Flaws

An update...but first a bit of a nerd out....

                             ......the flaws and imperfections in hand made glass are beautiful.
And now for the update. The lights are fitted in a casing in the bottom of the box now, the panels fit well for the most part and only two stages to finish the piece.

 One problem remains. Do I add the more figurative detail or leave it in the current state of pure block shades?  Im leaning to detail as thats what i planned to begin with but it could very well lose some charm. Any input is more than welcome.

A raw sketch in glass

 Bottom layer

Top layer
Next step I burn the top layer and paint the markings on the He111's wing. I need to mount the lights inside and hang the panels one above the other in the ww2 steel tin i found on the streets of London. I know pride is a sin but not bad for a weekend ay?

Ready for burning

The next step is something I invented in university. I will burn the glass over a candle of similar low heat fire source and then Matt varnish the resulting ash. Ive done tests and it looks so much better that black paint. I do however have a 20% fail rate with this technique as heating the glass at one point to highly causes a shatter. (I must try and research a more reliable way) So in that spirit here may be the last picture of the first stage in one piece. =S

 The next layer is the aircraft wing. I've cut the pattern but this one needs painting before construction.  These pieces are rough first stages and will be painted and the metal treated to turn the lead black.

Not very good but its a steep learning curve.

First leading

I've leaded up my first ever stained glass piece. There are 3 breaks and 5 mistakes in total that i can see. It is the first layer of a multi-layered window to be fitted into a 1938 ammo tin. it will hopefully show a scene from the Blitz.

First Cuts

First ever stained glass pattern. Two breaks but nothing I cant fix. It would be better if I didn't break it in the first place but it all comes with practice i guess.