our stained glass process

A look at the process of creating stained glass windows

Written by: Conrad Schmitt Studios

The creation of stained glass windows is a three-stage process including design, fabrication, and installation. For every project, a designated Project Manager serves as a company liaison, advocating for the client’s vision. At CSS, we believe in a full collaborative process with every client. This active engagement manifests through individual and group meetings with donors or committee members, which serves not only to gather information but most importantly to confirm satisfaction across all stages of the project.

When first beginning a project, designers create a sketch, to help a client envision the suggested imagery and colors. This rendering could go through various revisions after drafts are shared and discussed with clients during scheduled meetings. Once a final design is approved, artists create a full-size cartoon. The word “cartoon” comes from the Italian word “cartone,” which is simply a large sheet of paper. [1] While this term today often recalls TV animations, cartoons during the Renaissance referred to carefully rendered drawings with friable, chalky materials, created in the same size as a proposed artwork. This large size allowed an artist to transfer the drawing directly to a painted surface, so they would not need to render it again. At CSS, our artists create cartoons for stained glass only with values in black and white (rather than in full color) as the primary concern with this tool is to reference shapes and proportions.

CSS artists use cartoons as a schematic, or guide, to cut glass pieces, creating an efficient way to fit every piece together – like a giant puzzle. A cartoon also serves as a reference for stained glass artists when layering paint, which will ultimately be fixed to the glass surface when fired in a kiln. This method of painting glass is more time-consuming than typical decorative or mural painting, requiring multiple kiln firings at high temperatures to create the desired visual depth. After cutting, painting, and firing are complete, stained glass artists assemble the pieces in the studio by glazing, cementing, attaching reinforcement bars, and preparing the window for transportation after carefully inspecting the artwork at every stage to ultimately be installed on-site. Creating stained glass windows is largely all hand-done, making this process a labor-intensive endeavor. In addition, logistical considerations of window height introduce another variable in time and preparation, as CSS would erect scaffolding for safe on-site installation.

In addition to design, fabrication, and installation of stained glass windows, our services at CSS include extensive preparatory work in architectural planning and photographic documentation. As Conrad Schmitt Studios, Inc. specializes in decorative arts as well as stained glass fabrication and conservation, our goal is to showcase stained glass windows that are harmonious with existing architecture while reflecting a building’s unique history.

References:

[1] https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/daniel-maclise-what-is-a-cartoon