A beginner's guide to glass painting
Glass painting is a fantastic way to upcycle old glassware and give it a new lease of life. Whether you’re eager to bring some colour into your kitchen, or you're looking for inspiration for a side hustle, knowing how to paint on glass is a handy skill to have.
Think glass painting is just for artists? Think again. Using a template (glass painting stencil) means that no artistic skill is required. Basically, if you can hold a paintbrush, you can do glass painting! All you need is a little know-how.
In this beginner's guide, we share our expert knowledge, tips and tricks, as well as a full in-depth step-by-step tutorial with free glass painting stencil, so you can get started on your next craft project.
What is glass painting?
Glass painting is a way of adding decoration and interest to glassware by, quite literally, painting onto glass. In the process you'll create a unique piece of artwork .
Glass painting allows you to add texture and colour to items made of glass, such as drinking glasses, tea-light holders, Mason jars, tumblers, or vases. You can quickly transform them into colourful objects to suit any room in your home.
How to prime glass for painting
Before you get going you'll need to prime the glass item you want to paint. This involves washing it gently using warm, soapy water. This will remove dirt and any dust build-up. Rinse and let it dry thoroughly.
Next, use methylated spirit on a clean, dry and lint-free cloth to fully degrease the glass surface (making sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area). If you don’t have any methylated spirit, rubbing alcohol or white vinegar will also work. Set aside your now-primed glass in a dust-free area to air-dry for around 10-15 minutes and your glass will be ready for painting.
But I’ll let you in on a little secret - if you’re stuck for how to prime your glass, just use regular glass cleaner – the type that comes in spray bottles for windows. It does the trick nicely.
If you’re painting on brand new glass that you’ve bought specially, chances are you won’t need to prime your glass. Priming is more important for older glass items that have been handled a lot, as dirt, oils and dust can stop the paint from sticking to the glass.
How to get paint off glass
It’s possible that during painting some is going to go on an area where you don't want it. In this case, you’ll need to know how to get the paint off.
If you have some nail varnish remover in the house, then this will do the trick. Add a few drops to a microfibre cloth, and carefully wipe away the rogue glass paint. No nail varnish remover? Not to worry – rubbing alcohol will also work.
Another option is to use white vinegar – mix a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar with boiling water and use a cloth to rub gently over the paint you want to remove. It doesn’t matter whether the paint is dry or not, so if you spot a mistake after you have finished you can still fix it!
Try something a bit different with our beginner guide to encaustic art .
Glass painting supplies
The main thing you’re going to want to think about is which paint to use on glass. There are several different options open to you, including the typical glass paint, but you might also want to consider glass paint pens and glass spray paints.
Think about the effect you’re wanting to achieve and how big your working area is. If you’re just looking to dabble in glass painting, then glass paint pens will be a great option for you as they are extremely easy to use and relatively mess-free.
Here are our recommendations for the best glass painting supplies:
Glass paint
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Glass paints come in a wide range of vivid colours, and they come as both oil-based and water-based. Some of the water-based glass paints can be useful if you’re making practical homeware items, as the paints can be fixed in the oven so that they become dishwasher safe.
If you’re a complete beginner, look out for a glass paint set that also comes with a glass outliner, like these glass paints from Pebeo Vitrail.
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Glass paint pens
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Glass paint pens are extremely versatile and can also be used to decorate ceramics as well as glass. Go for transparent glass paint markers for the traditional stained-glass look, or opt for something like the POSCA paint markers if you’re after solid blocks of colour. You can get dedicated glass paint pens, otherwise, any type of permanent marker will work – we especially like acrylic paint pens here on Gathered.
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Glass spray paint
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If you’re working on a large area, then it might be worth considering using glass spray paint. Most spray paint is suitable for use on glass but do be sure to check the instructions first.
If you’re looking to block out large areas with colour before adding finer glass painted details over the top, then spray paint is a good idea. Ideally, you’ll want to use spray paint outside or in a well-ventilated area.
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Methylated spirit
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Methylated spirit is not essential, but it is useful to have when glass painting, especially if you’re looking to sell your wares. Before you start painting, it’s a good idea to clean the glass you’re painting with methylated spirit. This ensures that the surface of the glass is de-greased, and the paint will adhere better to the surface. Be sure to do this in a well-ventilated area.
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Craft knife
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A craft knife is useful for neatening any rogue blobs of glass outliner that have dried out of place. It’s also useful for hand-cutting your own glass painting stencils, especially ones that have intricate details.
A craft knife is also a useful all-purpose item to have in your craft room. But, of course, keep it out of the way of children and animals.
