Stained glass is undergoing a renaissance. Colored glass paintings are increasingly used by designers for interior design in the most different style. Such a picture is able to decorate the room, become its accent, set the tone for the entire interior. But in the past, making stained-glass windows was a time-consuming and expensive task, while modern techniques allow you to create masterpieces on glass yourself.
Styles and techniques
There are many styles of stained-glass windows, because the stained-glass window itself appeared in the Middle Ages. It has evolved over time to reflect the cultures different countries and eras, the emergence of new techniques made it possible to diversify the materials used. Now, several styles are used to decorate the premises.
- Classical. Assumes symmetrical pattern, floral motifs or geometric pattern. Performed in warm pastel colors. Appropriate in classic interior with clear lines, solid, heavy furniture.
- Gothic. This is the style of Catholic churches medieval Europe. The semi-darkness, the upward thrust of the narrow lancet windows and high towers with spiers, crimson, scarlet, gold, green, blue, purple colors. It uses religious motives or scenes from the life of medieval knights, castles, exploits, dragons, unicorns. Gothic stained glass will give the space a touch of mystery, fabulousness. It was during the Middle Ages that the most famous stained-glass windows were created, recognized as masterpieces.
stained glass window gothic style- fairy tale and mystery in your home
- Modern. Perhaps a universal style for any interior. The main motives of this style are marine, the idea is the priority of form over content. This style is characterized by smooth bizarre lines, one way or another repeating the shape sea wave, elegance, sophistication. Pale, muted colors, halftones, blue-green colors. Modern goes well with modern technology and gets along well with high-tech interiors.
Stained glass in Art Nouveau style is appropriate in any interior
- Abstract. Assumes geometric pattern and bright, joyful colors. It does not conflict with almost any interior, with the exception of the most orthodox. Brings a special emotionality to the space. In an abstract stained-glass window, it is important to strike a balance between form and color, and then it will never get bored, charging you with optimism and encouraging creativity.
stained glass window abstract style suitable for any interior and never get bored
- Egyptian. Not bright pictures in sandy brown. Figure reproduces Egyptian hieroglyphs, gods, pharaohs and scenes from their lives.
- Antique. The paintings resemble antique mosaics with ancient Greek scenes. Characterized by the presence of many small parts. Suitable for rooms in a minimalist style.
Stained glass in antique style is often a finished work
- Byzantine. Distinguished by the use of not only colored, but also transparent glass, which makes the image seem to be hanging in the air. Such stained-glass windows resemble painting on glass, suitable for rooms filled with light.
The use of clear glass in the Byzantine style creates the illusion of the pattern floating in the air.
- Vanguard. The plot of the picture can be anything. But thanks modern technicians performance, it is given a sense of volume. The image is multi-layered, with three-dimensional details, on transparent or frosted glass, glossy, shining. This stained glass window sets the tone for the entire room and makes it trendy.
Stained glass in an avant-garde style can contain voluminous details
Stained glass in the interior creates a powerful accent, so it is important not to make a mistake when choosing a style. It should be in harmony with the overall style of the room or set it. Then the rest of the interior will complement and beat it without creating dissonance.
You can decorate with a stained glass window any glass or mirror surface. This will give the interior originality, originality and a sense of luxury. It is appropriate to place a stained-glass window in any room.
Where to place a stained-glass window in an apartment
- Window. The stained-glass window will give the bedroom a feeling of comfort, and the nursery - fabulousness. The stained-glass window in the window can be used as protection from the sun, hide the bathroom from prying eyes, add festivity and comfort in the kitchen.
Floral pattern on the balcony window will create the illusion of a country house
- Doors. You can decorate both full glass doors and glass inserts. The drawing is best done in the same style on all doors.
Drawing on all doors is best kept in the same style
- Fake windows. Such glass picture is supplied with lighting and is often installed in bathrooms or on landings.
A stained glass window will help to avoid the feeling of a closed space and additionally decorate the room.
- Ceiling lamps. Large glass shades or acrylic inserts in the ceiling will add originality to the interior.
Gothic interior will decorate the stained-glass ceiling
- Glass partitions. They can be transparent and matte. Such partitions are often installed between the kitchen and the bathroom or the toilet and the bathroom. The stained glass window allows light to pass through, but does not allow you to see what is happening behind it.
Stained glass is a good solution for zoning a room
- Furniture facades, glass tabletops. Decorating furniture with stained glass - good way give it a personality. Even old furniture, decorated with stained glass, looks expensive and luxurious.
