Versatile Stained Glass Designs

Posted by Jo Murphy Feb 16, 2008

If a stained glass artist is skilled and versatile, it is possible to combine techniques and materials to create highly innovative sculptures from the combinations.

In the article, Designing for Stained Glass a sculptural work is featured. It is a turtle that channelles water in a fountain which has lilly pads floating on the surface. The fountain is an amalgamation of a variety of materials and art forms. This creates a collaged effect. Once combined, the work is integrated to become a unified whole.

The water feature is an example of the way stained glass pieces can be combined to create a sculptural form. The fountain is a functional item as well as a beautiful artistic statement. The image featured on the cover "Water Works" by Tracey (Walrus Publications.) illustrates, how lead lighted glass can be combined with other materials to create sculptural works.

The artist made the turtle fountain by

• creating the turtle and the lily pads fron stained glass pieces
• setting the fountain into a terracotta pot that had been stopped up to make it water tight
• connecting a pump through the stained glass sculpture
• placing the fountain in a garden so that it becomes part of the planned design

Often, though not always, artists will plan these types of projects with the environment into which they will be integrated informing the design.

These projects can be exciting and fun, but they can also be expensive and time consuming because

• the artist must learn a variety of different techniques
• and about a variety of materials and art forms
• it is wise to practice extensively before going on to more difficult and expensive projects