How to Paint Glass
There are a few things you need to know before painting glassware, windows, vases, jars, plates, glasses, mirrors. Will the piece be for decorative purposes? Will it be exposed to heat or wear and tear? Here are a few different methods for you to choose the one that suits you best.
how to paint glass
Enamel Paint- There are many brands to choose from when it comes to enamel paint. You can purchase enamel paint at your local hardware store. It can also be sprayed from a spray can. “Enamel paint” once meant oil-based paint that dries to a hard finish, but some latex paints have adopted the term when they dry to a solid hardness and have a glossy, strong finish.
how to paint glass
Bake or Not Bake- The important thing about the durability of enamel paint is that if you are using the piece for decorative purposes only then freshly cured enamel paint should be fine. However, if you are painting wine glasses or something that is dishwasher safe and requires greater durability and hardness, then you will want to bake the glassware after it has been painted. All glass can be fired. Baking enamel paint on glass will give the glass a tough, tough and durable shell.
how to paint glass
To bake glass after painting: Set your oven to 350 degrees, no need to preheat. Start with a cold oven to avoid breaking the glass. Place your glass object(s) on a cookie sheet or equivalent on tin foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, allow them to cool for a few minutes before removing your items. You can also try using resin-based glass paints. Resin paint should be baked especially for durability. I would use such paints via markers and easy to apply methods. Enamel paints bought from craft stores are usually water-based for easy cleaning. Also, if you don’t like your design, you can wash it with soap and water as long as it’s not baked. You can also paint the windows with glaze mediums and/or glaze and paint mixtures. The glaze is also suitable for baking for extra firmness. You can get a glassware at any craft store.
how to paint glass
Before you begin, be sure to clean the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any oil or grease. On glass, read the instructions on the back of your paint to decide if you need some kind of “primer” or primer underneath the paint. All glass paints are different. Some require a primer, some do not.
