A GUIDE TO REVERSE PAINTING ON GLASS

This free online Reverse Painting Guide includes : What is a reverse painting? A brief history, Characteristics, How to create a reverse painting, Glass as a painting support, Creating outines, Applying paint, and Reverse Painting FAQ.

You can also see our Reverse Painting Artworks on this site.

WHAT IS A REVERSE PAINTING?

The age old technique of reverse painting on glass has been considered a popular art of the people for many centuries.The use of glass as a support for this intricate painting technique has not hindered its continuing popularity.

A reverse painting is created by painting a subject onto one side of a sheet of glass (or plexiglass), after which it is viewed from the other side of the glass, or through the glass.

Contrary to painting on canvas or a similar support this technique requires an artist to paint in reverse, or in other words back to front.

Normally when an artwork is created on a support such as canvas, wood, or even on a wall, it is painted from the same angle and direction that it will ultimately be viewed from when completed. However, in the case of a reverse painting the painted side of the artwork (applied on one side of the glass) and the viewing side (perceived from the other side of the glass) means that the painted side of the artwork and the viewing side are opposed to one another.

Similarly, an artwork that is created on a canvas will usually begin with a rough outline and then gradually develop towards its completion and finishing touches. In the case of a reverse painting this procedure will begin where it would normally end, which means that the finishing touches such as finer details and the artist's signature will be applied first (rather than last), and the background applications of colour will be added later (instead of at the beginning). It is for this specific reason that the term 'reverse painting' is popularly used when describing this unusual and intricate painting technique which involves the use of glass as a support.

For those who see a reverse painting on glass for the very first time it can take a little while to realise that what appears to be a painting under a protective sheet of glass - is in reality an artwork that has been painted on the glass itself. The effect that glass can give to a reverse painting can make it a very beautiful and visually pleasing object.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF REVERSE PAINTING

Reverse painting on glass has been a form of art expression since extremely ancient times. It is difficult to precisely date a number of much more ancient artworks.

European art history has revealed that painting on glass became quite fashionable in Italy during the Renaissance. Italian paintings on glass during the 14th and 15th centuries were associated with Venice and with the Island of Murano. These paintings were primarily miniatures which later began to be utilised as alters and reliquaries in churches. Gradually a more artisanal approach began to develop in which artists copied well-liked landscapes, or painted portraits and biblical representations.

By the 17th century painting on glass had spread to Austria and the characteristics of this work now began to be influenced by a more popular form of art which also led to the development of small family industries of painters on glass.

In Europe the reverse painting technique had by this time reached as far north as Poland. In those times glass-making was carried out by methods that gave glass a very characteristic appearance due to the glass being blown and not poured. However there existed certain problems in creating high enough temperatures to allow the successful fusion of chemicals that were used, and which consequently permitted the identification of paintings on glass from a much earlier era.

The knowledge for painting on glass began to spread through Europe when glass makers were forced to migrate due to diminishing supplies of quartz sand, or when wood supplies were lacking which prevented them from creating the fires they needed to make glass. With transportation gradually becoming more efficient frontier taxes began to increase and the necessary chemical additives to create glass became more expensive.This led to a constant movement and migration of glassmakers all through Europe.

The technique of painting on glass has created its own cultural art history not only in Europe, but throughout the world.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GLASS PAINTING

Even to this day many artists who work on glass have been inspired through their links with furniture-making, glass production, the building trade, the teaching profession, or with farming and agriculture.

Reverse paintings on glass often allude to reality, seeking it as an accessory rather than as a necessity.They instead tend to give importance to their symbolic quality.

This is an art technique that pertains to the surface rather than one which creates space or depth. In turn (due to an absence of volume) it also creates an absence of light and shade.

Reverse paintings on glass are often profusely decorative, possibly an expression of the artists need to be attentive to ornamentation and detail.

There is quite often a tendancy to use direct complimentary colour combination e.g. orange with blue, or red with green.

Nature is often very present in reverse painting on glass, especially in artworks created by those living in rural farming communities. The simplistic representation of the human form also evolves in such paintings and along with the absence of volume light or shadow creates a totally original aspect to this work by accentuating the difference between realism and naive art in a rather appealing way.

It would not be apt to regard reverse paintings on glass as a very simplified form of art expression. Not only does this painting technique require patience and a number of technical skills, it also represents an art form that details and interprets an artists own personal experiences.

By stepping backwards in time one can discover an important part of art history associated with reverse painting on glass. It was an era that heralded the use of this art form en masse during which people in communities could directly express in their own original way what they lived, perceived and felt in their own daily lives.