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Glass outliner
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Glass outliner is actually a type of acrylic paste. It comes in a tube with a thin nozzle, and you apply the liner by piping (squeezing) through this tube. The glass outliner makes a raised outline that prevents the different sections of paint from running into each other.
The most popular type of glass outliner is back, but it’s also available in other colours, including gold and silver. You don't need to use a glass outliner (we're not using one in this tutorial), but if you like the stained glass effect then using a glass outliner is perfect for this.
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Paintbrushes
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If you’re using regular glass paint that you apply using paintbrushes, then having a good set will go far. Look for a set that contains a range of brush sizes and be sure to wash your brushes immediately after use. Check out our round-up of the best paint brushes to buy for some expert advice by one of Gathered's resident artists, Sarah Orme.
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Glass to decorate
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You probably already have some items of plain glass lying around the house that you could decorate. But if you don’t, it’s easy to pick up at most pound shops, craft stores and supermarkets.
Clear glass is the most versatile and easiest surface to paint on, but it’s worth also considering coloured or frosted glass.
Top tip: Applying glass paint to frosted glass that's not a result of etching will make it go transparent.
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Glass painting stencils
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If you’re looking for quick and easy glass painting projects, then using glass painting stencils is a brilliant way to go. Simply stick them behind the glass using low tack tape (such as washi tape or masking tape) and trace the design over the top.
Use a fine permanent pen if you wish, or go straight in with the glass outliner or self-adhesive lead.
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Self-adhesive lead
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Self-adhesive lead comes in rolls, and if you’re interested in making your own stained-glass windows, then using lead is a great alternative to using the liquid glass outliner. Using lead in your crafts may sound scary - but I promise, it’s not. If you can use double-sided tape, then you can use self-adhesive lead.
Just make sure it’s pressed down well onto your glass before you start painting. The lead itself is quite soft, so it’s easy to handle and cut to size. And this may sound obvious, but it’s worth saying: don’t use lead for any item that may come into contact with food or drink!
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Glass painting tutorial: How to paint on glass
Follow our easy step-by-step glass painting tutorial, and you’ll soon have your own unique and pretty wildflower glasses, ready for a special candlelit dinner, celebratory afternoon tea or simply just to brighten up your shelves.
You will need
- Glass
- Soft, lint-free cloth
- Methylated spirit, rubbing alcohol or glass (window) cleaner
- Glass paint
- For mistakes: a cotton bud
- For mistakes: nail varnish remover
- Palette
- Paintbrush
- Your exclusive wildflower template
Step 1
First, wash your glass with warm soapy water to get rid of any dust or dirt that may have accumulated. Dry, then rub the surface where you intend to paint with some methylated spirit, glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol (we’re using the latter). This will ensure the paint adheres properly to the glass.
This first step isn’t essential, but I find you get a nicer finish if you clean the glass properly to start with.
Step 2
Next, download and print your glass painting template. Cut off the excess, so that it fits behind the object you are painting.
Step 3
Roll the template into a loop and pop it into your glass. Try to choose a glass with straight sides, but if you’re decorating a curved object (like a wine glass) carefully mould the paper to the shape of the glass by pressing into the curves of the glass.
Wildflowers are rarely tidy in real life so don’t worry too much about losing any of the details. Now you’ve got your template in place, secure it using some low tack washi tape.
Step 4
The template is designed with practical use in mind – meaning, there is enough room to allow people to drink from the glass without risk of accidentally touching the glass paint with their lips (we’re using a half-pint, straight-sided glass).
However, if you would like to be absolutely certain, you might like to add a length of low-tack washi tape around the rim of the glass.
Step 5
Now for the fun part! Contrary to other types of painting, if you’re using transparent glass paints (as we are here) I find it easier to build up your design by painting the foreground first and working your way to the background (as opposed to starting with the background).
So, using a fine paintbrush and some yellow glass paint, start by adding some blobs in the middle of the flowers.
Step 6
Next, add some red berries and dot some red petals around the outside of the yellow blobs to create flowers.
If you can, try not to make the petals touch, as this will cause the glass paint to morph into a different shape.
Step 7
Paint the lavender by dotting blues and purples together to create the flowers.
Step 8
Paint the butterfly using blue glass paint, adding a purple trim to the edge of the upper wings.
Step 9
Load your paintbrush with green paint, then paint the leaves by first pressing light, then pressing hard, then pressing light as the leaf tapers off.
Step 10
If you would like to mix in different shades of green, you can mix glass paints as you would normal paints.
So grab some green and mix with a little yellow to create a lighter, more lime green colour and use this to build up the green foliage.
Step 11
When you’ve finished all the flowers and leaves, it’s time to move on to the stalks. (We left ours overnight before starting on the stalks.)
Draw thin lines from each of the flowers, extending them all the way to the bottom of the glass.
