Medieval stained glass was Scripture told through light and color — bold black lead lines holding luminous glass panes in place. You'll simulate this with thick black marker lines and luminous watercolor washes. Choose a Christian theme: the cross, a dove, a fish, the nativity, a lamb, or an abstract symbol of faith.
Watercolor paper (9×12"), HB pencil, black Sharpie or paint marker (2-4mm tip), watercolor set, round watercolor brushes (medium and small), water jar, paper towels, scrap watercolor paper for testing. Finished design 8×10".
Sketch your window design lightly in pencil on watercolor paper, dividing it into distinct panes by thick leading lines with a decorative border. Keep shapes bold and simple — delicate detail is lost in this style.
Ink all your lines heavily before painting with a black Sharpie or paint marker. Lines should be 2–4mm wide. Wait at least 15 full minutes before adding water anywhere near the ink.
Mix your watercolors fairly saturated. Stained glass is vibrant — avoid pale, washy colors. Test mixtures on a scrap of watercolor paper first.
Paint one pane at a time, loading your brush generously and letting the paint flow to the black edges naturally. Don't scrub it in — one confident stroke per pane, then leave it.
While still wet, drop a second color into some panes for variation — orange into red, blue into purple. This gives the subtle color shift real glass has as light moves through it.
When fully dry, reinforce any bleeding lines with the black marker. A final pass of black restores the crisp leading effect where watercolor has crept over.
Work quickly with watercolor here — hesitant, overworked paint loses the luminous glass quality entirely. One confident stroke per pane, then move on. Speed and boldness are the technique, not shortcuts.