Recycled Church Glass Cross - In The Sale Tent

I absolutely love this cross.  The glass came from a church in Adrian that a wrecking ball was about to demolish (or the story goes from the person who gave me a box of treasured glass pieces from that church).

Because I can't see beautiful glass go to waste, I have made many crosses of various sizes and shapes using the painted glass pieces.  This one is unusual because every piece of glass in it has been recycled from that church.

I have an old window in my sale that will stay in the sale until Saturday.  If it doesn't sell, I will be dismantling it and turning into similar pieces like the one shown here.  It takes up less space in a box than it does in a frame.


Pat Deere

Glass Painting for Church In New Bern, NC

WHAT A FUN DAY!

I love watching the process of other artists at work and thought... maybe somebody is interested in how glass painting is done.

The first photo makes it look like I am ready to take off, but I am just protecting my lungs from airborne glass paint.

The whole process is not shown here but what you will see is how I am approaching this project.  The glass has already been through one firing where I outlined what I wanted to with simple lines.  That paint was mixed with clove oil, which is a medium I love to use when I need nice long strokes.  Once the lines were painted, fired to 1200 degrees, and the glass cooled overnight, I began the process for the 2nd firing. 

On this panel I chose to use a black tracers paint, mixed in a little gum arabic powder to stiffen it a little, ground the glass with water until I got the consistency I was looking for.  Actually, it came out a little stiffer than I planned, meaning it did not come off as easy with a brush as I hoped for.  Originally, I considered washing it all off and starting again but I like the look that I ended up with. 

So, to make a long story shorter... what you see here is Top Left:  Me in my mask, the next six photos on the right show the process of brushing off unwanted glass using a variety of tools and brushes, and the final piece in the kiln on the bottom left prior to firing once again to 1200 degrees.

Next posting will be my out of the kiln photo and my 3rd, and possibly final, firing.  Make it a great day!

Pat Deere

Day 41: Know my limitations!

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 41

Day 40 Donations: $ .60275

Donations Running Total: $30.2023 (My running total donation is going to the Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department for my labor for sandblasting the beveled glass retirement plaque for them.)

Today's Growth Idea: Know my limitations. This is not always easy for me. I feel like I should be able to do everything that has to do with glass. I often can, but I can't always do it justice.

My History: While in this studio I was commissioned to create new windows for St. Joseph Catholic Church in Adrian. This was my first church commission and it consisted of windows created in a mouth blown glass called, Lambert's Clear Reamy, framed with brass came, and included a beveled border with names of parishioners sandblasted into them. I had the opportunity to experience the church on a committee level. This was a wonderful opportunity for me and it is always satisfying for me to know when working with projects like this, that they will likely be installed there for at least the next 100 years.

Today's Business: The plaque shown here was just picked up by one of the volunteer firemen. I explained my limitations with the sandblasting equipment I have, and they are happy (even though I saw flaws). We decided next time to create the letters larger, because the issue with the equipment I have is that it does not clearly blast through my resist if the letters are really small. I am in the process of cleaning up after the hurricane came through and dropped of all of the stuff that was in my trailer and the rented Budget truck from this week-ends show.

Today's Photo: St. Joseph Catholic Church, Baptistery.

Pat Deere

LINKS: Pictures In Glass, Churches and Commercial Work.

The Mustard Seed

I got an inquiry yesterday about stained glass windows from a church in Louisana that was devasted by Hurricane Katrina. The building was under 4 feet of water. The church they purchased the building from sold it and took out half of the windows.

Today, when I was doing my daily reading, I came across the story of the mustard seed. I know the biblical story but wanted to look it up on the internet to see what else was there. I found among many, this paragraph also: Buddha also told the story of the grieving mother and the mustard seed. When a mother loses her only son, she takes his body to the Buddha to find a cure. The Buddha asks her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a family that has never lost a child, husband, parent or friend. When the mother is unable to find such a house in her village, she realizes that death is common to all, and she cannot be selfish in her grief.[3] (This came from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed when I searched if you would like to know more.)

It helped me to realize the program I have to help churches during Art Glass Month is just a small thing that hopefully will grow with the help and involvement of other people. Each year, during Art Glass Month I will give, for as long as I am able, help to churches with their stained glass needs. This particular church in Louisana is in need of glass to finish their church. Half of the windows were taken out when the previous owners sold. The community has a lot to overcome. If you get on their web site, you will see that although they are a small church community, they are very involved helping other people... even though their own needs are great.

My reason for relaying all of this is, I am offering an opportunity for people to help out with projects like this during Art Glass Month. This is volunteer work. You will be able to work on the stained glass for the church (or churches) that are chosen, learn a wonderful art, feel good about yourself, and help a church and their members who are in need. Ideally, I would like to see volunteers get sponsored by their church (or other sponsorship is ok also). In this way, maybe, like the plants of the mustard seed, this program too will grow into something bigger than I can do alone.

More info on this later. Let me know your thoughts!

Pat