Stained Glass Lion and Lamb Window

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  Eric and I would like to wish all our customers a very happy New Year too!  Boehm Stained Glass Studio continues to grow, and for that, we thank you all.  As each year passes, we get to meet more and more wonderful people, and have the honor of creating, and repairing, dozens of stained glass treasures.

In celebration of the holiday, I'm posting a recent custom window which features a Lion and Lamb .. Enjoy!

Here is one of two photos sent to me by my customer in Florida, for the window she asked me to create.  Her brother is a former stained glass artist but he never got around to making one for her.  She said she's been waiting over 20 years for this window.  The window is 24" wide by 17" high, to go into the space left by a wall air conditioner. Here we go!

Here's the companion image she sent.  Her request was to do the entire window in shades of blue.

Here is my computer rendition of the all-blue image, which is approved on the first submission.

In order to render a realistic monochromatic scene, I chose 7 or 8 different shades of blue, opalescent glass, along with white and pink for the lamb.  She requested opalescent glass, which is non-transparent but lets lots of light shine through.

An early step in the process is the creation of the pattern.  Here I'm using taped-together Manila folders as the bottom layer, with carbon paper in between, and the "cartoon" or paper pattern on the top.  I trace all the numbers, markings and colors onto the folders.

The border gets cut with standard scissors.  The individual pattern pieces are cut with specialized stained glass pattern shears. They are double-bladed and cut out a small strip of paper between each piece.  This space will be taken up later by copper foil.

Each pattern piece is traced onto a shade of blue glass as shown.  Then I use an oil-filled pistol grip glass cutter to hand cut most of the pieces.

This tool is called "groziers" and it is used to nip off smaller pieces of glass.  The blue tool in the background are my "running pliers" which I use to snap off glass pieces which have a more straight score.

As each piece of glass is cut, I bring it to the grinder.  This step makes the glass safe to handle and allows the copper foil to adhere more effectively.

Some of the pieces in this pattern are too elaborate to be cut by hand.  Here is one of them.  Here I've coated the Sharpie outline with lip balm to prevent my electric ring saw from washing off the markings.

I gave my customer a choice of eye color for the lion.  She left it up to me, so I chose the amber.  She loved it!

Originally, I had designed the lamb's face by using several smaller pieces of glass.  Then I decided to paint the features on for a more realistic look.

Here are some blue pieces cut, some pattern pieces, and many more pieces traced and ready to be cut.

Back to the wet ring saw for more intricate cuts.

Its coming along nicely.  Here I'm about to place another piece of blue onto the "cartoon".  Notice the metal "fence" around the border of the cartoon.  This serves to hold the pieces in place as I work.

Applying the copper foil to each piece of glass.

I'm using permanent glass paint on the lamb's face and for the pupils of the lion's eyes.  After painting on the images, it dries for 24 hours.  Then the pieces get baked for 40 minutes.  After the pieces are cooled, they'll receive copper foil and be added to the cartoon.

Here's the window, with all of the copper foiling completed.

 As I do with most windows, I ran copper reinforcement randomly throughout the window.  You can see strips of it here, between the pieces of glass.  After the window is soldered, the reinforcement becomes invisible.

 Applying liquid flux to the copper foil.  This chemical helps the solder to flow evenly over the copper foil.

 Here I'm "tack soldering" the window.  I'm applying small amounts of solder to the intersections of the glass, to lock them together.

Now that the tack soldering is done, I removed the metal "fence" and I'm sliding out the "cartoon".

Here it is, fully soldered on the front.

Another view as I'm holding it up to the light.  Stunning isn't it?

Another view, showing the compelling amber eyes of the lion.

Next my husband Eric has custom cut a zinc metal frame for the border.  Then he reinstalls the "fence" around the perimeter.  Then I solder the lead lines to the frame, and secure the corners. After the front is done, the fence is removed.  Then I solder the back of the window.  After soldering, the window receives a thorough cleaning with a neutralizing spray.

Here I'm making hanging hooks out of 20 gauge wire.

