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Originally Posted On: https://andysartlab.com/from-novice-to-artisan-a-two-year-journey-in-resin-art/
From Novice to Artisan: A Two-Year Journey in Resin Art
Introduction – Discovering Resin Art
I started creating resin art around 2 years ago when I saw a YouTube video of someone making an amazing work using resin on top of the wood. As someone who loves to do DIY and gives anything a go I decided then and there that this was something I thought I could do. After deep diving into lots of artist’s YouTube videos and websites, I was captivated by the creativity and versatility that resin offers artists and crafters.
Instead of just ordering some supplies and jumping right in, however, I decided the best place to start was to find a local resin art course and learn the basics from a professional. I could have just followed along with one of the excellent Resin for Beginners videos, but I thought I needed a little hand-holding for this hobby I was about to embark on.
At its core, resin art involves using epoxy resin, a material that can be molded, colored, and manipulated to create stunning visual effects. The thing I love about using resin is its versatility. I can create artwork such as pouring, layering, and embedding objects, or use silicon molds to make home decor and other artistic objects.
One of the key characteristics of resin art is its ability to create a glossy, transparent surface that resembles glass or water. This allows you to create realistic landscapes, seascapes, and other intricate scenes with a remarkable sense of realism. The resin’s transparency also allows for the inclusion of objects such as flowers, leaves, or other natural elements, giving the artwork a three-dimensional quality.
One of my favorite artworks that is up on the Andy’s Art Lab YouTube channel is my Seascape where I embedded sand, shells, and rocks to make a true 3D artwork.
Resin art is highly customizable, allowing artists to experiment with different colors, pigments, and additives to achieve specific effects. Artists can create vibrant, eye-catching pieces by incorporating metallic pigments, glitter, or alcohol inks. They can also create more subtle and ethereal effects by using transparent or translucent resin and delicate color combinations.
The versatility of resin art extends beyond traditional canvas and panels. You can use resin to create jewelry, coasters, furniture, and other functional objects. The resin’s durability and resistance to wear and tear make it an ideal medium for creating art that can withstand everyday use.
Gathering Supplies
You don’t need too many supplies when you start but it can be confusing what to buy, especially the various types of resin you can get. Casting resin for deep molds, finishing resin for coating artwork, and art resin for general use like pour paintings. Then you have the huge variety of brands selling resin and the wide range of prices that come with it. It really can be confusing to start. The first thing I made from resin apart from the pour painting I did at the resin art workshop was a coaster.
Coasters I think make the perfect starter project for someone wanting to experiment with resin. They are also a great thing to have on hand if you have an excess of resin from an artwork where you can then use a coaster mold to be able to use it for any excess resin.
The other beginner project I would recommend is bookmarks. Both coasters and bookmark silicone molds are cheap and can easily be purchased from Amazon or Temu depending on whichever one is easiest for you.
.I have soooo many coasters and bookmarks in my art lab that it’s bordering on ridiculous
The reason I like coasters and bookmarks is that they are small enough to not waste too much resin if you make mistakes but big enough to experiment to see how a resin technique or mix of colors will turn out.
Resin Safety
With all its versatility and benefits for someone wanting to create stunning art, resin unfortunately does have a downside. That downside is that you are working with chemicals that when mixed create a chemical reaction to form a solid. Part of that reaction is releasing gases so you need to take precautions to protect your health. If you are looking at Resin as an art and crafts hobby on YouTube you will come across videos about how to protect your health as some people can have some serious reactions to Resin fumes or if you get it on your skin.
The basics for Resin safety are gloves, mask, and eye protection. It’s also advised to cover any exposed skin on your arms in case you manage to spill any.
Now this may sound scary but if you are set up with these basic precautions then you will have no issues at all handling and working with Resin.
The Learning Curve
Like anything you start, you start off basic with things like coasters and bookmarks and before long you can really start to experiment with materials to create amazing things. My first experiment looked at putting resin over plastic and glass objects. This taught me that the timing on when to pur the resin was a critical factor and it was on about the 3rd or fourth attempts that I learned that you had to wait for the resin to warm up with the curing process so that it was the thickness of honey so that when you poured it it stuck to the surface instead of running off the object completely.