Stained glass inserts are appropriate for both furniture in the living room and for the kitchen
But not every stained glass can be done independently. There are several types of performance techniques.
Types of equipment
- Classic or set. The most complex and ancient technique. Colored glass fragments are inserted into metal frames assembled into a pattern and soldered. The technique requires special tools and skills. It is used for large structures and only by professionals.
stained glass window classic technique indispensable for large areas
- English or film. The pattern is formed on glass from stained glass self-adhesive film. Each fragment is cut out separately and glued to the place determined by the stencil. The pasted fragments are framed with lead tape. With certain skills, such a stained glass window can be made independently.
- Fusing. The stained-glass window is made without a metal frame by sintering multi-colored fragments into a monolithic pattern. It is impossible to make such a stained-glass window at home; a special oven with a high temperature is required.
Fusing stained glass strikes with the brightness of colors and the integrity of the composition
- Tiffany. This technique is similar to the classical one. Fragments of the pattern are cut out of colored glass, bordered with copper tape. Finished elements are assembled into a pattern and soldered together. For beginners, this technique is difficult, but it is quite possible to master and use it at home.
Stained glass in the Tiffany technique successfully replaces the classical technique
- Sandblasting. It consists in processing glass on a stencil with sand supplied under high pressure. The treated areas become dull, and the pattern becomes airy. Not applicable at home, requires special equipment.
- Cast. Each element is cast or blown from glass separately. After that, the fragments are assembled into a picture using reinforcement or mortar. Does not apply at home.
- Etching. pickling hydrofluoric acid glass creates deep relief patterns. Home use of this strong acid dangerous for health.
- Painted stained glass. The pattern is copied onto the glass and outlined. After drying, the contour of the void is painted with stained glass paints.
In the painted technique, you can create real paintings
- Contour filling. As with the painted technique, the outline of the drawing is first prepared. After it dries, the voids are filled with thick layers of paint. If necessary, the paint is leveled with a brush or wooden stick.
Filling technique most successfully imitates classical styles
Video: making an English film stained glass window with your own hands
The most accessible for self-production are painted stained-glass windows and contour pouring techniques. They do not require special knowledge, materials and tools, and can imitate almost any other technique. For the manufacture of such stained-glass windows, only special paints, accuracy and patience are needed.
Video: do-it-yourself Tiffany stained glass window
What you need to make stained glass
Before you get started, prepare everything you need. For painted and flooded stained glass, you will need paints.
Paints
Special stained glass or acrylic paints on glass are used. All of them have their own characteristics.
Acrylic paints
The composition includes three main components: pigment, water and acrylic polymer emulsion. Sold in tubes or jars.
Acrylic paints are sold in jars and tubes.
Acrylic paints dry quickly, after which they become resistant and elastic. After drying, they are resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. It is very difficult to scrape off the dried coating, as well as to remove it with sandpaper.
Acrylic paints dry quickly and are easy to work with at home.
The color of the finished coating is matte, bright. It is not subject to fading and does not fade over time. Paints of different colors can be mixed with each other. The brush is washed immediately after use with water, for a dried one you will have to use a solvent.
There are two types: fired and non-fired. Fired after application, they heat up in the oven, harden and become resistant to external influences. The firing temperature is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.
Stained glass paints can be fired and unfired
If the paints are not fired, after a week they will dry and harden in the same way as when they were fired, but until then there is a risk of smearing them. The paints are water-based, which is why they are diluted with it. Brushes are also washed with water.
Unfired paints dry from 1 to 3 days depending on the manufacturer. The drawing requires fixing by applying a layer of nitro-lacquer.
These colors are more vibrant. They are thicker due to the synthetic solvent included in their composition. They fit well, they are more convenient to work on vertical surfaces.
Homemade paints
Some masters prefer to use paints own production. They are easy to make yourself from what is sold in hardware stores.
- Based on nitro lacquer. NTs-2141 or another similar one is used. Nitrolak is diluted with solvent 647, in a ratio of 1 to 0.4. Tinted artistic oil paint or building color. The dye is added little by little until the desired color intensity is achieved.
- Based on BF-2 glue. The glue is diluted twice with acetone, tinted with any alcohol-based dye. It can be ballpoint pen paste or other paint. The emulsion is stirred in a glass dish, tested on glass. If necessary, paint is added until the required intensity is reached.
- Gelatin based. 5-6 g of gelatin is brewed with 200 ml hot water to the consistency of a paste and add fabric dye. Drawing from such paint requires fixing with nitro-lacquer.