HOW TO CREATE A REVERSE PAINTING ON GLASS

MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED TO START

GLASS

Choose clear, unflawed glass (or plexiglass) in the shape and size you wish to use. It is adviseable to use smaller sizes to begin with.

PAINT

It is important to use a paint that will adhere properly to the surface of the glass. Oil based paints or acrylics are often used for this reason. There are also opaque and transparent ceramic artist colours that have been especially manufactured for using on a non-absorbant surface. Metallic colours such as gold, silver or copper can also be interesting to work with.

PAINTBRUSHES

Choose a selection of small or medium-sized paintbrushes with fine, flat and pointed tips. Larger brushes can be used for working on a larger scale.

A PENHOLDER

It can be an advantage to use interchangeable nibs suitable for creating both thick and thin outlines.

A PAINTING PALETTE

Or a flat surface to mix your paint on

A PALETTE KNIFE

(Optional) for mixing paint

ARTISTS' PAINT CLEANER OR THINNER

Used for cleaning or sometimes for thinning paint

FINE LINSEED OIL OR A DRYING AGENT

For mixing with oil paints to help speed up the drying process

PAPER TOWELLING

Or some clean rags

A MIRROR

(Optional) A mirror can be used to check the progress of your painting while you are continuing to work. Place the mirror in a position where it will reflect your artwork from its viewing side.

CELLOTAPE

Or a similar average-width sticking tape

AN EASEL

(Optional) To prop your work on

A GLASS-CLEANING PRODUCT

GLASS AS A PAINTING SUPPORT

Glass is a non-absorbant painting support which does not allow paint to easily adhere to it apart from through the paint's own drying process. For this reason the outlines of a subject painted on glass need to be simplified when they are applied to an extremely smooth glass surface.

Working the paint or changing the outlines without smudging the surrounding areas of undried paint will require patience as well as a certain amount of skill.

Simplifying a subject does not necessarily detract from the end result after the painting is completed and the final result often has an appearance simlilar to that of naive art, in which composition, form and a number of other details are simplified. Many artists will find that such simplification can be very appealing.

With patience and the development of their skills in using this painting technique, artists will find that applying and mastering the use of glass as a support will become easier as time progresses.

Preparing the glass

Choose a piece of clear glass in the dimensions you would like to work with, and check carefully to make sure the glass is neither scratched nor flawed. The glass needs to be totally transparent and not opaque.

It is worth remembering that a flaw in the glass itself may detract from the finished appearance of a painting and may be impossible to remove after the completion of your artwork.

The sheet of glass that is to become your artwork constitutes the following:

(1) The "painting side", which is the side you will be painting on.

(2) The "viewing side", which is the side you will be looking at (or through) as you progress with your work and after it has been completed.

To render the cutting edges of the glass safe, take a length of cellotape that will correspond to the length of one edge. Apply it carefully along that length, ideally so that it is folded equally over each side of the glass.

Repeat this procedure for the other 3 glass edges. The edge of the cellotape will also help mark the outer limits of your artwork.

Clean the surface of the glass thoroughly with a glass-cleaning product. Use paper towelling or any cleaning material that will not leave dust or threads on your painting surface.

Store the glass where it will be safe. For example, if placed between sheets of dry newspaper it will be protected from scratches and dust.

CREATING OUTLINES

Art products in liquid form that are suitable for creating outlines on glass may be readily available in many countries. Oil-based paint, water-based acrylic and ceramic paint can also be used for this purpose. In order to create fine lines these paints must sometimes be thinned down in order to use with a pen nib or similar line-drawing tool.

To prevent lines from being effaced too easily use a paint that is oil based for creating the outlines of your subject if the paint you will be applying over the top of it (after it has properly dried) is water based. Reverse this procedure if your outlines are created with a water-based paint. Always make sure that the paint has completely dried before applying another layer.

Always use a liquid paint product that will provide the best adhesion possible to a glass surface.

Due to pen nibs clogging relatively easily attention must be paid to cleaning the nibs regularly.

Method 1.

If you have a steady hand you can use a freehand method for applying outlines directly onto the surface of the glass.

Method 2.

Use an original subject for your painting (e.g. a drawing) and place this under the glass then copy it onto the glass surface.

Method 3.

Place a layer of carbon-paper on top of the glass then place your drawing on top of the carbon paper and with a pointed object trace the subject onto the glass.

Method 4.

A tracing table can be used for creating outlines. This is a table with a sheet of clear glass inserted into the top and with an electric light source situated beneath it. For those who frequently need to trace their work a tracing table can be very practical and useful.

Method 5.

You can omit outlines altogether.

