FAQs

How do commissions work?

Fill out the commission request form! When I receive your request I will contact you and discuss the project, then I will confirm with you. For commissions, I ask for 50% cost up front (to help cover the cost of supplies) and 50% upon completion.

For Pet Portraits, please expect 4-6 weeks after confirmation until the point where it is complete and ready to be shipped or delivered.

For custom designs, please allow around 8 weeks- if we are working together on a custom design, I will be in contact with you throughout the process and keep you updated on how it is going and if it might take longer.

When I deliver the artwork to you, I will deliver it with a care card that has instructions on keeping your piece looking great!

How do you make stained glass?

I meet a lot of people who are curious about the process of creating stained glass and I am happy to try to answer questions about my process when I can! Creating stained glass is intricate and elaborate, it can go fast but often it is pretty time consuming. I make glass using the copper foil method, some people do the leaded method, and I am sharing the steps I follow below! I don’t collect any money from links, but I am linking to the products in case anyone is curious about the specific tools I use.

1. Starts with creating a pattern (sometimes I create my own patterns, sometimes I buy patterns from other artists!)

2. Using a silhouette machine I print the pattern onto sticker back vinyl.

3. I put each pattern piece onto sheets or pieces of glass that match the colors I want.

4. Score each piece, then break using different types of pliers.

5. Take the roughly shaped pieces to the grinder and grind the edges down.

5.5. Bonus step, if needed take pieces to the ring saw for further precision.

6. Wash and dry all pieces.

7. Wrap each piece in copper foil.

8. Burnish all sides of copper foil thoroughly until it is flat against the glass.

9. Put the pieces together like a puzzle, brush flux on the copper foil.

10. Apply flux and solder to all copper joints, apply a lot, make sure there is a thick bead, try to avoid any holes or spots or ridges or otherwise malformations.

10.5 Apply lead border if using, flux and solder onto seams.

11. Clean really thoroughly, quality check and fill in any solder spots that pop up.

12. Clean again just to be safe, buff all solder with 0000 steel wool and/or magic eraser.

13. Apply patina.

14. Clean again! But more gently this time.

15. Apply finishing compound or car wax, let set then buff off using microfiber cloth.

16. Stare at it forever thinking about what you would fix.

17. Periodically polish, buff, or apply baby oil to make it look as shiny and new as possible.

Why does stained glass art cost what it does?

Creating stained glass art uses a lot of tools, supplies, and time. See explanation above ^^. In addition to the steps, there are a lot of tools involved and while they make things easier they are also very expensive. Additionally, the materials used to make stained glass can be expensive, blown sheet glass is a whole art medium within itself and as an art material it is very valuable and costly. Stained glass artists often use spools of lead to join the glass pieces together and 1 pound of lead can cost anywhere from $25-$40 dollars. I do try to stick to some general cost structures when pricing my art though, when making custom pieces I think about how many individual puzzle pieces are within the larger piece, then I think about how intricate the design is, if there is any additional detail work being added, and how much work needed to go into creating the original design when deciding on price.

I started making stained glass art in March 2022, so while I am very proud of my work, I do still consider myself a beginner and I try to let my prices reflect that, while still also accounting for the work and cost I put into my art.