Now the hook is embedded into a small mound of solder.  I slightly bent the hook so that my customer can attach hanging chains.

Next, the entire window, front, back, sides and frame, receives a coating of black patina.  The residue of the patina is also thoroughly washed off once its allowed to set for a while.

Wiping off the neutralizing spray.

And here is the completed lion and lamb in the light!

Another view. As with all stained glass windows, it will appear differently depending on the source, intensity and direction of the light on it.

My thanks to Susan for asking me to create this very special window for her.  As arranged, Eric and I delivered it to her family members in northwestern NJ, in time for the family to enjoy for Thanksgiving.

For more information on my other projects, please click here to visit my website.

If you're on FaceBook, please click here to "like" my BoehmStained Glass Studio page to keep up with all the latest projects.  Thank you!

Stained Glass Commemorative Gift

Stained glass panels make wonderful, personal gifts.  My customer asked me to create this commemorative anniversary panel from artwork which was admired by someone special in her life.  I submitted several variations of the design as well as different color combinations. Here's the one which was the winner!

It's based on the color wheel and has some nice, clear textured glass in the center areas. It's 13" round.

I created a pattern by tracing the shape and markings onto Manila folders, using carbon paper.  Here I'm using special double-bladed pattern shears to cut out the individual pieces.  The shears leave a narrow strip between the pieces which allows room for the copper foil which will be added later.

Here's the colorful palette of wispy and streaky glass that I've chosen for the gift.

Here's a close up showing texture of the clear granite glass for the center areas.

Resting the oil-filled pistol grip glass cutter on a ruler (which I hold down with my right hand).  This enables me to make straight cuts.

After repeatedly tapping, front and back, on the score made by the cutter, the glass will eventually separate.

These "groziers" are used for nipping off small bits of glass.  The blue tool are my "running pliers" which are used to snap straight scores/

After each piece is cut, it goes to the electric grinder.

As the pieces are cut, I organize the pattern pieces into junk mail envelopes.

A few pieces of the yellow, traced onto the glass and ready to be cut.  For this project, I chose a variety of types of glass, most with variations in color on each piece.  This adds to the interest and also makes for a better transition from color to color.

Using the running pliers to snap a straight score.

Now the first few colors are cut and ready to be placed on the "cartoon" or original paper pattern,

Here all of the glass has been cut and is in place on the pattern.

Now I'm applying 7/32" copper foil around the border of each piece of glass.

Using a "fid" or flat plastic want to burnish the foil onto the glass.

Some of the pieces have been foiled.

All of the pieces have been foiled.  I used push pins to lock them into the work surface so that they don't shift as I flux and solder them,

Brushing liquid flux onto the copper foil.  This chemical allows the solder to flow freely over the foil.

Here I'm doing the "tack soldering" process whereby I'm locking together the pieces of glass with small amounts of solder.

After the pieces are locked, I remove the push pins and slide the cartoon out from underneath.

Then I fully solder the front of the panel.  After soldering is complete, I spray it with a chemical neutralizer and buff it off.

Now the design has been fully soldered, front and back. I'm now fitting a length of lead came around the border, to create a frame for it.

As I fit the frame around the border, I'm soldering it to the lead lines around the perimeter.

Since this piece will be hung on a wall or in front of a window, I'm hand-crafting hanging hooks.  I'm using 20 gauge copper wire wrapped around a metal acid brush.  I leave long tails on the hooks for maximum bonding to the frame,

I've soldered the "legs" of the hooks directly into the lead lines.

Black patina is a chemical which instantly turns the solder black.  After its allowed to set, I wash it off using the neutralizing spray.

Here's the panel right after its been patina-ed and before its dry.

Finished!  This view is in front of a white wall.

And here it is, front lighted and back lighted.

Another view outdoors, showing the colors.

One more view out doors.  Thank you Beth for asking me to make this special gift!  I was thrilled to hear how well it was received.

For more information on my other projects, please click here to visit my website.

If you're on FaceBook, please click here to "like" my BoehmStained Glass Studio page to keep up with all the latest projects.  Thank you!