APPLYING THE PAINT

Most artists have a preference for how to work when creating an artwork. Once you have decided whether to use a table easel, a standing easel or prefer placing your artwork either slightly propped up on a table or flat down, you will find it necessary to view your artwork regularly from its observation side in order to see its progress. Some artists simply take the glass in their hands and turn it around to look at it directly from its observation side. Others prefer to use a mirror placed directly opposite their working area so that they can observe their progress while they paint.

Mixing and blending

If you are blending colours, always do so on your palette before applying them to the glass. If colours are not well blended or mixed the result will be a streaky appearance in the paint on the observation side of the glass.

Avoiding smudges

It is important to watch out for smudges of paint, or particles of dirt or dust that may accidentally be transferred onto unpainted areas of your artwork as you are progressing. Unless removed these may appear as flaws that will show when viewing the artwork from its observation side. If they are also inadvertently covered with a layer of paint, removing them afterwards may become very messy and difficult. When lifting off any smudges always be careful not to damage outlines or other areas of paint you have already applied.

Paint application

Once the outlines of your subject have thoroughly dried you can begin to apply paint to fill in the remainder of your artwork. Begin with the smallest and most detailed or intricate areas first. For example, eyes, faces, small figures or objects, and always keep in mind that your artwork will be observed from the opposite side to the one you are painting on, and that you are painting in reverse and that therefore foregrounds precede backgrounds.

When applying this reverse painting method it is a good policy to reflect carefully on the sequence in which your painting will develop before beginning to apply your paint. This will create a methodical attitude that is essential for this particularly interesting but sometimes intricate painting technique.

REVERSE PAINTING FAQ

How do you seal the back of a reverse painting?

Sealing a reverse painting is important in order to preserve your artwork from being scratched or damaged and to protect it from humidity. One of the more popular sealing methods is to use a good quality oil-based paint to entirely cover the back of the reverse painting once it is completed. It's important to make sure the artwork is totally dry before applying a final sealing layer because once the layer is applied the subject viewed from the back of the artwork will be totally covered by a layer of paint. Care is also needed to prevent the colour of sealing paint filtering into any unfinished areas in the painting that have been missed out or left unfilled. The artwork must therefore be fully completed before applying that last final coat. Apart from this first method, some reversepainters prefer to apply the final sealing layer step by step, in which case a blue sealing paint would be applied to a blue sky, a green sealing paint to a tree, etc. There are also reverse painters who prefer not to apply a final sealing layer at all. If a good quality sealing paint is used and carefully applied a reverse painting can be preserved against humidity and scratching for a very long time.

Can you give me some information about a reverse painting that was unfortunately destroyed in a fire? I have included a photo.

The intricate subject of the painting (floral) indicates that the artist had a developed ability for obtaining effect through the use of this relatively difficult painting technique. The painted black border surrounding the subject of the artwork may possibly have been an indication of the history of this reverse painting. If the painting was genuinely old the application of a coloured border around the subject was indeed common practise during a certain era (also around photo images). In this case we would perhaps be talking about a period from around the mid 1800's through to the early 1900's.

What is the best paint to use for painting on glass? I want to paint on one side and shine a light behind it so the whole image glows.

You can use any paint that will adhere properly to a non-absorbant surface such as glass. You can often find paints for using on glass in arts and crafts shops. There are also special paints available for creating a stained glass effect, if that is what you are seeking to do by using a light. Keep in mind that placing a light behind the glass may reveal all the brush strokes if a paint that has not been specifically developed for glass is used.

How can I hang a reverse painting on glass without a frame?

If the support for the artwork is a sheet of glass great care needs to be taken when hanging the artwork without a frame - it would be a pity if the painting were to fall. The painting could be hung by placing small metal supporting clips on the corners to which a cord or wire could be attached. If the support for the artwork is plexiglass instead of glass, hanging the artwork without a frame would be a much safer alternative. In the case of the support being plexiglass (and as an alternative to using small metal clips) small holes could be drilled into the support through which the cord or wire could be placed.

I paint on glass and mirrors as a hobby but all the paints I have tried either scratch off or don't show up well. I was wondering if you have any tips on the kind of paint to use, or any protective coating I should be putting on?

I'm presuming that when you paint on the glass and mirrors you are not painting in reverse but instead applying the paint directly to the "viewing side" of the glass? If you are painting on a glass surface that requires being cleaned from time to time (eg. a mirror) the paint needs to be resistant against scratching and wear. I would therefore suggest using oil-based paints rather than those that are water-based. Arts and crafts shops often supply more resistant paints that have been specifically developed for using on glass. For extra protection against scratching you could also try adding a final coat of clear, good quality varnish.

