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Braque and Picasso

Cubism, a great period to be expressed in stained glass

This painting by Picasso painted during the Cubist period lends itself the medium of stained glass.

The first picture is of the original painting.

The second is a line drawing done in Adobe Illustrator. This could be done just as easily with pencil and paper.

The third is the draft with color added.

The final one is the design cut into glass. The strings were added using thin brazing rod.

Using Photoshop for Special Commissions

The missing pieces!

First design proposal

Photoshop paste-up

Design amended,completed triptych

If a client provides you with a digital photo of the place where a proposed stained glass window is to go, a design can be composed in Adobe Illustrator. Afterwards, The design can be imported into Photoshop. Color and perspective adjusted, the design can be pasted into the photo giving the client a very good idea of how the piece will look upon completion.

Using Photoshop to help you and your customers envision a design.

Using Photoshop to help you and your customers envision a design.

These two windows do not exist.

The customer needed help deciding on color and which beveled cluster to pick.

This graphic was all the customer needed to make-up their mind.

As an artisan, it is up to you to present a compelling presentation to secure their interest. One way is to compose a graphic that relieves all doubts. I draft a design full size in Illustrator then import it to Photoshop and complete it there. I have a library of pictures I have taken of full sheets of stained glass. I use them to paste a convincing texture and color into the graphic. More complicated elements are extracted from pictures of finished windows.

Collaboration from Design to Completion

Collaboration from Design to Completion

Various designs that just weren't right.

Sara Mrachek's excellent sketches

Design composed into Illustrator to use as a cutting pattern.

When doing a series repeat you must consider the over all effect.

When doing multiples your choices are 5 different designs, a contiguous design that composes one large image or a repeat of the same design.

The first of five completed

Finished series of panels dividing bedroom and sitting room, just in time for peak foliage.

Sara Mrachek of Concord Massachusetts commissioned five stained glass panels that would divide a larger room. I submitted several designs that did not meet Ms. Mrachek's taste or desire. She countered by submitting her own drawings and ideas. This process was a back and forth exchange over several months each time getting closer and closer to the best design for the project. This design was a true collaboration.