In addition to paints, you will need a contour for work. This is a special thick paste for outlining the borders of the pattern. It imitates metal frames for pieces of smalt in painted and stained-glass windows.
Circuit
Contours-reliefs are made on a water basis, sold in tubes. With their help, the drawing is outlined, which is then filled with paints. It can also be used to create a three-dimensional drawing.
Stained glass contours can be used to create a three-dimensional pattern
At home, contour paste can be prepared on the basis of PVA glue. To do this, you need 50 ml of dishware PVA, 20-30 ml of natural black ink (the best is Dutch), 30-40 g of silver or bronze powder.
Ink is introduced into the glue with constant stirring, and then powder, until a creamy consistency is obtained. Such a paste is prepared as needed, it is not stored. Stir each time before use. Masters apply it with a brush, forming a roller, it is more convenient for beginners to use a confectionery syringe.
Required Tools
For the manufacture of stained-glass windows using different techniques a special tool is required. In drawing and pouring technique, it will need a minimum:
- ruler;
- pencil;
- glass marker;
- brushes;
- wooden sticks or toothpicks.
And of course, making a stained glass window is impossible without a pattern stencil. How to do it, consider in more detail.
Stencil for stained glass
A suitable stencil can be purchased from a specialized store or stained glass artist. But it is much more interesting to make a stencil on your own, choosing a suitable sketch.
Do not choose a sketch with many details and voids; such a pattern will look sloppy on a finished stained glass window.
The image can be downloaded from the Internet and simply printed at the desired scale, taking into account the size of the future stained glass window. Or take your favorite picture, postcard and enlarge it to the required size.
Photo gallery: stencil samples for self-creation of stained glass
Floral motifs never go out of style and suitable for any room 
The details of the stencil are numbered for the convenience of coloring the stained glass window. 
The lattice complements the flower and gives the picture a finished look. 
Birds - another timeless story for stained glass
Number the details of the picture of the same color. This will help you not to make mistakes when coloring.
How to enlarge a drawing
- Draw the pattern into cells with a side of no more than 1 cm.
- Number the resulting grid vertically and horizontally.
- Dimension from stained glass.
- Transfer the dimensions to paper.
- Mark the sheet according to the number of cells in the figure.
- Draw a grid on the sheet in accordance with the markup.
- Cell by cell, transfer the image from the postcard to paper on an enlarged scale.
- The finished drawing can be corrected, colors can be changed.
If you have drawing skills, you can create a pattern yourself. To do this, transfer the dimensions of the future stained-glass window onto a sheet of paper and mark the contours of the pattern. Draw with a simple pencil to be able to correct inaccuracies.
When choosing an image, keep in mind that its proportions may suffer when enlarged. If necessary, draw the picture not with squares, but with rectangles.
Draw the details, you should be able to whole picture. Circle the finished drawing ballpoint pen or fine marker.
Application
Having prepared everything you need, you can start making stained glass. Make sure that the work surface is level, and remember that if handled carelessly, the glass may break.
Making a stained glass window: step by step instructions
To protect yourself from cuts, the edges of the glass can be pre-pasted before work. masking tape.
Video: a master class for making a stained-glass window with a flood technique
Having mastered the painted and filling equipment, you can try yourself in the English film or fusion technique. This will require large expenses, materials and skills, but it's worth it.
Photo gallery: a few ideas for placing stained glass windows in the interior
Abstract pattern suitable for high-tech style 
Floral ornament decorate living room windows 
A stained-glass window on the bathroom window will give a special atmosphere and protect from prying eyes. 
The geometric pattern for the living room is easy to make with stained glass film 
Stained glass windows of the landing are made in the same style 
Bay windows are well suited for stained glass 
Ceiling insert can be decorated with film stained glass
Creating stained glass windows is a creative and exciting activity. The simplest stained-glass windows can be made even by children. And let your work not be like the masterpieces of world art, but they will bring originality and a particle of your individuality to your home.
Hi all!!
I decided to write a tutorial on creating a mosaic from homemade pieces of glass. You can, of course, buy ready-made glass chips and spread them beautiful pictures, or make ceramic chips by hand in 2 firings. But it is either expensive or very costly in terms of time and resources that are not available to everyone.
