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Island Lake
Island Lake in glorious sunshine. We used a lot of very interesting wonderful art glass from Spectrum, Bullseye, Uroboros, Wissmach and Kokomo to complete this panel which measures with the 1/2 zinc frame 26.5 inches wide by 18. 5/8 inches high. If you scroll down to the bottom of this posting you will see the photograph from which Martha at Paned Expressions Studios in Edgewood Maryland used to create this awesome reflective design scene. Island Lake is located near Fernie BC and it is here that our daughter Tanya and Sean were married a few years ago.
Design by Paned Expressions Studios
All of the pieces for Island Lake have now been cut and rough ground. Next step is to fit and foil then the panel will be ready for soldering.
We have now finished about 2/3 of the Island Lake panel which when finished will consist of 257 pieces of stained glass. The next process will be to insert tracing paper and draw out the remaining pattern pieces on the tracing paper. Then we cut them out and glue them to the glass we want to use along with ensuring that the we obtain the glass direction we desire for each piece as well when deemed desirable we will sometimes reverse a particular pattern piece and glue it on the reverse side of textured glass in order to enhance the panel.
We have now traced another 50+ pieces and glued them to the respective glass pieces which have been cut. We now rough grind to the paper, remove the paper, fit each piece one at a time, foiling each piece as we go. Some of the pieces have the paper on the reverse side of some of the glass as we want to use the rougher side for effect.
It has been a very busy Christmas season and we are now ready to paper and start the next reflective portion of the Island Lake panel. We are in the process of tracing out each piece on white freezer paper, selecting the glass and gluing each individual cut out piece to its appropriate glass piece. More updates to follow as we continue it’s construction.
We now have a lot of new pieces cut out and ready to be ground, fitted in place and as each is completed that piece is foiled and burnished.
The mountains are now completed with a number of different glasses used. Next we will finish down to the water line.
We continue to work on the Island Lake panel and here is an updated photo as at May 29, 2013. We continue to trace and apply to the various pieces of glass and have now sorted out all of the glass and color combinations we intend on using in this panel.
We place white freezer paper over the pattern, then trace out each piece. Once done we cut out and glue to the glass on the angles and directions that we want the glass to flow in the design.
The mountains are beginning to take shape. We are using a combination of Spectrum and Wissmach glass with Spectrum’s Thunderhead being reversed for effect.
For the blue sky we used Spectrum’s #533.1 and with the sky now completed we will start on the mountains.
We now have most of the glass necessary to complete this panel, which is shown below we use the Morton Glass Caddy which works great for holding the glass for our projects.
In view of the complexity of the picture we once again enlisted Paned Expression Studios to come up with the design for this panel from the picture. We have now started to construct the panel and will continue to post pictures and updates as it proceeds.
Design by Paned Expression Studios
To whet your appetite and let your artistic minds wander and contemplate? What will be done to turn this beautiful Island Lake photo near Fernie British Columbia into a stained glass panel?
Great Blue Heron Panel
The Blue Heron Panel measures 28 in by 18 in, this photo taken in full sun. What always fascinates us about stained glass is how it changes with the light from sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy days along with time of the year and the ever changing seasons.
Design by Mark Waterbury
The Blue Heron Panel is now finished and is in it’s final cleaning and polishing stages. We will post a picture of the panel in full sunlight in the next few days. For the water we used Spectrum’s Pale Green/Aqua Blue Waterglass and matched it across the panel along with the sky using Kokomo’s 14SPL. For the bull rushes we used Spectrum’s Brown on Gold Streaky Granite and for the leaves a Brown/Green Kokomo 59L.
We now have cleaned the panel’s solder lines with steel wool and applied black patina. Next step will be to make the frame. The first photo is of the front of the panel, while the second photo is of the reverse side.
Here is the Blue Heron Panel with the front side soldered and all the flux has been removed using Kwik Clean. Next step will be to finish the reverse and then we will clean the solder with #0000 Steel Wool and then patina all of the solder lines black.
We now have finished burnishing on the copper foil overlay on this blue heron panel. The next process will be the soldering of the panel which will be somewhat difficult due to the narrow pieces of glass and the copper foil overlays as too much heat could crack the glass.
We just finished putting in all of the pieces of glass today(October 25, 2012), now we have to put on the copper foil overlay (re legs etc.) and once that is finished will post another picture with that burnished on, then the panel will be ready for soldering.
This is the latest construction photo of the Great Blue Heron Panel as at Oct 11, 2012.
This is an ongoing construction photo gallery of this Great Blue Heron Oval Panel which we are making for a home in Toronto. The oval panel measures 18 inches wide by 28 inches high.
Below is Picture # 3
We have had a very busy year with many extenuating circumstances which prevented us from spending time in our studio, all that now remains to be done is the Heron and the foil overlays. Then of course soldering, cleaning, black patina cleaning, polishing and framing.
This is picture # 1 the start of construction
Panel designed by Mark Waterbury
Featured in Glass Patterns Quarterly Winter 1990/91
This is picture # 2
We used Spectrum’s 423-1W Pale Green/Aqua Blue Waterglass for the water and it is matched all across the design. For the bull rushes we are using a Kokomo # 59L.
Noah’s Ark – Rimbey Alberta United Church 2011
In the fall of 2010 we were asked to see what we could do for a large stained glass church window for The United Church in Rimbey Alberta. We provided some conceptual ideas which the Church committee, tentatively agreed upon.
