Several paint brands have specific formulas for painting glass. You can find the major glass paint brands at craft stores, hardware stores, or order online.
The Complete Guide to Glass Painting for Beginners
Stefan Gheorghe is the founder and CEO of Homedit.com. In 2008, he launched the platform out of his passion for interior design and home decoration.
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| Updated on May 12, 2022
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New Years Polka Dot Wine Glasses – Dovie Scott from DovieScott.com
Paint Dipped Wine Bottle Vases
Coastal Themed Glass Bottle Centerpieces
Recycled Painted Glass Planter
Ceramic Plate Painting – William Jon from Ceramices
Etching Patterns into Glass
Etching Words into Glass Bottles
Sea Glass Miniature Painting – Allison McDonald from Notimeforflashcards
Two-Toned Glass Bottle
Paint Dipped Picture Frames
Easy Faux Stained Glass Effect – Susan Myers from SusySitcom
Hand-Painted Glass Flower Vase
Frosted Glass Privacy Window
Black Chalkboard Painted Glass
Anime Glass Painting
Paint Dripped Milk Glass Vase
Etching glass
Hand Painting
Spray Painting
Painting Materials
Glass Paint
How-to-paint-Glass
Glass painting is an affordable rewarding hobby that helps keep old glass out of landfills. You have to use proper techniques to ensure that the paint adheres to the glass surface and use methods that help you achieve your desired outcome.
Learn how to paint glass using the best methods, tools, and materials needed for glass painting, the best brands of glass paint, and 15 fun glass painting projects.
Tools and Materials for Glass Painting Projects
Painting on glass requires special paints and methods, so the paint does not peel off. If you are painting glassware and ceramics for eating and drinking, make sure to get a food-safe paint that will cure once applied.
Start by deciding what type of glass object you want to paint. This could be wine glasses, glass jars, picture frames, glass panels, mirrors, or glass windows.
Types of Glass Paints
You want to use the right paint designed for painting glass, ensuring that the paint bonds with the glass surface. The types of glass paint are:
- Glass spray paints. Spray-painted glass has a warm and rich texture that provides a consistent and even opaque coverage. Glass spray paint comes in a wide array of textures and colors, including metallic tones. Make sure to use a brand of spray paint designed for glass painting.
- Solvent-based paints. Solvent-based paints are permanent and are more vibrant than acrylic enamel paints. Although solvent oil-based paints have a more professional finish, they are high in fumes, so use in a ventilated area.
- Enamel paint. Enamel paint is water-based paint that uses a formula for sticking to the glass. The paint must cure for it to adhere to the glass surface. Enamel is excellent for painting glass dishware.
- Acrylic paint. Not all acrylic paint is for glass painting. Make sure to find a brand, such as Folk Art, marked for glass application. For best results, use an enamel-based primer before applying acrylic paint on glass.
- Paint pens. Paint pens allow for more control when doing fine paintwork, and are great for painting dots. You can find acrylic paint pens and oil-based paint pens.
Glass Paint Supplies
You can find most of these supplies at your local craft store. Some of the glass painting supplies you may need are:
- Foam brushes
- Flat brush (always choose a soft brush for painting glass)
- Stencil tape
- Masking tape
- Razorblade
- Adhesive stencils
- Craft knife
- Paint tray
- Rubbing alcohol or white vinegar for cleaning
This is not an exhaustive list but it will get you on the road to start painting glass.
Glass Paint Methodology
There are a few specific methods to use when painting glass. Choosing the right methods depends on the look you want to achieve, such as full coverage, transparency, or texture.
Spray Paint Glass
Spray painting glass takes good technique to get that flawless spray paint finish. Although you can use any spray paint on glass, your finish will come out better, and the paint will be more likely to stick if you use glass spray paints.
Use glass-specific spray paint that adheres to glass or slick surfaces. Wash the glass and let it dry before you spray paint. Shake the can for one to two minutes and shoot a few sprays on cardboard or newspaper before spraying your glass object.
Hold the spray paint can about 12 inches away from your glass object, and spray in even sweeping motions. Spray light coats that slightly overlap each other. Use additional coats as needed. Always make sure to spray paint in well-ventilated areas. Never spray paint in your craft room.
Hand Paint Glass
Glass surfaces tend to show brush strokes, so always use a soft-bristled brush when painting glass. This brush type is softer than regular brushes and reduces brush strokes in the paint.
Dip the end of the brush into the paint without overloading it. Start with brushing a thin layer onto the glass.
Enamel paints look thin at first which can create a transparent look or will thicken as you add more layers. Make sure to let every layer dry before adding the next. Add three to four layers of paint to get a nice, smooth coat. Use smaller brushes for fine details and to create small polka dots.
Frosted Glass Technique
You can achieve a frosted look on any glass surface by using etching cream. Etching cream textures the glass through a chemical process that takes about 40 minutes to complete.
Mask off any part of the glass that you want to remain smooth. You can cut shapes into the masking tape or use stencils. Smooth the etching cream onto the surface in an even layer.
Let the cream sit for 30-40 minutes, and wipe off with a paper towel. Rinse the glass with soap and water. You can also use contact paper to make designs and patterns on glass panels and windows.
‘This is the best hack I’ve ever seen’: How you can transform old sauce bottles and jars into Instagram-worthy vases and decor – with stunning results
Thousands of DIY enthusiasts around Australia are embracing a new trend to transform old glass bottles and jars into stunning chic vases. Perth mum Carolina demonstrated the easy process in a TikTok video on December 17, which has since been viewed more than 88,000 times. The craft project involves painting the jars using acrylic paint and adding jute twine once dried for a rustic look. The end result will be sure to fill any dull corner and become a decorative feature point in the home. Scroll down for video
The fun craft project involves painting the jars using acrylic paint and adding twine once dried for a rustic look
In the video Carolina first cleaned the surface of a passata sauce bottle using a damp paper towel to remove any stickers and barcodes. Using a brush she painted two layers onto the jar to ensure the glass could not be seen. To make it seem like the jar is made from ceramic, she mixed baking soda into a bowl of paint beforehand. The abrasive texture of the baking soda will create a rough surface on the jar rather than a smooth finish. Those painting on a budget may wish to consider purchasing small sample paint pots from Bunnings in order to decorate multiple vases different colours. Once the paint had dried, Carolina wrapped the twine around the glass jar.
