A touch of glass

Walls are not the only popular place in a home for art

By Elizabeth Gabriel

(Updated: Thursday, July 24, 2008, 4:43 PM)

If you want to make a statement in your home decor, here are two ways to go.

You can make a statement -- literally -- with sayings and symbols from Uppercase Living.

You can have art on a window or have a piece of glass hanging as a piece of art.

Paint "stained"

Cindy Lucich of Yosemite Lakes Park paints on glass. She displays old windows she has used as canvasses, but can come to your home and produce the painting you want. The result has the look and luminosity of stained glass.

To begin, Lucich cleans the glass, then scrapes it with a razor to get any deposits off, then goes over it with rubbing alcohol. The final treatment is Windex.

She has artwork from one brilliant red poppy to an arts-and-craft abstract to a nude holding a glass of red wine. The paintings can be embellished with "jewels" or such things as foils for extra shine.

The stained-glass look is achieved by starting with a "lead" paint. Once that dries, she fills in the spaces with color and/or texture. There is no top coat.

Once finished and cured, the pieces can be wiped with a damp cloth. Do not use cleaners that could damage the paint.

Lucich said if a a piece doesn't work out, she can scrape the paint off with a razor blade and start again.

Cindy Lucich: (559) 683-0969.

Say what?

Linda White of Oakhurst is the Mountain Area Uppercase representative. The company produces phrases and graphics in a variety of sizes and colors that can be mixed and matched and that follow themes. "Enter with a happy heart" or "It's good to be home" might fit well in an entry, while "Watch out for falling bubbles" or "Drop your drawers here" would be right for a bathtub alcove or above a hamper.

There also are seasonal, inspirational, whimsical and label choices, or you can choose a saying of your own, select the color, size and font, and it will be made for you.

The embellishments come backed with paper. You attach the paper to the wall with tape, peel off the backing and burnish the images onto the surface.

White said they work well on almost any surface, although on smooth materials such as glass or enamel, it's harder to do any repositioning. She said they come right off with no residue or damage.

Linda White: e-mail yourpersonaltouch@sti.net or (559) 760-5292; Uppercase Living: www.uppercaseliving.com.

Similar products are available at Sign Authority in Oakhurst: (559) 642-6190 or www.signauthority.biz.