Stained Glass

 Stained glass refers to colored glass as material and works made from it. Throughout the history of stained glass, the term has been applied mostly to windows of churches. Most traditional art forms are made in flat panels and used as windows, but the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensional structures and sculptures.
 Stained glass is glass that has been colored by adding metallic salts during its making. Its glass is crafted into stained glass windows in which small pieces of glass are arranged to form patterns or pictures, held together by strips of lead and supported by a rigid frame. Painted details and yellow stain are often used to make the design stand out. 
Stain glass is also applied to windows where colors have been painted onto the glass and fused to the glass in a kiln.
 Stained glass requires the artistic skill of a workable design, and the skills to assemble the pieces. A window must fit tightly especially in the larger windows, so it would be able to support the weight. Many large windows have been able to last a long time since the late Middle Ages. In Western Europe they found the major form of vivid art to have survived. With this, the purpose of a stained glass window is to control the light, and because of this glass windows have been described as ‘illuminated wall decorations’.

            

For me I enjoyed stained glass very much, it was rather easy. I would have to say the hardest part is not messing up the glass that is being used. Also you must make them as close to the design that you use so the pieces fit together. There are a few special tools that are required to start. A glass cutter is used to make a groove in the glass, where you will line the pliers up and break it easily. The glass grinder will be used to smooth out your pieces after they are all cut, to make them as exact as possible. Safety glasses are required so you don’t get glass in your eye. Once you have them cut out you will need to line the edges of each piece with copper foil tape, flux will be added to the foil and you will be able to solder it with a soldering iron. The material that will be soldered will be Lathekin or Fid.

Glass Paintings

Painting on glass is an amazing art form. The beauty of these paintings leave people dazzled. For centuries Gothic churches have inspired awe in us because of their remarkable use of glass paintings. Its still very popular today.

The medium of glass provides the painter with something that no other mediums can, the light effect.

History says that glass paintings became quite a range in Italy during the Renaissance. They were in the miniature style and where found in altars of churches. Most themes were scenes from the Bible.

For me depending on how much time you want to put in on your project, depends on the time required for it. I thing glass painting is very fun though and very easy. When you are working on a glass painting make sure you have enough of your color that you are using. Have toothpicks on hand to pop the bubbles too. You must also have enough lead to do the outline of your sketch. The lead will separate all your colors.

Pop Art

Pop art emerged in the late 1950s in the United States. This challenged tradition by stating that an artist's use of mass-produced visual commodities is connected with fine art. Pop art removes the materials from the framework and separates the object, or it sometiems combines it with other objects. The true concept of pop art though refers not as much to the art itself, but to the attitudes that led to it. Pop art shows the aspects of mass culture, such as advertising, and comic books. It is widely interpreted as abstract expressionism.
Pop art is intended to employ images of popular culture opposed to exclusive culture in art. It is also related with the use of mechanical means of reproduction techniques. Product labeling and logos are a type of imagery chosen by pop artists. As for the origins of pop art, in North America it developed very differently then other countries. In America, it marked a return to hard-edged structures and realistic art. On the other hand pop art in Britain for example was a matter of ideas fueled by American popular culture, while the American artists were inspired by the experiences of living in the culture.
Andy Warhol has been claimed by many people to be the most famous figure in Pop Art. He attempted to take pop art beyond an artistic style to a life style, and his work often displays a lack of human affection that dispenses with the many peers he has. By 1962, the Pop artists began to exhibit in commercial galleries in New York and Los Angeles, this was a great advancement for pop art culture.

The basic knowledge of pop art is taking a commercial item and increasing it in size. It can be a sculpture, a painting or some other type of art. My opinion on pop art is that it is very time consuming. That's also considering I did a giant m&m bag sculpture,which i could have made smaller. Which would have taken less time. For me though pop art is a lot of fun. For mixed media we did pop art. Just using the materials in the room you can make a great product. The only things i used on mine is poster paper, news paper, paper mache, staples and paint.