To complete this lesson, you will need the following materials:
1) Sheet transparent glass or, if available, colored sheet glass. Perhaps you have glass at home on the balcony, or you can purchase it at a specialized store. In the same place, by the way, small scraps or broken glass are given away for free. You can use glass from under the photo frames. There is another option to look for glass on the street, there is sometimes a lot of it near houses due to the change of old windows to "euro".
It is important to use glass of the same thickness.
2) Gloves to protect hands.
3) Thick wooden ruler for more accurate cutting.
4) Glass cutter. Glass cutters are sold in art stores.
5) Acrylic paints for glass and ceramics. I have them from DECOLA. There are a wide variety of paints on the market. But in extreme cases, you can use ordinary acrylic, and in extreme cases - tempera and gouache.
6) The basis for our mosaic. It can be different depending on the idea. If this is a flat picture, then strong plywood (the main thing is not to bend) or plastic is suitable for the base. Mosaic of small size can cover any surface - flower pots, vases, photo frames and more.
In my case, it's a pot.
7) Glue "Moment" for fixing the pieces. It is best to use the transparent option.
8) Grout for joints, which can be any binder - be it a special tile grout, gypsum, alabaster, etc. For the convenience of applying the mixture, you will also need a small rubber spatula, and for cleaning - a cloth.
1. So, first you need to choose the surface to be decorated and the pattern that we will apply to it. In my case, it's easy. geometric ornament, which I immediately drew on the pot. But if it's over complex pattern, it is worth making a sketch and transfer it to the surface. Here you also need to decide on the colors and sizes of the mosaic that you need. I will have 3 of them: burgundy, brown and yellow.
2. Glass cutting. You may not have tried cutting glass with a glass cutter before, but it's very easy! It is necessary to work in protective gloves. Glass breaks into small pieces that can hurt. If certain sizes of pieces are required, it is better to mark their thickness with a thin marker on the glass. (I do it by eye).
It is better to use glass sizes up to 1.5 cm, otherwise they will lag behind the cylindrical surface.
We put the ruler where you want to cut off a strip of glass and, holding the glass cutter slightly at an angle, quickly draw a line with effort.
Then, we take pliers, pre-wrapped with electrical tape or masking tape, and, holding the rest of the piece of glass in the other hand, break off a strip of glass.
Now we cut squares from this strip, breaking off each one separately. You will also need triangular elements. They are harder to cut. So, when coming up with a drawing, it is worth considering this. Glass chips cannot be shaped with wire cutters like ceramic chips, as they only crumble.
Here are our glasses and ready! It is better to cut immediately with a margin!
3. Coloring glass. Before painting, it is better to wash them to remove grease and dirt from the surface. When they dry, you can start painting! I usually lay them out on a large sheet and paint each one with a brush. It's a pretty fast process! Then you have to let them dry.
I also decided to make inserts in plain stripes. At first I painted them with the help of contours, and after drying, with the same paints as the others.
It turned out a lot of colorful pieces!
4. Mosaic gluing.
To begin with, I draw a drawing on the surface with a pencil.
I cover the edges of the pot with painter's tape to avoid staining them with grout. Whatever the product, there will probably be places that you don’t want to get dirty!
And I begin to glue the top strip of the mosaic on the glue. I apply it on a small area in order to have time to stick 2-4 pieces. Eat difficult places where you need to choose the right piece. Therefore, sometimes you need to figure it out first, and then stick it. Glue should not be too much, so that it does not squeeze out into the seams between the pieces.
I stick it on the top and bottom along the burgundy strip.
Now I glue a yellow strip in the middle.
I glue it with brown stripes on both sides.
I fill the remaining space with a yellow mosaic.
5. Grouting. Most often they need to be rubbed. But if the mosaic is laid close and neat, you can not do this.
First, I prepare the solution. In principle, on the packaging of any grout for tiles or gypsum, it is written in what proportions it is necessary to mix the binder and water. I ran out of grout, so I use white gypsum. The powder must be poured into the water, and not vice versa, and mix! The mixture should have a consistency similar to liquid sour cream. If it gets too thick, you can add a little water. If mixed too thin, the solution will thicken for a long time.
So, the prepared mixture should stand a little and thicken. She doesn't need much.
By the way, this grout can be any color. To do this, add the paint directly to the liquid solution. I add yellow paint.
Then I spread or pour (if not thickened) the mixture onto the mosaic with a spoon and spread it over the entire surface with a spatula. The grout must be driven into the seams between the pieces. It is necessary to work quickly, as the solution quickly hardens.
The solution dried up a little. I take a rag and clean the remains of the solution from the surface of the pieces. If the rag lubricates the solution, then it is not yet dry enough.
