Glass etching is a great hobby to have but if you’re thinking that it’s a difficult hobby to master, then let me show you how easy and rewarding glass etching is.

First you need to find a pattern to follow for your glass etching.

It could be just letters or an image or both.  I actually found these online somewhere and cut the stencil from their outline.

What I did was put two different patterns together with a computer software and then included my name for a personal touch.  Also, you can etch glass from the front side or the backside. I chose to etch it from the back side so I needed to make the stencil backwards.

etching stencil

• Second, I cut the pattern out on a piece of vinyl and placed the stencil down on the glass.  You can use a lot of different materials such as contact paper.
• Always make sure you clean the glass with alcohol or windex to remove dirt and oils. This will ensure the stencil is intact.
• Once in place, mask the outside of the stencil to make sure areas that you don’t want etched, not to be exposed.

sandblast etching

• Then etch the glass with either etching cream or using the sandblasting technique.
• I chose to sandblast it because there are a lot of advantages to using it.

after etching glass

• When the exposed areas seem to be evenly etched,  you can then start to remove the masking tape and stencil.
• Pry and pick off smaller stencil pieces with a hobby knife. It makes it much easier.

completed etching

• The final step is to just clean up the glass, removing any abrasive or etching cream.
• All you need to do is wash the glass with water and clean with a rag.

And that is about all it takes to etch glass, easy isn’t it!

It’s fairly easy, quick, and allows you to personalize any type of glass.

There are lots of possibilities and here are just a few that come to mind: you can etch glass ornaments for Christmas, shower door glass, glass mirrors, glass mugs, your car glass, and your glass food cabinets.

glass etching equipment

Yes of course you can spend a small fortune on expensive glass etching equipment, but you don’t have to!

My new book Glass Etching Secrets, second edition has just been released and it’s full of equipment cost saving tips and other glass etching secrets, hence the title.

NOTE: If you’ve recently bought the 1st edition, be sure to ask me for the new and updated version of Glass Etching Secrets. Its updated with more information and pictures to help you follow along to help you get started with your new hobby.

If you fancy a glass based hobby you can find Eric and lots of other useful glass techniques, etching stencils and lots more over at his website Glass Etching Secrets, where else!

Breaking Glass

Just for fun… a personal glass slumping disaster:

I hope this hobby tutorial has helped spark some creativity and feel free to leave a comment below.

Find Photos of Other Arts and Crafts

Is Computer Generate Digital Art Really Art?

Mike was asking this very question.

Is computer generated art thought of as an acceptable art form, or is it considered to be ‘cheating’?

One of Mike’s hobbies has been 3d computer animating & modelling, as well as having a passion for producing alien landscapes like the ones featured above, which are indeed computer generated digital images, or ART!

We have a sneaky feeling that Mike was anticipating a less than positive response to his question from other artists. However, Mike received some positive responses to his digital art question.

Personally, we love Mike’s digital art alien landscapes and we certainly do see them as art. They may not have been painted with artists paints, but the time, effort and artistic creativity that he’s put into his work is clear to see in these very eye pleasing images.

What about you?

Do you think computer generated digital art is really art?

Tell us your views on this topic,
leave your comment in the box below:

copyright images : Mike Spencer

Artist, Edward McNaught-Davis.

Painting the Welsh Landscape must surely be easier when you live amid the beauty of the Welsh hills!

Nestled in the Welsh Landscape, Artist, Edward McNaught-Davis, is creatively inspired throughout the seasons. Imagine waking to those wonderful views every morning. Edward transfers many of those beautifully captured moments, throughout the year, onto canvas.

Dedicated to honing his art techniques, old and new, expanding and applying his talents to his original paintings, from which he reproduces his very popular fine art prints, you’ll see that the Welsh Landscape certainly does feature in his Farming Paintings Wales series, and other Welsh art works on his website.

Taking His Painting to New Heights!

Edward may be nestled into the Welsh landscape, however, that doesn’t keep him from taking to the skies to gather new perspectives.

Edward says: “This aerial view of Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, was achieved by flying over it in a light aircraft. Fortunately, I was not the pilot!”

Lucky thing being able to do a fly-over in the name of art!

A professional fine artist and cartoonist. Most of my art is inspired and includes traditional and contemporary compositions highlighting the beauty of landscapes, seascapes, townscapes and everything else in between. My cartoons have been used to illustrate publications, training aids, greeting cards and simply to hang on the wall.

See More Art by : Edward McNaught Davis

]]> http://arthobby.co.uk/art/painting/painting-the-welsh-landscape.html/feed 12 http://arthobby.co.uk/art/painting/music-themed-acrylic-paintings-art-students.html http://arthobby.co.uk/art/painting/music-themed-acrylic-paintings-art-students.html#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:05:51 +0000 Diane Stafford http://arthobby.co.uk/?p=12
Sixth Form Art Students have been preparing for their art exams, including my own daughters who have been busy developing their music themed art project ideas, resulting in these finished music themed acrylic paintings.

They’ve both been developing their art projects on the music theme over the school term, having first researched and explored their music based ideas, before expanding those ideas into their preliminary pieces.

Those consisted of drawings in mixed media, which then further developed into 3D compositions to represent the music elements they had chosen, using mixed media including cardboard, to help with the 3D effects.

Once they were happy with their 3D compositions, layout and presentation, they went on to prepare their blank canvases for laying down their acrylic paintings.

Although they are twins, you’ll note from the photos of their individual paintings, that they actually have very different styles.

One chose to work with a neutral color pallet, whilst the other went for a much more vibrant color theme in purple tones.

Obviously, being their mum, I love both of their acrylic paintings. And, as a part time artist myself, it was brilliant fun watching them go through the whole creative process, from start to finish.

What I enjoy about the creative process is that it can help kids think differently, not just about their art or what they are producing, but all elements of their lives. I’m certain that this can only benefit them in later life, whether they go on to become artists or in whatever else they may decide to do.

When they are working on their art projects, it is very temptingto step in with my paint brush! However, with that temptation resisted, I’m always pleased to be on hand with a few tips and willing to answer questions if and when asked!

The downside, if there really has to be one, with having two additional artists in the house, is that they ‘borrow’ my acrylic paints and brushes!

Yes, they’ve had lessons in cleaning and drying my brushes properly!

]]> http://arthobby.co.uk/art/painting/music-themed-acrylic-paintings-art-students.html/feed 4 http://arthobby.co.uk/art/art-hobby-welcome.html http://arthobby.co.uk/art/art-hobby-welcome.html#comments Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:52:54 +0000 Di Stafford http://arthobby.co.uk/?p=1 Welcome to Art Hobby Website.

We are updating our art hobby website as not very much has changed for quite some time, leaving the old version of the website design looking rather jaded and it was not very useful for you, the user.

The new logo design is simple, yet fits neatly alongside our arts and crafts creative network website.

We will be re-adding our free ebooks and reports here on art hobby in due course.  So please do revisit for updates.

Thanks

]]> http://arthobby.co.uk/art/art-hobby-welcome.html/feed 0