Stained Glassic

John reviewed: 'Art of stained glass painting' 1 Day Taster - Oldbury, Birmingham - with Jamal Rafay at Stained Glassic

"As a novice I attended the one day course I learned a tremendous amount during the day The history of stained glass, glass cutting and shaping during the morning session. The afternoon was spent glass painting and then pieces were ready for initial firing Jamal is a very good teacher and has a wealth of experience and is a highly skilled artisan craftsman I would recommend this course to either beginners or artists wishing to experiment with stained glass Highly enjoyable day!"

Ali Glaisher reviewed: 'Art of Stained Glass' - Oldbury, Birmingham

"I really recommend this course. Jamal is a talented artist and a great teacher. He explained the techniques involved in making a panel stained glass and helped a lot as we learnt how to use the tools to cut glass and apply the lead and solder. As a virtual beginner I was pretty nervous but Jamal gave me confidence and I am really pleased with the panel that I made. "

Emma reviewed: Stained glass leading for beginners

"Thoroughly enjoyed the course when we got stuck into the practical part. I feel the introduction was too long winded and unnecessary having done similar craft courses previously. I thought leaving 2 people who had never cut glass before to go into the house at the beginning was irresponsible and risking an accident "

Stained Glassic responded:

"Dear Emma, Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. I value constructive criticism as it helps me improve. I enjoy introducing stained glass with its historical context to give students a richer, more immersive experience during the workshop. While some workshops might skip this aspect, I believe it’s an important addition that connects students to the craft's heritage, ensuring it’s not just seen as a skill to acquire but a tradition to preserve. That said, you’re the first to share a differing opinion, and I will certainly take your feedback into consideration. In the past, this element has often been described as "the cherry on top," though I understand that cherries aren’t everyone’s preference. Regarding the brief moment I left you and your daughter, I appreciate your concern. I assure you it was only for a short time (no more than 3–4 minutes) to clear your coffee cups and wash my hands. Nonetheless, now that you’ve raised this, I will be even more conscious of ensuring no one feels unattended, no matter how brief the moment. Thankfully, so far (fingers crossed), I’ve maintained a very low to zero incident rate. Once again, I appreciate your feedback and thank you for helping me enhance the workshop experience for future participants. Kind regards, Jamal Rafay"

Gill and Peter reviewed: Stained glass leading for beginners

"Thank you Jamal for providing such a wonderful experience. We really enjoyed listening to your own career development. You have an amazing talent and we are not surprised that you have been involved in such huge projects. As a teacher you were calm, kind and supportive. We are both thrilled with our panels. Neither of us had ever cut glass, used leading or soldered before. Our success is down to your knowledge and teaching skill. Thanks again for a wonderful day. "

Stained Glassic responded:

"Dear Gill and. Peter, Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure to have both of you in the workshop, and I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed the experience. It’s always rewarding to see beginners create such great pieces on their first try, and I’m thrilled that you’re proud of your panels! I’m grateful for your appreciation of my work and teaching—your enthusiasm and willingness to learn made the day even more enjoyable. Thanks again for joining, and I hope your stained glass panels bring you lasting joy!"