Portfolio Update: Recreating a Beloved Stained Glass Window for Sam Houston State University

Our company, Fort Worth Stained Glass, is part of the Scottish Stained Glass family.  The group of companies has been a part of some pretty amazing historical stained glass restorations. One such project was  Sam Houston State University.  It is a fine example of why we love what we do–we get to breathe new life into structures like churches, synagogues, historic homes, and universities around the country.  A recent project at Sam Houston State University was one of our finest and most exciting works to date.

Replicating Sam Houston State’s Historic Stained Glass Windows

Sam Houston State University has been in Texas longer than most schools since it was founded in 1879. The architecture of the original campus buildings was dotted with lovely arched buildings–one of which had a crowning piece of stained glass. This window was iconic to the school and something they were very proud of.  However, in 1982 the window was completely destroyed by a fire.  In a recent decision, SHSU commissioned our group of stained glass companies to commemorate their school motto “The measure of a Life is its Service” by replicating the original stained glass window.  We could not be happier that they entrusted us with this task!

The First Challenge of Restoring Sam Houston State University’s Lost Stained Glass

Since there was nothing but a yearbook photo from 1962 to guide us, this job came with some unique challenges.  But certainly nothing we could not handle with our extensive experience and stained glass industry ties. You see, we always want to pay respect to the original stained glass art and make it as historically accurate as possible.   Meaning we had techniques already in place to work around having very little historical context or guidance for the job.

Modern Technology for Restoring Stained Glass

We always work using a mix of ancient stained glass techniques and modern technology.  So we started this recreation by scanning the old picture into the computer.  This allowed us to print out a full-sized version and carefully trace the lines. We then rescanned the drawing into our CAD program and doubled the stained glass window’s size at the request of the university.  While the process was painstaking it was also well worth the time and paid off in accuracy. 

Restoring Sam Houston State University’s Lost Stained Glass

Sourcing materials was an issue we knew we would have since most of the time we are working on historical pieces made with materials that no longer exist.  After all, this window was made over a century ago.  In cases like this, finding proper color matches is the challenge.  But we have a network of conservation specialists and used them to help us find colors that were very close to the originals.  To us, close is not enough so our plan to get the old colors matched exactly was to employ our incredibly talented painted stained glass artists.  Using their skill and knowledge they painted over the “close” hues to make them exact matches.

The Results of the Recreated Commemorative Stained Glass Window

The recreation of the stained glass window at SHSU took almost a full year.  In some spots around faces and clothing, there were ten layers of color to get the shading just right!  A mix of art and science this lovely commemorative window ended up with about 3,000- 4,000 pieces.  The reactions from the university staff, students, and board were of amazement and gratitude. This made us so happy since we take such great pride in our stained glass restoration, repair, and recreation projects.  We believe these treasures of old deserve preserving it for generations to come.

If you are looking to have a historic stained glass window restored or rebuilt we would love to speak to you about it!  Contact us Fort Worth Stained Glass today for a free consultation.

Fort Worth Stained Glass Portfolio Review: Gorgeous Painted Stained Glass

Here at Fort Worth Stained Glass, we are part of one of the most proficient stained glass studios in the country–Scottish Stained Glass. This is a point of pride for us and it also means we get to be part of some pretty cool stained glass installations. Of course, each comes with its own set of challenges–but each is also incredibly fulfilling work. We get to transform more than just windows but the lives of the congregants too. One recent example of this is our most recent large installation at St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church located in Wray, CO.

The Scope of Our Custom Stained Glass Project

Wray is a small town but this custom stained glass project was a big one. Unlike many of the churches built in this day and age, St. Andrew’s did not have stained glass windows in the sanctuary. The congregation felt like stained glass would make their place of worship feel more like a house of God. They reached out to us with a request for use to create five new, custom stained glass windows on the east side of their sanctuary. We were happy to help and full of ideas because custom work is right up our alley.

Customizing Stained Glass to Be Historically Accurate and Beautiful

The church congregation really wanted a depiction of the five Luminous Mysteries (baptism, wedding, proclamation, transfiguration, and last supper). These tenants were significant to them and made for lovely windows as well. For a job this detailed, custom painted stained glass was our suggestion. We have such a very talented painted glass specialist–Maria–and this was a great job to put her skills to use on. We used actual models to get the poses just right and we also dug deep into our research for historical accuracy like:

• The Appropriate background and foliage for the region
• Authentic tile design for floors in that time-period
• A historically accurate depiction of the town of Cana

The Beauty of Custom Painted Stained Glass

The outcome of our custom, five-panel stained glass project in St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church came out gorgeous. We used mostly black and brown paint but pulled color from the glass background. We also harnessed natural sunlight for depth. This created a realistic look to faces, hands, fauna, and flora. The result was an incredible three-dimensional look that was both authentic but stunning as well. The members of the congregation (who watched socially distanced) and in the end were amazed by the artwork. One member even mentioned “Now we have a church”. This statement was such an affirmation of a job well done that makes us love our work in custom stained glass creation.

For more information on custom stained glass or breathing life into an old piece of stained glass with restoration–contact us at Fort Worth Stained Glass today!

Stained Glass Privacy Solutions for Fort Worth Homes

Have you noticed any privacy concerns while you’ve been home lately? Don’t worry you’re not alone– many Fort Worth homeowners experience this issue. Rather than ignoring privacy concerns, it’s best to find effective solutions in order to keep your residential property both safe and comfortable. While there are endless privacy solutions out there, the options are quite limited when you want to maintain aesthetics and natural sunlight. Privacy stained glass offers an ideal solution for maintaining both for your home.

The Benefits of Privacy Stained Glass for Your Fort Worth Home

Privacy stained glass delivers a highly effective privacy solution that obstructs the unwanted views into your home. While not all glass will work for privacy, there are numerous options available in both clear, leaded and colorful glass. You can create your own custom design that reflects the style of your home while improving the function and safety of your property. Make sure that nosy neighbors or onlookers can’t glimpse into your property. Perfect for bathrooms, bedrooms, entryways, hallways, kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, and more, privacy stained glass also maintains natural sunlight so you can keep that bright, welcoming feel to your home. Privacy glass also offers the benefits of beautiful curb appeal and increased property value, providing a great investment for any homeowner.

Work with Fort Worth’s Leading Privacy Stained Glass Studio

Fort Worth Stained Glass is honored to be the leading privacy stained glass studio serving the Texas area. Our team is happy to assist you through both in-person appointments as well as virtual consultations. Work with our incredible designers to transform your property while ensuring all privacy issues are eliminated. We’re looking forward to creating your custom design for your residential property.

For more information regarding privacy stained glass for your Fort Worth home, please contact us!