Process

CONSULTATION, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION

Lynette Richards designs one-of-a-kind windows for specific sites. She works closely with homeowners, interior designers, builders, and committee representatives.

After an on-site consultation, the process of designing begins. Ongoing communication with the client is essential. A final design is proposed with an outline of the costs. Upon approval, the actual glasswork is started.  Lynette combines many traditional and contemporary techniques to create what you want.

Painting, Silver Staining, Lead Came Construction

The techniques of permanently decorating pieces of glass have remained unchanged since their discovery over a thousand years ago by the glaziers of Old Europe.  Master Glaziers were highly respected citizens in medieaval society, one of the only guilds allowed to marry royalty. 

the pattern drawn to scale with some glass cut

A full-scale pattern is precisely drafted.  Glass is selected, and cut to fit the pattern. Each piece of glass may be decorated using a combination of the 3 archival techniques. 1. Painting -black paint made from ground glass and metal oxides, is painted onto coloured glass, then fired in a kiln up to 1500*F, fusing the paint into the body of the glass; 2. Etching - acid or abrasive etching allows glaziers to manipulate transmitted and reflected light; 3. Silver-staining - a 16th century discovery where silver nitrite is painted onto the backside of clear glass, which turns yellow when fired in the kiln.

Finally, the glass pieces are leaded together using strips of lead came, soldered at the joints, and puttied to strengthen and weatherproof.  Structural reinforcements are attached, and the finished project is installed!

the finished top panel of a bathroom installed into the original window frame

Copper Foil Construction

American competitors John LaFarge and Louis Comfort Tiffany are credited with developing new techniques in Stained Glass at the turn of the 20th century.  They created American opalescent glass, highly descriptive coloured glass with streaks of white ranging from semi-transparent to fully opaque. Tiffany Studios created masterpieces without painting on the glass.  Using the Copper Foil method tiny pieces of glass are held together with delicate solder lines.  These innovations laid the foundation for the stained glass of the American Arts and Crafts Movement that encompassed Art Nouveau, Art Deco and culminated in the windows of Frank Lloyd Wright.

(1) pattern   (2) glass cut to fit   (3) each piece copper foiled   (4) soldered

In the image above, you can see 4 panels in various stages of construction using the Copper Foil method.  Glass is cut to fit a pattern.  Since solder will only stick to metal, a thin strip of copper foil is wrapped around each piece of glass.  Solder is then melted onto the foil, holding the pieces together.  The solder lines are changed to a soft pewter colour.  The Copper Foil technique is ideal when an irregular, brushstroke-like line enhances the image.

These completed panels have been installed into a hand-crafted walnut replica window frame

Etching

The surface of glass can be altered by protecting some areas and etching others.

A rubber mask is hand-cut, protecting what will remain clear while the exposed glass is etched.

When the etching is complete and the rubber mask is removed, light is beautifully and simply transformed.

Mosaic

Pieces of glass are glued to a prepared backing, then grouted.