After thorough cleaning, the pot is ready! Some corners will have to be cleaned with a sharp object. Let the pot dry for a couple of days. Now you can plant some funny cactus in it!
I note that the fastening of the layer acrylic paint glue moment to the surface is not the most durable ... so if you don’t pick it especially during the manufacturing process (after rubbing the seams, the pieces will stick to the surface of the pot) and after, the product will be durable.
I made 2 more frames. One - from multi-colored remains of a painted mosaic with grout, the second - from colored sheet glass without grout. For the base, simple wooden frames from IKEA were used.
That's the whole lesson!! creative success!! If anyone decides to do something similar, it will be very interesting to see!!
Among the various creative directions V Lately the top ten was supplemented by the composition of mosaic glass. Modern methods and materials make it possible to create mosaic canvases that are durable, colorful and practical. It is worth turning your attention to mosaic glass, with the help of which panels of varying complexity are created at home. As a result of an exciting creative process, a waterproof coating will be created that can be safely used for interior or exterior decoration.
Mosaic, as a form of creativity, has more than 6,000 years.
This fact is confirmed by fragments of the floor and walls found during excavations of Sumerian temples.
IN Ancient Greece the mosaic was laid out using river pebbles. Despite the meager color scheme, craftsmen created beautiful patterns on the floor of dwellings even from gray stones.
They had a special love for mosaic tiles in Ancient Rome. It was in this country that they began to willingly create bright pictures from broken glass, which were distinguished by their strength, dullness and multi-coloredness. The name of this mineral is smalt.
Description of mosaic glass
When the term “mosaic” is mentioned, many people imagine the beautiful stained glass windows of foreign cathedrals. But we hasten to immediately dissuade readers that the technique for creating stained-glass windows and colored glass mosaics differ significantly.
Colored mosaic glass can be of two types:
- glass modules;
- smalt.
The appearance of the smalt is disc-shaped. Immediately before the creative process, the disc is split into pieces. Smalt is used mostly by professionals to create high quality mosaics. It is not transparent, but rather, matte structure. Broken glass tile has quite a decorative and colorful look to blend in with. modern interior bathroom.
For those who are just joining this creativity, it is worth turning your attention to the modules. These are colored fragments glued onto a paper base or packaged in plastic containers. Fragments of glass can be different geometric shape and size. It is more convenient and safer to work with such modules.
Those who wish to make mosaic paintings with their own hands will need materials:
- glass cutters;
- liquid nails, PVA glue or transparent silicone;
- tile grout for joints;
- smalt or glass modules;
- marker, construction pencil.
A product made of broken glass should not cause injury, so it is worth using safety glasses and gloves throughout the entire creative process.
Broken glass mosaic technology
Do-it-yourself mosaic from glass modules. creative process begins with a visit to the store of finishing materials and preparation of the work surface.
The surface of the wall should be even, with no recesses or cracks on it. On the wall or other surface that is intended to be transformed, a pattern is applied with the division of sectors by color. Then the glass modules are separated from the adhesive base and they are fixed. You can glue modular tiles directly on the wall with the front side out, prudently leaving gaps. If the drawing requires glass is cut with pliers to the desired size. You can make a mosaic. But this will require experience with wire cutters.
After the drawing with the help of glass blocks is laid out, the surface is left for a day for the glue to dry. Then, according to the instructions, the tile grout for the joints is diluted and the space between the image fragments is carefully filled. After one day, wipe the mosaic with a damp cloth, and then dry. To give the picture a complete look, it is recommended to open the glass modules with varnish. This will increase the service life and give the picture a holistic look with a pleasant gloss.
Mosaic laying out technology - "reverse set"
There are several ways to create mosaic paintings. One of them is reverse dialing. In this case, mosaic glass is glued face down on sheets of paper. At the same time, glue is chosen with a weak fixation, for example, PVA. If paintings of considerable size are created, then there may be several such fragments on paper. The technique for creating a mosaic in this case has the following sequence:
- prepare the wall
- fragments, pre-numbered, are glued to the wall with silicone or liquid nails;
- after all sheets with modules are glued, they wait a day to dry;
- after moistening the sheets with water, wait and remove;
- prepare the grout mixture and fill the seams between the mosaic fragments;
- after 24 hours, they clean the surface of the grout, and give the picture a finished look.
What is remarkable about this technology is that fragments of the future image can be created in advance and in another place. And to the installation site, sheets with mosaic glass should be delivered on the eve of their fixation.