We have several reverse paintings on 1 inch thick glass that were bought at a local auction. These are believed to have originated from a church built in the late 1800's. Each painting weighs approximately 30-40 pounds, with dimensions of about 14x14 inches. These paintings were set in the wall, so there is a heavy box that is about 4 inches deep on the back of each one. We have no idea who painted them or the exact year they were done. We are trying to find information on the possible date, or perhaps some markings that may tell us who the artist was. Do you have any suggestions who I should contact?

Artworks from the late 18th century may have some antique value as they would be more than 100 years old.

With regard to who the artist may be, with reverse paintings on glass this can sometimes be difficult to trace unless the paintings are signed. If they were expressly created for a church, it's possible such work may not
have been signed in the usual way, however there may be records of the artist (or artists) if archives exist concerning the history of the church the artworks originated from.

In the case of the paintings having historical value, it is not always systematically considered of importance to know who painted them. Their value can also depend on what the subject of the painting represents, it's general condition, or how the origin of such a painting may have come about.

From a historical point of view, reverse paintings on glass were frequently created anonymously. Part of the reason may have stemmed from the fact that this painting technique was for a long time regarded as an artisanal occupation around which entire families (or small businesses) invested themselves.

If you would like to know more about these artworks you could perhaps show an example of one of them to an antique dealer who either specialises in old paintings, or who has a knowledge of the history of reverse painting on glass.

Can you please tell me how to protect a reverse painting from being damaged after it has been completed?

This is a very important question about reverse painting on glass.

Due to glass being used as a support for a reverse painting it is a fragile object and therefore requires the best possible care after completion. Because humidity can damage a painting that has been created on a non-absorbant surface such as glass, preventing the humidity from entering behind the glass after the painting has been framed is important.

First of all make sure the reverse painting on glass is completely dry.

One of the best and most simple methods for preserving a reverse painting from humidity is to cover the back of the painting with a sheet of wax paper. To do this, first place the painting face down on a newspaper and on a flat surface such as a table. Place the "painted side" (or side that has been directly painted on) facing upwards.

Now place a sheet of wax paper slightly larger than the painting's dimensions underneath the painting, then carefully cut along the glass edges with a cutter blade. This will result in producing a sheet of wax paper that has been cut to the exact size of the painting.

Take the wax paper out from under the painting and place it over the "painting side" of the artwork. If the fit is more or less exact, continue with the next step.

Now place the painting with its "viewing side" (the side from which you view the completed artwork) upwards.

With a roll of good quality transparent cellotape or a similar kind of sticky tape with an average width, carefully apply the tape along one entire edge of the viewing side. Be careful to apply a width (of cellotape) that will not exceed the width of a frame's insert margin. This will not only avoid the cellotape from showing when a frame has been added, it will also help to avoid having to cut off any overlapping cellotape with a cutter blade, particularly because any sharp instrument may scratch the viewing side of the glass.

Now carefully turn over the painting (with the length of cellotape already attached to the viewing side) and place it with its "painted side" upwards.

Be careful not to allow the cellotape to be in direct contact with the painted surface of the glass at any time as it may lift the paint off the glass surface and damage the painting.

Place the wax paper on top of the painted side of the glass, preferably with the shiny side of the wax paper facing the painted surface, and check that all 4 edges are well aligned. Place one hand on the wax paper to keep it in place, then carefully bend over the remaining width of cellotape (part of which has already been applied to the opposite side of the glass) over one edge of the wax paper. Apply a little pressure along the edge of the wax paper to make sure the cellotape adheres to its surface.

Carefully repeat this procedure for the remaining 3 sides of the artwork.

The result should be that all four edges of the wax sheet are taped down over the "painted side" of the glass while at the same time adhering to the "viewing side" of the glass.

With the painted side of the glass now well enclosed by the wax paper sheet this should help to protect the paint from being affected by humidity.

What would be the best way to frame a reverse painting on glass ?

When framing a reverse painting on glass make sure that the glass artwork fits as exactly as possible into the frame's insert margin. Should the painting fall, this can help to avoid too much movement within the frame on impact and may help to save the glass from shattering.

It is also advised to protect the painted side of the reverse painting (see FAQ question above) and then place a solid backing on the artwork within its frame, preferably made of wood rather than cardboard or any similar material that would too easily absorb any humidity in the air.

Here's a Reverse Painting tip

To let others know that a glass painting is fragile, and that the back of a reverse painting may require extra care when being handled to avoid damaging the paint on the glass surface (e.g. when changing a frame), a little message to this effect can be permanently attached to the back of the framed artwork. It may prove useful sometime in the future.

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A free online GUIDE TO REVERSE PAINTING ON GLASS

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