Fused Float Glass with Painted Hummingbird

For our third project using the February Free Kiln Carving pattern, we’re going to create a painted hummingbird dish using our kiln carving stencil as a pattern. If you haven’t downloaded the pattern yet, you should probably start by doing that.

Materials needed:

Kiln carving pattern stencil

2 pieces of compatible glass large enough for the hummingbird. These could be float glass, or two pieces of flattened bottle glass (from the same bottle please).

3 colors of glass paint. I’m using turquoise, light green and dark green

marker

paintbrush

razor blade

Step 1:

Trace the pattern on your glass.

I find it’s easier for me if I trace the pattern onto the glass. I have the paper under the glass and am following the edges as I draw the line. You could also put the paper on the glass and trace it like a traditional stencil.

Step 2:

Paint the bird.

I started with turquoise on the underside of the bird and tail, light green on the underside of the wing and dark green on the body and top of wings.

Step 3:

Clean up the details. If you look closely, you can see I didn’t do a terrific job painting inside the lines (not a surprise if you know me!)

So, a quick swipe with a razor blade will tidy up the edges.

Much better.

Step 4:

Fire to a full fuse on a prepared kiln shelf using the firing schedule for 1/4″ full fuse.

Now, let us pause for a brief moment for a bit of discussion. I have sandwiched my bird between two layers of glass. This is a personal preference, I’m not sure I like paint on the inside surface of bowls. However, this project would work on one thicker piece of glass with the paint on the surface, or you could stack your two pieces of glass with the paint on the top surface. You must choose for yourself how you want to do it, but choose wisely.

Step 5:

Slump into a dish using the 1/4″ thick slump firing schedule.

And we’re done!

Related Articles:

Testing Glass Paint for Reactions

Tie Dye Painted Bottles

Silk Screening on Float Glass