Are you a resin art lover? And you have many questions related to it, then you have landed on the right post. Below, you will get answers to all your questions about resin art, including 1. What is resin made of? 2. Which Materials are compatible with resin? 3. What is resin art used for? 4. Why is resin art so popular?
But, before knowing the answers to your queries, first understand what resin art is.
What is Resin Art?
Resin art uses a viscous substance called epoxy resin, UV resin, and other types of resin (depending on the painter’s choice) with various color pigments and additives to create unique designs, textures, and patterns.
There are different types of resin, including polyurethane resin, polyester resin, alkyd resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, and UV resin. All resins have their own properties and composition.
What is resin made of?
Resin is made from a transparent gum or liquid-like substance that comes out of trees after a scratch or when you cut it. These liquids oxidize when exposed to air, which creates a thick viscous fluid called resin.
Which materials are compatible with resin?
Resin is compatible with various types of materials, including paper, wood, and metal. And the materials that are non-compatible with resin are generally used as molds or protecting surfaces to make 3D resin art.
| Compatible with Resin | Non-compatible with resin |
| Wood | Polypropylene plastics |
| Metal | Vinyl |
| Stones | Rubber |
| Photographs | Wax paper |
| Plastic | Sheathing |
| Fabric | Silicone |
| Inkjet prints | Duct tape |
| Flowers | Parchment |
| Dried acrylic & Oil paints | Greasy surfaces |
| Natural elements | Hot glue |
| Glitters |
History of resin art
Creating resin art is nothing new, it has been used since the 1930s. In 1934, Paul Schlack, a German Chemist, patented epoxy resin. And almost in the 1930s and 1940s, lots of discovery claims on BPA-based (bisphenol-A) epoxy resins began to appear.
A similar claim came from the Swiss Chemist Pierre Castan who, along with Paul Schlack, became one of the leading pioneers of epoxy resins.
Here are some tips to get good at resin art.
• Use freezer paper and a cookie sheet with a silicone mat to clean the work surface easily.
• Place the resin in a tub of hot water for 2 to 5 minutes to avoid bubbles.
• Don’t create your art pieces on moist days, as your art will not dry properly, which can ruin it.
• After completing work, make sure to cover it with a piece of cardboard or a sheet of plastic. It helps to protect the work from dust and pets.
Let’s check this awesome webstory on “7 Best Tips To Make Resin Art“
How to make resin art?
Materials you need to create resin art include clear resin, powdered pigments, gloves, handheld level, plastic cover, mixing cups, stirring sticks, torch, heat gun, isopropyl alcohol, glitters, and cradled painting boards.
If you want to work on an 8 sq feet surface, you need to buy the 32 oz Starter Kit. For working on 32 sq feet, you should buy the one gal Studio kit, and for the bigger area of 32 sq. ft., go with two gals Professional Kit.
Epoxy Resin Kit comes with (a) Hardener and (b) Epoxy in the 1:2, 1:1 & 1:3 ratios. 1:2 means if you take 30g resin, then you have to mix it with 15g hardener, the ratio 1:3 means if you take 30g resin, then you will mix it with 10g hardener, and the last ratio 1:1 means you will take the same amount of epoxy & hardener. Before going ahead, make sure which of these ratios you want to use.
Also, cover your work area with parchment and wax paper. It will help you protect your working surface.
(i) First, pour resin and hardener into the disposal glass, then mix it well for 2-3 minutes using an ice cream stick.
(ii) If you want to mix various types of color pigments, add 2 or 3 drops of it into different silicone measuring cups.
(iii) Pour the colorful resin over the canvas and tile, then spread it around onto the art surface.
(iv) Don’t forget to use a handheld level, it helps to level the table. If you don’t use it, your design can have patches.
(v) After completing your art, always make sure to cover your art piece using a box or plastic container. Also, you can keep it in the almirah for 24 to 72 hours to protect it from dust. (The resin reaches 95% of its full cure within 24 hours and 100% of its cure within 72 hours).
Materials to Buy
- 32 oz Starter Kit
- Handheld level
- Powdered pigments
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Gloves
- Torch
- Heat gun
- Mixing cups
- Glitters
- Canvas
- Cradled painting boards
Note – If there are many bubbles on your art surface, use a silicon brush to remove the bubbles. And also, you can keep your resin bottle in hot water for almost five minutes before using it because your resin will be soft so that it will mix easily and make fewer bubbles.
See Webstory On: 5 Illusion Paintings That Will Totally Amaze You
FAQs
1. What is resin art used for?
Resin art is generally used for creating durable coasters, keychains, jewelry, ornaments, and crockery. Also, it is even used to decorate furniture such as chairs and tables.
2. How much does resin art cost?
The price of Resin art is not fixed, it depends on its design and patterns. For instance, flower-pressed resin arts are usually sold for $20 to $30 per piece. And, if the designs are unique, they can be sold for almost $165 to $15,000.
3. What do you need for resin art?
If you want to create resin art pieces, you need to buy lots of materials such as clear resin liquid, powdered pigments, mixing cups, stirring sticks, handheld level, plastic cover, torch, heat gun, isopropyl alcohol, duct tape, and cradled painting boards.
4. Does resin break easily?
Resin arts are known for their durability. Most of its use cases require a sturdy build so that it can stay long.
5. Why is resin art so popular?
The amazing concept of resin art has existed since the 1930s, but the process of making resin art had recently come into the public eye when resin artists began exhibiting their art through influential video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, Insta reels, and TikTok.
6. What’s the difference between epoxy and resin?
Both epoxy and resin are used to make resin art, but there are many differences between both of them. Below, we will describe the difference between epoxy & resin.
Epoxy is a type of strong adhesive substance or chemical, also known as glue.
•Epoxy hardens much faster than resin.
•After the completion of work, it takes almost 24 hours to dry.
•It is used to cover empty spaces.
Resin is a type of substance or gum derived from trees, which comes out after scratching or cutting the trees.
• It is transparent.
• It gets extracted in liquid form.
• It is used for shining the products.
7. Can I pour resin on canvas?
Yes, you can easily pour resin on surfaces like canvas, tile, vinyl records, cradled birch, wooden artist panels, and Medium-density fiberboard.
8. How to decide the amount of resin we need for a project?
One simple trick is that whatever you want to make, you should take the mold of it, then level it up with water. The volume of water will give you an idea about the amount of resin you should take.