Step 12
If you mess up, grab a cotton bud, dip it in some acetone (nail polish remover) and wipe away the mistake. Leave a few moments to dry (it will evaporate on its own – you don’t need to risk touching it) before trying again.
If the paint is still wet (i.e., you notice the mistake after a few seconds/minutes) and you’re using water-based glass paints, a water-based wet wipe will also do the trick!
Step 13
Once you’re happy with your design, leave overnight to dry.
Step 14
Remove the template and peel off the washi tape. If you want to make your glass painting dishwasher proof, bake in the oven according to the instructions on your particular glass paint.
Step 15
Lightly polish with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove fingerprints and enjoy your mini-masterpiece!
12 top tips for painting on glass
Here are some of our expert top tips to help you get the most from your new glass painting hobby:
- Glass paints can be mixed to create new colours, just like normal paint.
- Glass paint dries relatively quickly. So, if you’re using a palette, only pop in a little at a time, or you risk wasting paint as it dries onto the palette.
- Some people find it easier to mix the glass paints on the glass itself. To blend colours, add a little of both colours to the glass you’re painting, then mix them together where they meet using a fine paintbrush or cocktail stick.
- Glass paint comes as water-based or solvent-based. If you are a beginner, we recommend opting for water-based glass paint, as it’s easier to clean and can be diluted with water if needed.
- Glass paint is generally quite viscous by nature, so mandala-style designs made up of dots work really well.
- If you’re having trouble creating smooth lines with your glass paint, start by adding a dot, then spreading the paint out from that dot.
- If you can, leave your design to dry flat. This prevents the glass paint from pooling in one area.
- If you’re working with water-based glass paints, keep a water-based wet wipe handy for cleaning your paintbrush between colours – I find it more effective when you’re working with a fine paintbrush, rather than swilling the brush around in the water. You can also use the wet wipe to quickly remove any mistakes or rogue paint that finds itself somewhere on your glass where it shouldn’t be.
- Use household glass cleaner to prime your glass before painting. It does the job well and will leave your glass smelling lovely and fresh.
- Water-based glass paints will dry hard within an hour or two (although the instructions always say to leave for 24 hours), and most can be baked in a domestic oven to make your design dishwasher-proof.
- Cocktail sticks or anything with a sharp point are useful for manipulating the wet glass paint by pulling it outwards.
- When painting on a non-flat object (like the glass we painted in this tutorial), it’s a good idea to rest it on a non-slip surface, like a piece of kitchen roll.
5 glass painting kits
Don’t want to have to buy everything individually? Not to worry – we’ve rounded up some of the best glass painting kits so you can get crafting straight out of the box.
1. House of Crafts: Stained Glass Craft Kit
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This glass painting kit comes with everything you need to make a stained glass votive, trinket box and suncatcher, using glass paints with self-adhesive lead strips.
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2. Kreul glass and porcelain metallic glass paint set
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Using metallic glass paints is an easy way to add a touch of luxe to your glassware with very little effort. Use matte metallic glass paint on normal glass (for example, wine glasses) for a pleasing combination of textures. This set contains metallic, glossy, opaque glass and porcelain paints and comes in at a decent price point.
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3. Decola 9 porcelain colours set
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If you’ve already got some paintbrushes and glass to paint, then this glass painting kit would be useful. It contains 9 different colours of glass paint, including white, yellow, green, emerald green, red, dark blue, black, brown and pink. These acrylic-based glass paints have high coverage and can also be used on porcelain, ceramics, plastic or paper.
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4. Magicdo 12 colour set
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If you’re looking for lots of colours, and you’re not keen on mixing them yourself, then this is a good option from Magicdo. You get 12 colours in the pack, plus a useful palette to squeeze your paint into while you’re working. Colours in the pack include violet, crimson, deep blue, orange-yellow, light green, cerulean blue, black, rose, viridian, burn umber, mid yellow, titanium white.
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5. PEBEO Inc glass painting kit
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This glass painting kit from PEBEO contains 10 assorted colours in generous 45ml bottles. Colours include white, yellow, red, paprika, emerald, luzuli (dark blue), turquoise, green, brown and black. They can all be mixed together.
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Learn how to do glass painting with our step-by-steps
We hope you’ve enjoyed our beginner’s guide to glass painting and that we’ve inspired you to try it out for yourself. With just a handful of materials and some plain smooth glass you'll be creating unique pieces in no time.
Challenge yourself to learn new skills
Once you've mastered glass painting, why not have a go at making a stained glass window? It doesn't matter if you don't live in a period property - anyone can enjoy a spot of beautiful light streaming through coloured glass! There's a world of crafting waiting to be discovered on Gathered.