Mosaic glass in the interior
What can be made from glass?
Glass mosaic can decorate not only the smooth surfaces of the bathroom, an apron over working surface kitchen or a panel in the living room, this technique can also be used to decorate three-dimensional objects. Examples of this are flower containers, vases, floor lamps, mirrors, garden furniture, bathroom accessories, crafts, tiles, etc.
Broken glass crafts for a schoolchild or loved ones can be especially useful as a gift or a token of attention.
If you want to create a beautiful wall panel using the mosaic technique, then For this you need to prepare the following materials:
- glass modules or smalt;
- the basis for the mosaic (glass, plywood, drywall, etc.);
- transparent silicone;
- glass cutters;
- glass cutter;
- sketch;
- tile grout;
- protective gloves and goggles;
- rag.
As the basis for the mosaic, it is better to choose glass. This is convenient if you use a finished image of real size, which is placed under it and slowly lay out the drawing, exactly following the contour and color of the original. It is recommended to glue colored tiles with transparent silicone; for the convenience of applying the glue, they are filled with a syringe. On the perimeter of the picture spread frosted glass or dark color in the form of a frame. Dried work is treated with grout, wiped with rags and varnished.
Stained glass mosaic also looks original, but its creation technology has some features.
What can be made from broken glass?
Experienced mosaic masters can use not only colored glass as a material. Fragments of tiles, colored pebbles, shells, eggshell, bead, broken glass, etc. DIY glass mosaic, laid out around the perimeter of the photo frame, will attract the eyes of all loved ones.
You can make a mosaic of glass with your own hands on the wall, on the basis of raw plaster, smeared with glue. Fragments of the mosaic, previously pasted on sheets of paper, are simply pressed into the wall. After the solution has set, the paper is removed with a damp sponge. To seal the seams, gypsum or tile grout is used. To give more expressiveness to the picture, you can add the color of the desired color to the grout mass.
If there is no desire or opportunity to purchase ready-made glass fragments for mosaics, they recommended to do it yourself. To do this, armed with a glass cutter, prepare pieces of the required size and shape (triangular, square, rectangular, in the form of a rhombus). The glass should be about 3 mm thick. It is best to paint white glass modules with spray paint.
For convenience, transparent glasses are recommended to be glued to the PVA film and spray paint on top. This method will allow you to get a high-quality painted front surface. When the paint is dry, the modules can be separated from the film and laid out on color scheme. Oil-based and alcohol-based paints are suitable for staining glass.
By the way, as an idea for a drawing, you can use simple embroidery patterns for needlewomen.
A real mosaic is a picture laid out from tens, hundreds and even thousands of tiny pieces.
You will now see how such paintings are created - this is a real work of art.
It requires perseverance, attentiveness and a desire to create.
When creating stained-glass windows, a variety of glass is used - from transparent to dense. Over time, quite a lot of remnants of dense, opaque glass accumulated, and the studio decided to try to put them into action - to start laying out the mosaic. Six years have passed since that moment, and now the mosaic can be safely called the second main specialization of the studio. For such important work, craftsmen were trained and workshops were equipped.
In one of these workshops, a spacious room with high ceilings, mosaics are assembled.
The light pouring from the high windows illuminated the huge tables on which were laid out paintings of varying degrees of readiness. At the edges of each table, among the scattered pieces of glass, were all kinds of tools: pliers, intricately shaped wire cutters, glass cutters, knives and markers. Masters were working on two mosaics, bending over.
The walls were lined with high shelving with bathtubs, each of which contained ready-made modules - small rectangular pieces of glass. A narrow staircase pressed against the wall led to a small balcony. With each step, pieces of glass creaked and crunched underfoot - the craftsmen, in order not to break away from work, threw the pieces right on the floor.
At first glance, the mosaic did not differ much from the stained glass window - the same pieces of glass that need to be cut out and fit into the picture. But if you look closely, a whole sea of differences opens up. “Everything starts with cardboard – a drawing of a future mosaic. Only if he comes to the stained-glass windows with marked colors - here it will be yellow, here it will be blue, then we just see common lines and a sketch.
Today, the mosaic is laid out in two main ways. With one, glass is cut exactly to the size of some area - a flower petal or a dragonfly wing - akin to a Florentine mosaic. With another, closer to the Roman mosaic, the picture is assembled from small rectangular pieces. “I don’t like cutting glass – you immediately depend on the colors that are on the finished sheet. Smalt is closer to painting - each module is like a brush stroke. And here we have much more freedom - we are our own artists. Suppose I decide that the hair on the mosaic should be golden - and I make them golden.
