If you want to give your friends and family something personal during special occasions or just have interesting party glasses to drink out of that show your creative side, painting wine glasses is a great skill to learn.

They also are available in many different stores and vary from student and novice art to intricate and experienced art. Painted wine glasses are also available in many downtown cities and display local art.

They are not only beautiful and show some of the culture of particular areas, but are also great for dinner parties where you can show off your collections much like you would china.

For up and coming painters, painting wine glasses can be very simple. All you will need are wine glasses or champagne flutes of your picking (a simple party wine glass with a shape appropriate for both red and white wine will give you the most use), brushes of various sizes and shapes depending on your skill level (stick with simple brushes if you are a beginner and do not know which brushes aid in which techniques), and glass paints.

Free hand painting can be difficult so take a hint from various graffiti artists and use stencils. You can make your own or purchase them from craft stores.

Glass paints generally need to be heated so follow the directions on the paints you have bought after the paint has already dried and you will have yourself something you can look back on and be proud of for years.

Collecting painted wine glasses is a common practice and will spice up your cupboards. Whenever you are out on vacation, venture to the downtown strips of the towns you are in and many little hobby and antique stores sell local artists’ creations.

This way you can have something to remember your trip and a meaningful piece of the place as well.

Display your painted wine glasses by hanging them, putting them behind glass buffets or cabinets, or making something new out of them.

Try filling them with different colors of sands in them with a tea light candle in the center. You could surround the base of the glass with sea shells and create a coastal feel to your dining table.

Be creative with showing off these pieces of art as they are likely to pleasantly surprise many of your guests.