Stained Glass

"How much will it cost?" is often the first question we hear from a prospective stained-glass client. But while the budget is a key issue, it is not necessarily the best place to begin.

To attain the finest results with your stained-glass project, some preliminary research is necessary. Ask us for our leaflet entitled STAINED GLASS - CHOICES.

The 10 stages of a stained-glass project ordinarily unfold in the following order:

1. Choosing a stained-glass artist.
2. Ensuring the feasibility of the physical setting.
3. Working towards a design.
4. Sketching a preliminary design.
5. Presenting the coloured rendering.
6. Selecting glass.
7. Drawing the life-size cartoon.
8. Cutting & leading the glass, soldering & caulking.
9. Adding reinforcement bars.
10. Installing the panels.

From our experience, we offer here some details on the first six steps outlined above:

1. Choosing a stained-glass artist: a committee can be formed for this purpose, ideally including persons who are knowledgeable about fine art. (If necessary, a specialized consultant could help.) The group can study the work of several artists, narrowing the list down to one or two candidates whose portfolio resonates well with the committee's objectives. Interviews may then finalize the decision.

   Selecting an artist through a design competition: while some clients may opt for this process, many artists are hesitant to invest the time and expense in a competition. If the client agrees to compensate the contestants, this may become costly. Sometimes it is not clearly articulated who the decision-making body will be; an artist may aim to satisfy the members of the committee with whom he has discussed his work, only to find that the winner of the competition is to be decided by a vote of the parishioners. Rather than hold a competition, it may be more productive to work with an artist who has impressed you, not only with his or her portfolio, but also with an ability to hear and understand your needs and to collaborate closely with you.
    

2. Ensuring the feasibility of the physical setting: for example, are the existing window frames suitable? Large expanses of leaded glass cannot be installed without special supports. On occasion, the entire window frame must be reconstructed with appropriate mullions to hold the glass panels, sometimes significantly changing the appearance of the window.
    

3. Working towards a design: a collaborative process with clear communication is essential, ensuring that everyone has a chance to be heard. Some education may be appropriate here, so that well informed decisions can be made. Unless the client has unlimited funds (!) it is usually important for the artist to be aware of the available budget. It may well have an influence on the design, possibly determining its scope, complexity and the choice of materials.
    

4. Sketching a preliminary design: in our experience, it is always a bit tricky presenting a design which does not have a fair bit of detail, since many people have difficulty conceptualizing the finished work as the artist is able to. Even at this stage, a fairly developed design is needed. This is time-consuming, and should be allowed for in the budget.
    

5. Presenting the coloured rendering: it may be difficult to accurately estimate the cost of a work until the final coloured rendering is completed. In some situations, a fund-raising campaign may be held for the stained-glass project. At Desmarais & Robitaille we sometimes fabricate a portion of an actual glass panel as a sample which may serve as an incentive for people to contribute.
    

6. Selecting glass: it is quite usual that certain glass colours have to be ordered (or even made) for a particular design, and that this requires time. This should be understood early on in the project, so that the delivery date of the final product is realistic. No artist wants to rush his or her work to suit a deadline. As a general rule, try not to assign an arbitrary deadline to your stained-glass project. It likely won't be a crisis if the window isn't installed by Christmas. Easter is coming! Click here to enquire about our Stained Glass Service.
    

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