How to paint a Fused Glass Cat Enamel Painting

Fused glass enamels from Colors for Earth.

Glass enamels come in powdered form and are mixed with a medium to paint details on glass. The glass is then fired in a kiln to a set the color and create a glossy finish. I use lead-free Colors for Earth enamels, a paint brush and a dot stylus to create patterns on cut glass.

Fused glass enamel painting cat sketch.

Before I started painting, I created a sketch of my cats and chose a color palette of Bullseye glass and powdered enamels to work with. I wanted the cats to coordinate and the background patterns to feel like wallpaper. The cat silhouettes were transferred to the gray and peach glass, cut out with a Taurus ring saw and cleaned really well before painting.

Painting a fused glass enamel cat.

Painting another fused glass enamel cat.

After mixing the powdered glass enamel with the medium to a cream-like consistency, you can paint details with a brush or a stylus. Enamels are the perfect way to add details to the cat fur and the wallpaper background. Making the dots with the stylus was fairly easy, leaving a lighter spot in the center from the metal ball. The zig zag background was more difficult because the enamel would pool at the beginning of loading up my brush, but I just decided to leave it. 

My finished fused glass enamel painted cat pair.

I fired my enamel painted cats with their dichroic glass noses in the kiln to 1350 degF to set the paints and keep the texture of the layered glass. I think their beady little eyes are so cute!

Sharon Warren Glass | sharonwarrenglass | sharonwarrenglass.com | FluttterByButterfly | Sharon Warren Glass Artist