Experimentation and Exploration
Like all of life, you learn from your mistakes. It’s the only way to improve as an artist or as a human in life. That’s why I called myself Andy’s Art Lab as I needed to try and fail, try again and fail, and to keep going until I found out what works.
There is so much you can experiment with Resin that it would take a lifetime of projects before you master every possible use of Resin. That to me is what excites me to keep trying new things and trying them until I get them right. Lately, I have been experimenting with creating waves. I started off putting vinyl plastic on top of Resin but that was a complete disaster as the resin leaked over the top of the vinyl I was using to form the waves. The second attempt worked out a lot better but there was room for improvement. I also learned to paint the back of the surface white to better show the wave reflections. I then used the same technique but embedded sand, rocks, and shells to create a beach scene which I was really happy with.
Next on my list, I’m going to experiment with flipping the technique upside down and instead of creating waves on the surface of the resin I will put the vinyl plastic shaped into waves within a mold and put the resin over the top of it.
My list of art experiments for the Art Lab is ever growing with one idea leading to another.
Key Tips and Tricks Learned
Mastering the Mixing Ratio: Achieving the Perfect Consistency
To achieve the perfect consistency, it is important to measure the resin and hardener accurately. Use a measuring cup with volume markings or a scale that you can zero out the weight of the cup depending if your resin is mixed by volume or by weight.
Once the resin and hardener are measured, mix them thoroughly for at least 4 to 5 minutes. I like to use the two-container method. First, you scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container to ensure that all of the resin and hardener are mixed as you do your initial mix, and then you transfer that mixed resin to a new container. This ensures that no unmixed resin is left on the sides and the bottom of the first container. This can overcome the sticker resin issue whereby unmixed resin remains that will never cure in the art, or the craft, that you are creating.
Bubbles
Bubbles are a common problem when casting resin. They can be caused by several factors, such as stirring the resin too vigorously, pouring the resin too quickly, or working in a dusty environment.
To remove bubbles, you can use a heat gun or torch. Hold the heat gun or torch about 6 inches away from the surface of the resin and move it back and forth in a circular motion. Be careful not to hold the heat gun or torch too close to the resin, as this can damage the surface.
You can also use Isopropyl Alcohol in a spray bottle to spray over your artwork and this will pop the bubbles that have formed.
Dust
Dust is the nemesis of the resin artist. Something so small can ruin hours of work. The main thing I have learned is to try to keep a dust-free room. However we know that is not possible in most situations as we all don’t live in laboratory clean rooms, so the alternative is to cover your artwork with a plastic container if what you are creating is small enough. I recently created a makeshift tent from wood and a plastic painter’s drop cloth to put over my resin artwork to keep the dust at bay
Timing
The curing time of resin is the time it takes for the resin to fully harden. The working period is the time you have to work with the resin before it starts to cure.
The curing time and working period of resin vary depending on the type of resin you are using.
It is important to understand the curing time and working period of the resin you are using so that you can plan your project accordingly. As I mentioned earlier it is one of the learnings I found about pouring resin over objects. Understanding the working time I had with the resin I was using allowed me to get the effect I was after.
Reflections and Insights
Art can be therapeutic, I have written about art as therapy previously and how it can allow you to release stress and provide a vehicle for expression. I have found this has helped me have this outlet to show my creativity.
The thing I love about using Epoxy resin as an art medium is its versatility. I’m also someone who doesn’t have the talent to create photo realistic artwork but I can create amazing artwork from galaxy paintings to waves and beach scenes by using resin.
Conclusion
The 2-year learning curve has allowed me to experiment and learn from my mistakes. I can take what I learn and make small adjustments to how I layer the resin or how I mix certain colorants. It provides a sense of accomplishment in perfecting a technique or style.
Resin art is a very easy art to start and learn the basics. You can be up and running very quickly as you mix and pour your resin on your first project.
If you have read this article all the way through you think Resin Art is something that you would like to try, then I encourage you to head over to YouTube and find my Andy’s Art Lab channel and take a look at some of my videos. I have some beginner videos that you may find helpful in starting your resin art adventure.