We then enlisted the stained glass design experts at Paned Expressions Studios Inc. in Edgewood Maryland USA. ( http://panedexpressions.com ) Then Martha Hanson and her design team came up with the “Noah’s Ark” design. This large church window measures some 78+ inches wide by 37+ inches high, is approximately 20+ sq. ft. and has some 530 pieces of stained glass and was constructed in 2 panels in the first half of 2011, with installation taking place in late June. This window was a memorial gift to the church by a 90 year old member of their congregation in memory of her husband. She was in attendance when we installed this window and she and the church members were extremely pleased with this wonderful addition to their church.
We are going to lay out below a photographic journal of the window being constructed, installation and the finished window.
We also wish to sincerely thank Paned Expressions Studios Inc. and Martha Hanson for their wonderful design and their dedication and support and help for our studio in our endeavors to create this Biblical scene.
The glass we used in this window was a combination of the following glass manufacturers Armstrong, Bullseye, Kokomo, Spectrum, Uroboros, Wissmach and Youghiogheny
Noah’s Ark Installed
Designed by Paned Expressions Studios
The installed window faces north and the church has a large roof overhang, which depending on the time of day and current weather conditions can change the blue sky to greys. As the minister of the church said it is rather neat in that it appears that the storm clouds are lifting and sunshine and blue skies beckoning.
Next picture installed before scaffold removed.
It was a cloudy day when we installed the window and this coupled with the large overhang and that the window faced north produces many sky color variables.
Next picture taken from outside the church looking at Noah’s Ark.
You can see the matching of the glass between the 2 panels especially in the ark.
Construction Photos of Noah’s Ark
Next picture the Camels
“Noah’s Ark” had to be constructed in 2 panels, we started on the right panel first in early 2011, this picture shows the 2 camels and the start of the Panda Bears.
Next Picture the Panda Bears
The Panda’s pieces of glass have now been all fitted and foiled.
Next picture features our construction methods:
We are very meticulous when building our stained glass panels. After laying out the pattern (we use 2 layers of white, smooth ceiling tile duct taped together) in the case of Noah’s Ark we made separate sized ceiling tile panels which were overlaid on 3/4 inch plywood. After carefully measuring numerous times we outlined each panel with Morton Layout Blocks. We then decide where we wanted to start construction and we trace (using a pencil) the first piece from the pattern by overlaying with white freezer paper which is fairly transparent. The paper is held in place with push pins. We then cut out the that traced piece and using Elmer’s All Purpose Glue Stick adhere the freezer paper to the glass we have chosen, ensuring that we have the flow of the glass that we want decided upon. Many times we actually put lines on the freezer paper to ensure the correct way we want the glass to look. If there are pieces that we need to match we will trace out the areas and put those pieces together on the glass with nominal spacing to ensure proper matching and glass flows. You will note with the glass pieces in the center of the design that they match across the 2 adjoining panels.
We then grind the piece with the freezer paper glue to the glass, remove the paper then fit to the pattern. We then foil and burnish that piece of glass. Then we place freezer paper under the finished piece and trace the next surrounding piece or pieces, repeating the initial grind with the paper on the glass then exact fitting followed by foiling and burnishing. While this maybe in many artists minds a slow methodical process, we know that it allows for great fitting panels with consistent even solder lines, and very seldom when soldering do we have any solder run through to the reverse side of our panels. In Noah’s Ark we also installed between much of the glass In-bedded Strengthening Braid.
Next picture shows the freezer paper glued to glass.
Next picture shows the rainbow, sky, clouds and foreground
Next picture is close up of the pandas and surrounding area
Next picture shows the Giraffes
Next picture is the Right Panel ready for soldering
This is the Right Panel of Noah’s Ark, all ready for soldering. The left side pieces of this panel were all cut and matched to those that are on the right side of the left panel. This panel features the rainbow, elephants, giraffes and panda bears.
Next picture Lions in Left Panel
Next picture Dove with Olive Branch Left Panel
Next picture the Ark with a Bull Moose
The Rimbey United Church is located in West Central Alberta and the Church Committee wanted some Alberta Wildlife, so we included a Bull Moose, Buck Deer and Doe, pictured above is the Ark with the Bull Moose.
Next picture Buck Deer
Next picture shows the Doe Deer
Next picture is a very colorful Parrot
The church committee wanted to offset the rainbow on the right side with lots of color which was incorporated in this Parrot.
Next picture the completed Left Panel ready for soldering
Next picture Noah’s Ark being installed.
The church was most helpful in arranging scaffold, ladders and help for us during the installation process. We rented a van to transport the 2 panels which were very well packed but had to stand upright to ensure safe travel and that is the only way large glass panels should be transported.
Next panel installation of wooden molding to secure the window.
We provide wooden oak moldings which the church stained to match and these were cut to fit and put in place to hold the window in. The panels were surrounded with 3/4 inch Zinc Came with 1/2 inch H came in the center, with one panel slipping into the other.
Beveled Harvest Wheat Panel
This is a beveled panel using GST colored wheat bevels. The panel measures approximately 23 inches by 33 inches. This panel is going to be mounted in a light box in a new kitchen renovation for a home in Central Alberta.
We finished this panel and it was picked up by our clients on February 17/11. Due to our northern location and low sun it was difficult to get a good picture
Picture # 6
Designed by Bob & Flory Wilkins
Finished Panel in our front window.
Our front window has bars between the glass which provide our home with a cottage look and feel but they show shadows on any glass we take pictures of in this south facing window.
Picture # 5
Picture # 4
Here is the Harvest Wheat Panel all ready for soldering.
Harvest Wheat Panel Progression picture # 3
This is picture # 2 of the ongoing progress in building this panel.
This is the first picture of the construction process.