Expert: Stephen Byrne - 11/27/2009

Question
Hello,

I have done copper foil for a few years now. I want to make a panel with an image of my son's face on one piece. As far as I have been able to find out it seems that I have 2 options which is either glass painting or screen printing. I'm not much of an artist and because of the expense, my wife is not keen on me buying a kiln.
   
What are my options here?

Also, one other question. Is there any difference between a ceramic/pottery kiln and one for glass? I see some ads on the Internet from local people selling used ceramic/pottery kilns.

Thanks,
Mike from Montreal, Canada  

Answer
Hello Mike,
I think you are correct in your assessment.
That is, either you find some moreorless mechanical means to apply the image, or you paint it by hand.
If you paint by hand, there are either traditional stained glass paints - and these require a kiln - or there is the kind which doesn't either require any firing at all, or which can indeed be fired in a domestic oven (subject to manufacturer's instructions). I only have experience of traditional kiln-fired stained glass paints.
Painting a face by hand requires artistry, but not necessarily the kind of artistry that can reproduce a photographic likeness. That is, it is perfectly possible to "conjure up" a particular face with just a few lines. That's what great cartoonists do.
So I wonder what kind of verisimilitude you're after, what degree of photographic realism? Can I leave that one with you for now. (But of course I'd be glad to correspond further, since it's a fascinating line of thought.)
There's a good short book on glass and print. It's called ... Glass and Print, by Kevin Petrie. Maybe it would be useful to you?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glass-Print-Handbooks-Kevin-Petrie/dp/0713664916
(That's the English reference.)
It explains other options than screen printing.
Now about kilns, ceramic kilns definitely go hotter than is needed for kilns that simply fire stained glass paint. It's a big subject, and, since it's a life-time investment, it's worth detailed consideration. Again, I'd be glad to answer further questions at any time.
There's a lot of useful information here, when you decide you want to spend an hour or two considering the wider issues:
http://www.cookingglass.com.au/
Lastly, about traditional stained glass painting in general, there's a load of free information plus various free downloads on our own blog right here:
http://www.realglasspainting.com
I hope this helps.
Please do ask whatever questions you feel we can help with.
All the best,
Stephen