New Work at Thomas Eads Fine Art - Paintings in Kiln-fired Glass

Morphed - a triptych
painting in kiln-fired glass





Vestige Spirit: In the By and By
painting in kiln-fired glass










City Sounds
high fire enamels, sgraffito

Most of my work consists of paintings in kiln-fired glass. I prefer to use Paradise Paint with the pine old medium. I am primarily a painter - glass is my canvas. This process created quite a learning curve for me. For those who have painted before, you are familiar with the pleasure of "pushing around" a nice buttery Windsor Newton pigment. That particular sensuous experience will take a slight detour when using these pigments. I do enjoy painting with them now, and they are as close as one will get to achieving the color fields and combinations that you are use to getting from regular pigments. To begin with, they have the consistency of moist drywall. Thinning them too much will dilute the color you want to achieve. They way you apply the paint will be different. For instance, if you use a quick brush stroke to lay in oil or acrylic on a canvas, then it will stay there until you cover it, modify it, change its color or shape, etc. When you apply paradise paint, it will be subjected to heat. You must make a concerted effort to ensure that you apply enough paint, so that it will maintain its integrity when the piece is fired. Remember, the enamels will flow. If you have used too much medium or not enough paint, the color will be diluted or it may even be gone. The challenge is to develop a way of applying the paint so that you can predict or anticipate what will happen. You must also vent the kiln for the reds to stay true.

You may use whatever painting implements you want to use, brushes, palette knives, etc. You have to watch the enamels, learn what they will do, and also, what they will not do. You can create a painting, which is my goal, or you can use the enamels to create a surface embellishment for your glass piece. They will work satisfactorily in any event.

Remember, these are lead based paints. You must exercise care when painting with them - your studio needs to be well ventilated, avoid getting them on your skin, and you should not eat or drink when using them.

Thanks for stopping by!
Til later,

Terrie