Imagine the sun streaming through your custom stained glass window, casting vibrant colors and intricate patterns across your room. It’s a magical sight, but achieving that vision requires finding the right artist.
Just like any other art form, stained glass artists have unique styles and specialties. Ensuring a perfect match between your project and an artist’s expertise is crucial to bringing your vision to life. Stained glass art is an investment into something that, if you care for it properly, will last multiple lifetimes. You want to feel confident that your chosen artist will deliver exactly what you’re looking for.
Just a heads up: This article is for those looking for an independent stained glass artist to commission a custom stained glass piece, and the information provided here does not carry over into the topic of hiring a large, commercial company.
Defining Your Vision
Before reaching out to any stained glass artist, it's essential to have a clear idea of what you want. This clarity saves time, reduces hassle, and helps the artist confidently say yes to your project. Even if you don't know the exact depiction, having a strong vision is beneficial.
To start, sketch out your ideas or gather inspiration from various sources. This could include photos, paintings, or other stained glass pieces. Being able to show these visuals to your artist will help them understand your vision better. Think about the colors, themes, and overall feel you want for your stained glass piece. Are you looking for something modern or traditional? Do you prefer abstract designs or detailed scenes?
Having a well-defined vision not only helps in communicating with the artist but also streamlines the creative process. When you have a clear idea, browsing other stained glass online can help you find artists whose work aligns with your vision.
Note: You should always avoid asking an artist to replicate another's work. It’s not fair to the original artist or the one you’re commissioning. Instead, if you see something you like, contact the original artist for a similar custom piece.
Understanding Custom Instillations
When commissioning custom stained glass for your home, consider the scope and size of the project. For large windows, specialty doors, or complex installations, finding a local artist might be necessary. Local artists can take precise measurements and ensure proper installation.
For smaller windows and transoms, many artists can create panels to your specifications and ship them to you. However, you always run the risk of not getting an exact fit.
Either route you take, it's important to clarify instillation requirements beforehand. Does the artist offer installation services, or will you need to hire a separate contractor? Clarify these details upfront to avoid surprises later.
Setting a Budget
Stained glass art in general isn't cheap. It's a craft that requires a lot of expensive materials, skill, and time. And custom artworks require even more time.
Determine your budget early on so you can have something to discuss with potential artists. A clear budget helps the artist propose designs that fit within your financial constraints. Be open about your budget and ask for transparency regarding costs. Understand what’s included—materials, labor, installation, etc.—to avoid unexpected expenses.
The largest expense is going to be time. So understand the more intricate your design is, the more costly it will be.
Researching Stained Glass Artists
Once you have a good idea of what you want, and how much you can spend, it's time to start researching artists.
Visit different social media sites. At the time of writing this article, Instagram is the most popular site for artist to publish their work. It's also an easy platform to navigate and see all of the artists past work via still photos.
Pay attention to the variety and quality of their past work. Does their style match what you’re looking for?
Artistic style includes both the artistic approach and techniques (or methods) used. By reviewing an artist’s portfolio, you can identify their signature style and determine if it aligns with your vision.
Evaluating Overall "Style"
According to Google artistic style is "the combination of characteristics that make an artist's work distinct, and is the result of the choices an artist makes when creating their work. It's how an artist expresses their vision and portrays their subject matter, and is often identified with form rather than subject matter."
When looking an any artists work, you should immediately be able to gauge if it's a good fit based simply on whether or not you like it.
However, if you want to get more technical you can look at:
- Lines. Are they flowy or straight and more geometric in nature?
- Color. Do they use a lot of bright, bold colors, or are they more partial to muted color palettes?
- Shape. Do they create a lot of "free-form" pieces, or are they mostly inside of a basic shape like a circle or square? For instance, while I have created free-form stained glass pieces in the past, they are few and far between. I have had customers come to me and ask for this, but I prefer to make the over-all shape of the piece, a simple one.
And while subject matter isn't as important since an artist can create whatever you'd like in their own style - it is helpful to look at what they typically create on their own. For instance, If you're wanting a stained glass panel of a landscape scenery, it's a good idea to go with an artist that creates a lot of these.
Note: While on the topic of artistic style, it's important to mention that it is very likely that any stained glass artist you admire can and will do an amazing job with your idea. Even if it's nothing like what they've done in the past. In fact, a lot of stained glass artists welcome a challenge. It's always worth it to contact them to find out!
Consider Stained Glass Techniques
In addition to the different artistic elements listed above, the techniques a stained glass artist uses is a major part of their overall style.
This is a crucial component to consider. There are a number of different techniques that can be applied to create stained glass artworks, and not many artists will be proficient in all of them. Many times, you'll find instead that different artists master different techniques.
For instance, if you wish to have painted elements in your stained glass than you will need an artists that works with paint. Furthermore, there are different KINDS of paint in stained glass. You have the traditional painting style as seen in church windows, as well as wet paints that can be cured onto the glass. The outcome of each is distinct and dramatically alters the final appearance.
Some Common Techniques Found in Stained Glass Art Include:
- Leaded glass - Meaning the entire panel is constructed with lead came.
- "Tiffany style" - Meaning the entire panel or piece is constructed with copper tape and solder
- Traditional painting - This involves applying, reducing, and curing a chemical compound onto the glass that allows the artist to get very detailed lines and shading.
- Wet painting - When we paint is applied directly onto the glass and cured at high temperatures so that it cannot come off. Typically this type of painting is used for more simple details like lines and accents.
- Wirework - When artist use wire to add decorative elements.
- Copper overlay - When the artist applies soldered details using a copper overlay. This process allows for more detail, but is typically only on one side of the stained glass piece.
And others...
You can see why it's important to have a good idea of what you want, and to discuss that clearly with the artists beforehand.
Reaching out to Artists
Once you find one or perhaps even a handful of artist you wish to reach out to about your custom project, it's time to start sending emails or direct messages.
At this point you should have:
- Your idea with reference photos
- Measurements (if it needs to be a specific size)
- Your budget
With these three things in hand, simply start up a conversation with the artist and remember to be as open and transparent as possible. Don't be afraid to ask questions or provide feedback to their suggestions.
Collaborating with the Artist
After finding an artist and discussing your project, you can move onto collaborating with them on design ideas. This is where having a clear idea of what you want and being open to suggestions from the artist will come in handy.
As mentioned, some artists may have their own unique style that they like to incorporate into all their pieces, while others may prefer to work closely with the client's vision. It's important to communicate openly and honestly about your expectations and any specific details you want included in the final piece.
Don't be afraid to ask for updates throughout the process and provide feedback if needed.
Understanding the Timeline
Discuss the timeline with your artist. Custom stained glass takes time to create, especially if the design is intricate. Ask for an estimated completion date and factor this into your planning.
Rushed projects can compromise quality, so ensure there’s enough time for the artist to deliver their best work.
Celebrating Your Finished Piece
Once your custom stained glass piece is complete, it’s time to celebrate! Appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that went into creating your unique piece.
Your custom stained glass isn’t just a decoration; it’s a conversation starter and a testament to your personal style.
If you enjoyed your experience, one of the best things you can do to celebrate the artist is to share photos and your experience with friends, family, or on social media <3.