the glass and mirror at an angle on top of the pre-lined piece of paper.

Figure E

Cut a tiny snip in the end of the paint cone. Use the pre-lined piece of paper as a pattern guide to make diagonal paint lines on the glass (figure E). Let paint dry.

Figure F

Shift the glass so the pattern lines fall at an opposing angle. Maker more lines that crosshatch the first lines (figure F). Let paint dry then repeat this step, building layers and using different colors. If you make a big mistake, just go ahead and wipe away.

Figure G

Use gold outliner to build on top of the colored layers (figure G).

Figure H

Place design accent shapes on work surface and cover it with a sheet of acetone film. Use the gold outliner to outline trace the pattern shapes onto the film (figure H).

Figure I

Fill in the accent designs with gold outliner in crosshatch line pattern (figure I). Let the paint dry.

Figure J

Cut out the accent design from the film sheet. Adhere accent pieces to the mirror piece (figure J).

Resources
glass paints, painting films, kits, designs, items to paint, how-to videos and workshops/courses
Rainbow Glass Paints
Worsley, Manchester
UK
Phone: 011-44(161)790-3025
E-mail: admin@rainbowglass.co.uk
Website: www.rainbowglasspaints.com

The Complete Guide to Glass Painting: Over 90 Techniques with 25 Original Projects and 400 Motifs
by Alan Gear, Barry L. Freestone (ISBN: 1855859505)
Collins & Brown, 2001
Order this title.

Collins & Brown Publishers
London, UK
England
Website: www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk/imprint/collinsbrown/index.jsp

Glass Painter's Motif Library
by Alan D. Gear, Barry L. Freestone
Collins & Brown, 2000
Order this title.

Collins & Brown Publishers
London, UK
England
Website: www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk/imprint/collinsbrown/index.jsp
Guests
Alan Gear
Glass Painter, Rainbow Glass
85 Walkden Rd.
Worsley, Manchester, UK M28 7BQ
England
Phone: 44-161-790-3025
URL: www.rainbowglasspaints.com
Also in this Episode

Our Place : Episode OPL-412
•	"Layered" Mirror Frame
•	Copper Sculptor
•	Copper Catch-All Tray
•	Coffee Table Displays