Stained Glassic

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!"

Jacqueline D reviewed: Stained glass leading for beginners

"I had a wonderful day on this stained glass leading course. I’m a complete beginner having never even cut glass before but Jamal is an excellent tutor and myself and the other two other people produced a beautiful piece of stained glass and we were all so proud. Jamal gave us a fascinating insight into the history of stained glass and its heritage in the Midlands. His journey is so interesting and inspiring and the incredible work he has produced is absolutely amazing. What a talent. I’ve always admired stained glass windows with awe and appreciation but, now having an insight to the work that goes into them and having experienced that it’s not as easy as you may think, I’ll definitely spend longer just standing and gazing at them. Thank you Jamal for a perfect day, and thank you to the other two people on this course with me who were delightful. I’ll treasure the memories of this experience and am proudly displaying my own piece of artwork 🌟💖🙏"

Stained Glassic responded:

"Dear Jacqueline, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the stained glass leading course and that you are proud of the beautiful piece you created. It was a pleasure guiding you through the process, and I'm glad my teaching and sharing of stained glass history added to your experience. Your kind words about my journey and work truly mean a lot. It’s great to know that you’ll now look at stained glass with even more admiration! It was a fantastic day with you and the others, and I’m so glad to hear that you'll treasure those memories. Thank you again for being part of the course, and I hope you continue to enjoy displaying your artwork! Best regards, Jamal"

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

"A very enjoyable day. Jamal gave a very comprehensive overview of the history and skill of stained glass painting. With his extensive experience, he was able to share the process and help us gain a realistic appreciation of all elements of the creative journey. And amazingly we all produced a sample to take home. Came away inspired."