Use two 4-inch strips of masking tape to attach the traced image to a piece of white cardboard, larger than your glass pane. Place the strips over the top corners of the traced image. [2] X Research source Attach the glass to the cardboard with small (2-inch) masking tape rings on the underside of the glass, so that you do not cover your painting surface with tape. As you handle the glass, consider wearing gloves to avoid leaving oily fingerprints on the glass face. [3] X Research source Make sure the image is centered under the glass. Use white cardboard so that the lines from your image are visible and un-muddied by a dark color behind them.
Squeeze the amount needed (small for a small area, more for a large area) of a light color onto palette paper, wax paper, aluminum foil, or a mixing palette. Add a small dab of the darker primary color to the light color. Mix well with a palette knife or brush. Keep adding small amounts of dark or light until you get the desired shade.
Pour a small amount of size directly onto your already-mixed paint and begin blending it in. Add size as needed to larger paint piles. The desired ratio is 1/2 paint to 1/2 size. Blend thoroughly with a palette knife or paint brush. [6] X Research source
Keep this in mind when setting up paint colors and selecting brushes. You want to start with the small details and end with the big things. It’s the opposite of how you would paint a typical painting. Use a variety of brand-name, good quality paint brushes to avoid streaking. You can go to an art store and ask the people who work there which brushes are best for your purposes.
Use the original image as a reference to make sure that you only paint solid lines where they should be. Sometimes, you may trace lines in an image because they indicate a color break or change, but you must remember they may not be actual solid lines. Once all of the lines have been painted, wait 24 hours before continuing. This will allow the paint to dry properly and avoid smudging. [9] X Research source
As you paint, make sure that you avoid painting adjacent areas at the same time. If there are areas close to each other that are included in foreground but are different colors, wait for the first area you paint to dry before continuing. Placing different colors of wet paint next to each other may cause unwanted color mixture. [10] X Research source Allow the painted areas 24 hours to dry.
Make sure that you wait 24 hours after you complete this section.
If the background is a landscape, paint grassy areas first. Allow drying time before doing sky and water. [11] X Research source
Dip an angled shader brush in lighter fluid, wipe it on a paper towel, and then brush it over the mistake. Doing this will remove unwanted paint from the glass. Carefully blot the area dry with a clean, cotton rag or allow it to air dry before reapplying paint. [12] X Research source
Adding the different elements of image stippling, blending, and shading to your work will make a more completed, three dimensional painting. [14] X Research source