But this is far from the only difference between mosaic and stained glass. The work here is much thinner - sometimes you have to lay out modules a little larger than an eyelash. And they still need to be cut out of glass and, if necessary, sanded. It is necessary to adjust the modules to each other tightly, with the smallest gaps. It is not for nothing that the masters call such work jewelry.
If necessary, the module can be ground on a special machine
“We usually lay out modules, starting with a specific element. Here, for example, a berry, - and Andrei showed me a sketch of a new mosaic and began to run his finger around an angular stylized berry, - I will lay it out at the beginning, then a row around it, then another row. But sometimes it happens differently - look how Andryukha works, - and Andrey nodded towards another master who worked on the mosaic icon of St. Nicholas, - he first laid out the face and brushes, fixed them and inserted them into a common panel. And now he is building everything else around them.”
Most of the mosaicists in the studio have an art education, but when I asked him how he started doing mosaics, Andrei replied with a grin: “I came here to work in the garage, I have no art education. I come, and they ask me: “Have you ever laid out a mosaic?” Well, I answered no. Nothing, they say, we will teach. So they taught me that I have been working here for the sixth year.”
The modules are laid out on a mounting film - a self-adhesive sheet that holds the pieces of glass in place. When the whole picture is assembled, an arakal is glued on top of it, another self-adhesive sheet. After that, the mosaic is turned over and the mounting film is removed, and in its place they put the base - a special fabric, on which the mosaic elements connected with the arakal are finally glued. When the modules are firmly fixed on the base, the arakal, which has become unnecessary, is removed.
Mosaic based on the painting by Gustav Klimt "Water Snakes". Andrey worked non-stop on this mosaic for three months
Such cunning manipulations are done so that the artist, when typing, sees the front part of the mosaic - the way it will become after mounting on the base. True, there is also the so-called reverse set, when the mosaic is assembled in a mirror image right on the arakal. But glass for mosaics is a whimsical thing: often one side can be strikingly different from the other in pattern and color, and you can predict it. Predict how the mosaic will look like in the end, with reverse dialing it will be very difficult.
“And after that, the most interesting thing begins - rubbing the seams. The grout is selected according to the color of the modules and, if necessary, the desired color is mixed. But after that, the work may change beyond recognition: some areas will brighten, others will darken, and some colors may merge. And nothing can be done about it - it remains only to imagine every time what will happen in the end.
The work went on as usual - small pieces of glass, one after another, lay on the table, folding into future picture. I finished shooting, looked at the work of the mosaicists for a while, and then left the workshop. Before leaving, I looked into the office of the studio and met Layla there. We talked - about art, about photography, about internal affairs studios. “You can get tired of any work, even creative work. Any artist can get exhausted, and then he needs a break. If we see that a person has fallen into a stupor, then we try to give him some other job - to sort out the samples, to go somewhere.
At the end of the conversation, Leila took out a large black box with glass samples from under the table: “Now I’ll show you what ... if you don’t like them, then you have nothing sacred.” With these words, she threw back the cardboard cover, and even rows of thin plates appeared before my eyes. With burning eyes, Leila began to sort through them, and soon took out one glass: inside a thin transparent square, bizarre multi-colored stains were spreading. In the thickness of the next square, a colony of mold seemed to have grown, and airy white feathers pierced another sample.
“When everything is already tired and there is no strength, then this is what helps not to give up and move on.” And in these words, feelings were much deeper than simple devotion to the profession.
2. Twenty years ago, Alexandria was created as a stained glass studio, and I have already talked about how this technique is used here. When creating stained-glass windows, a variety of glass is used - from transparent to dense. Over time, quite a lot of remnants of dense, opaque glass accumulated, and the studio decided to try to put them into action - to start laying out the mosaic. Six years have passed since that moment, and now the mosaic can be safely called the second main specialization of the studio. For such important work, craftsmen were trained and workshops were equipped.
3. In one of these workshops - a spacious room with high ceilings - I saw how the mosaic was assembled. The light pouring from the high windows illuminated the huge tables on which were laid out paintings of varying degrees of readiness. At the edges of each table, among the scattered pieces of glass, were all kinds of tools: pliers, intricately shaped wire cutters, glass cutters, knives and markers. Masters were working on two mosaics, bending over.
