Glass Is Artist’s Canvas : ARTISANS. <i> Spotlighting makers of handcrafted goods</i>

The pinks are as bright as cotton candy. Blues the color of sapphires and greens range from the lightest hues to the darkest shades. The intensity of colors, as well as the wide varieties, are what leads many to love stained glass.

Gary McBeath, owner of Mac Beths Stained Glass in Brea since 1980, has long been interested in art and stained glass, but he never planned to go into the business of creating stained glass pieces or teaching the craft while he was teaching school in Arkansas.

“My wife, Peggy, and I actually owned a small studio while we were living in Arkansas, but we specialized in making stoneware pottery,” he said. “After a few years, I got interested in looking at something different so I decided to take a class in stained glass.”

At his studio, customers watched him working with the brightly colored glass and became interested in purchasing his pieces. Eventually, McBeath began selling his work on consignment.

Because he wanted access to many types of glass, McBeath found himself in business as a supplier of stained glass, first for himself, then for his students and finally selling to other artists.

“About 15 years ago, there weren’t as many types of glass as you find today,” he said. “Today, we have 500 to 600 types and colors of glass to choose from, featuring color variations as well as different textures and opacities.

“Artists can create beautiful work based on all the types of glass available. Glassmaking has come a long way in the past decade.”

While stained glass is still predominantly displayed in windows, it also appears in a variety of other forms: lamps, room dividers, tables and decorative boxes, as well as the front panel of cupboards. It is also featured as a piece of art, suspended from ceilings.

The two most common types of glass are Cathedral glass (most often used in church windows) and Opalescent glass, where the color is mixed with white to form a marbleized look. This creates a more opaque look, and these pieces can even be hung on a wall as no light source is necessary to show off their beauty.

“The earliest windows in Europe were done with opalescent glass,” he said. “This glass was then painted and fired. That’s where the term ‘stained glass’ originated. The color on the inside was bright and vivid while the color on the outside was drab. That’s why in many old cathedrals you need to view the windows from the inside to appreciate their beauty.”

Among the most popular glasses available is beveled glass, according to McBeath.

“People like the bevels because they serve as little prisms that capture the light and sparkle,” he said. “Depending on the amount of beveling and whether or not it is custom designed, you can start with fairly low prices and then move up to much more expensive pieces. Some of the beveled glass we’re receiving from overseas is very reasonably priced.”

When working with stained glass, expect to spend anywhere from $5 to $24 per square foot depending on the color and quality of the glass. McBeath estimates that a 12-square-foot window costs about $800.

Glass color can also determine costs. “Hot colors, such as oranges, yellows, pinks and reds, tend to cost more, with pink often being the highest-priced color. The reason? Gold oxide must be used to create these vibrant colors,” he said.

“Another current favorite is ‘confetti glass,’ where dots of different colors are melted and fused together, making the glass look as if someone has sprinkled bright colors all over it, much like looking through a kaleidoscope,” he added.

Stained glass is also frequently found in entryways with panels inserted into front doors or as sidelight windows.

“Quite a few builders are interested in placing glass--usually beveled--in front doors and in entryways and when you think about it, it makes sense,” McBeath said. “The entry is the first impression you have of a home. If it’s flooded with light, it’s going to look bigger and brighter. I’m also seeing more interest in adding stained or beveled glass to tub and spa areas. Often windows in bathrooms are hard to drape so the glass can enhance privacy while still letting in light.”

His customers also inquire about using panels of the sparkling glass as room dividers.

“I think there are a couple of reasons why there’s interest in using glass as a divider,” McBeath said. “For starters, it makes the room appear larger since instead of a wall or solid panel, you have glass that reflects light and in some instances allows you to see through it. Secondly, you can choose glass to match almost any color or colors you want. If you have wallpaper with a floral pattern, you can design a glass panel with the same colors and a similar motif.”

But what really sells most people on stained glass is the beauty of the piece.

“People are always excited about stained glass,” McBeath said. “We’re seeing a lot of new homes featuring stained glass because it makes an instant impression and it’s one of those things that people remember. Sometimes you can’t remember the type of stove or refrigerator, but people will remember a stained glass window or front door.”

McBeath is also seeing more of an interest by the public to have a hand in creating the stained glass pieces on display in their homes. For that reason, he began offering classes several years ago to those who wanted to learn the craft.

“The classes I teach are offered twice a week for four weeks,” he said. “Most students can complete a small panel in that time or at least get started on a more ambitious project. The largest project one of my students made was a 18-foot by 24-foot panel.”

A variety of pattern books are available for students or those who want to commission a piece. Others prefer to design their own windows, or have an artist design a one-of-a-kind piece for them.

“It usually takes four to six weeks to create a custom-designed piece, depending on the size and detail,” McBeath said. “The first couple of weeks are spent doing the drawing or design. The client then needs to review the pattern and select the colors. After that, it takes about four weeks to actually construct the piece.”

The curve of angles can also make a piece more expensive or in the case of students, more difficult to achieve.

Does he think stained glass will ever go out of style?

“Stained glass has been around for hundreds of years, and people still find it fascinating. Of course, it’s now used for much more than windows, although windows are still the most popular places to display it. And there’s also been more interest in clear and beveled glass so that it coordinates with the decor of almost any room.

“I don’t envision a time when it won’t be around. If anything, I think it will continue to increase in popularity and beauty.”