It goes without saying that window displays are critical for attracting new customers and increasing foot traffic in your store. When people pass by, the street-facing displays can either make or break their decision to enter.
Consider the advantages of painting directly on the glass as you plan your next window display.
Glass paints are the best option because they have a translucent finish that colors the light that passes through. Technically, you can use poster colors for glass painting, but the longevity of your artwork may suffer as a result.
Can You Use Poster Paint On Windows?
Tempera paint, also known as “poster paint,” is the most commonly used paint for window painting. Window chalk has been used, but it is extremely difficult to remove and sometimes necessitates power washing and extensive scraping.
To make cleanup easier, tempera paint is frequently mixed with liquid soap or soap flakes. When painting on glass, however, it is critical that no detergent be mixed in with the paint. The detergent will quickly etch any glass that it comes into contact with, costing thousands of dollars in repair and cleanup. As a result, understanding the distinction between soap and detergent is critical.
Acrylic is an excellent choice for painting on glass if you intend to apply it to the outside of the window. It’s fine if you need craft paint. Acrylics are more likely than tempera to peel off, but tempera is another option for window paint.
How Durable Is Tempera?
Tempera is a watercolor paint that is great for painting window art. It will last a long time if not exposed to direct rain or a water source and is not applied too thickly.
Colored pigments will fade in direct sunlight over time, but your paint will remain vibrant for the duration of the season.
Why Is Paint A Good Choice?
There are numerous ways to incorporate paint into your window display if you choose to do so. Aside from the various types of paint available, it’s a versatile way to add dimension to your layout.
Here are some of the reasons why you should try it:
You can mix and match paint colors to achieve the desired shade. There are no color restrictions, which is often not the case with other materials such as paper and fabric.
Most types of paint can be easily removed from glass using water, window cleaner, and a razor blade. However, acrylic paint designed specifically for windows may be permanent, so read the labels before you begin.
Why Should You Paint Glass Windows?
Painting a glass window can be done for a variety of reasons, both aesthetic and functional. Painting a window is a good way to add art to your living space if you want to add some artistic flair to it.
Painting glass can be a fun activity for kids that can be cleaned off later, or it can be a permanent way of decorating a window with an intricate faux stained-glass design.
Painting glass is another effective way to increase privacy in a room. Frosting the glass, which takes less than an hour to complete, is an excellent way to create privacy while still allowing light into the room.
How To Do Glass Window Painting?
It’s time to get started once you’ve decided how you’re going to paint your window and have purchased your paint and brushes.
1. Clean And Prep The Glass
Before you begin coating the window, you must first prepare the surface. Begin by cleaning the window thoroughly with warm water and soap. This step is critical because you’ll need to remove all of the dirt and oils on the glass that will prevent paint from adhering to it.
After cleaning, wipe down the surface with rubbing alcohol for a thorough cleaning.
2. Clean the Surface
Wearing rubber gloves while preparing the surface and painting will prevent the oils from your hands from getting on the glass.
Begin by taping off the areas that will not be painted with painter’s tape. This includes the window frame and any parts of the glass that must be free of paint.
For artistic painting, you may want to apply a base coat that will act as a primer.
If you want to make the glass opaque, apply a layer or two of gesso before applying your base coat. Gesso, with its matte texture, makes an excellent painting surface.
3. Apply the Paint
If you use a single coat of paint to completely cover the glass in one color, this process is fairly simple. Coat the glass evenly with your brush. You may need to apply multiple coats depending on how opaque you want the window to be.
Choose a brush size that will allow you to paint with the level of detail that your design requires. Begin at the top left if you are a right-handed person, or the top right if you are a left-handed person.
This allows you to paint without smudging your design by placing your hand in areas where you have already painted. Begin by sprinkling on small amounts of paint.
It is much easier to add more paint than it is to remove excess paint. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, start adding more paint to your brush.
4. Glass Treatment
Curing the glass is critical because most paints take up to a week or more to fully harden. Chips and peeling are possible until the paint has fully hardened.
Baking painted glass in an oven is the best method for curing and is widely used in arts and crafts glass-painting projects.
That is obviously not possible when painting windows. While some people recommend using a hairdryer to do the same thing, a hairdryer does not produce enough heat to make this a viable option.
Related Questions
How Can You Remove Poster Paint From A Window?
You’ll need to scrub the paint away carefully and gently with a razor blade at a 45-degree angle. If you’re using a razor blade to scrape the glass, make sure it’s wet first. You can also spray your razor blade with glass cleaner and scrape the paint off.
What paint should I use on glass to make it clean?
Glass items can be repainted with acrylic paints, but if you want to ensure that your job will last or otherwise clean off, you must use permanent acrylic paint. It can also be sealed with a sealer.
Conclusion
Poster paints are a good option for painting windows, but they are not considered reliable. The longevity of acrylic paints to stay on glass windows is much more than poster paints.
Beatrix Ainsley (Bea to her friends) is an abstract artist who was heavily inspired in her twenties by the abstract expressionist movement of the 1940s. Since then Bea has acquired three degrees in Science, Education and most importantly Fine Art. Her art works showcase exploring emotion and introspection of self. To achieve this – the use of bold, sweeping, intricate layers of color, and spontaneity of form is enhanced by reflecting on decades of life experiences. Bea has amassed a vast knowledge of art in all its forms, and hopes to pass it on with her contributions here.