6. There were high racks with bathtubs near the walls, in each of which there were ready-made modules - small rectangular pieces of glass. A narrow staircase pressed against the wall led to a small balcony. With each step, pieces of glass creaked and crunched underfoot - the craftsmen, in order not to break away from work, threw the pieces right on the floor.
10. At first glance, the mosaic did not differ much from the stained-glass window - the same pieces of glass that need to be cut out and fit into the picture. But if you look closely, a whole sea of differences opens up. “Everything starts with cardboard – a drawing of a future mosaic. Only if he comes to the stained-glass window with marked colors - here it will be yellow, here it will be blue, then we just see common lines and a sketch, ”one of the masters Andrey told me.
12. Today, the mosaic is laid out in two main ways. With one, glass is cut exactly to the size of some area - a flower petal or a dragonfly wing - akin to a Florentine mosaic. With another, closer to the Roman mosaic, the picture is assembled from small rectangular pieces. “I don’t like cutting glass – you immediately depend on the colors that are on the finished sheet. Smalt is closer to painting - each module is like a brush stroke. And here we have much more freedom - we are our own artists. Suppose I decide that the hair on the mosaic should be golden - and I make them golden.
16. But this is far from the only difference between mosaic and stained glass. The work here is much thinner - sometimes you have to lay out modules a little larger than an eyelash. And they still need to be cut out of glass and, if necessary, sanded. It is necessary to adjust the modules to each other tightly, with the smallest gaps. It is not for nothing that the masters call such work jewelry.
19. If necessary, the module can be ground on a special machine
20. “We usually lay out modules starting with a specific element. Here, for example, a berry, - and Andrei showed me a sketch of a new mosaic and began to run his finger around an angular stylized berry, - I will lay it out at the beginning, then a row around it, then another row. But sometimes it happens differently - look how Andryukha works, - and Andrey nodded towards another master who worked on the mosaic icon of St. Nicholas, - he first laid out the face and brushes, fixed them and inserted them into a common panel. And now he is building everything else around them.”
23. Most of the mosaicists in the workshop have an art education, but Andrey answered my question about how he started doing mosaics with a smirk: “I came here to work in the garage, I have no art education. I come, and they ask me: “Have you ever laid out a mosaic?” Well, I answered no. Nothing, they say, we will teach. So they taught me that I have been working here for the sixth year.”
24. The modules are laid out on a mounting film - a self-adhesive sheet that holds the pieces of glass in place. When the whole picture is assembled, an arakal is glued on top of it, another self-adhesive sheet. After that, the mosaic is turned over and the mounting film is removed, and in its place they put the base - a special fabric, on which the mosaic elements connected with the arakal are finally glued. When the modules are firmly fixed on the base, the arakal, which has become unnecessary, is removed.27. Such cunning manipulations are done so that the artist, when typing, sees the front part of the mosaic - the way it will become after mounting on the base. True, there is also the so-called reverse set, when the mosaic is assembled in a mirror image right on the arakal. Only glass for mosaics is a whimsical thing: often one side can differ dramatically from the other in pattern and color, and it will be very difficult to predict how the mosaic will look like in the end, when you set it back. “And after that, the most interesting thing begins - rubbing the seams. The grout is selected according to the color of the modules and, if necessary, the desired color is mixed. But after that, the work may change beyond recognition: some areas will brighten, others will darken, and some colors may merge. And nothing can be done about it - it remains only to imagine every time what will happen in the end.
28. The work went on as usual - small pieces of glass, one after another, lay on the table, folding into a future picture. I finished shooting, looked at the work of the mosaicists for a while, and then left the workshop. Before leaving, I looked into the office of the studio and met Layla there. We started talking - about art, about photography, about the internal affairs of the studio. “You can get tired of any work, even creative work. Any artist can get exhausted, and then he needs a break. If we see that a person has fallen into a stupor, then we try to give him some other job - to sort out the samples, to go somewhere.
29. At the end of the conversation, Leila took out a large black box with glass samples from under the table: “Now I’ll show you what ... if you don’t like them, then you have nothing sacred.” With these words, she threw back the cardboard cover, and even rows of thin plates appeared before my eyes. With burning eyes, Leila began to sort through them, and soon took out one glass: inside a thin transparent square, bizarre multi-colored stains were spreading. In the thickness of the next square, a colony of mold seemed to have grown, and airy white feathers pierced another sample. “When everything is already tired and there is no strength, then this is what helps not to give up and move on.” And in these words, feelings were much deeper than simple devotion to the profession.
