How To: Create Resin Art with Minimal Supplies

How To: Create Resin Art with Minimal Supplies – Resin Art has gained immense popularity in recent years, captivating artists and enthusiasts with its mesmerising beauty and endless creative possibilities. However, it is known that resin art can be quite the expensive hobby with an extensive list of supplies. In reality, you can achieve stunning resin art pieces without breaking the bank. In fact, you may even have some (or most) of the supplies at home. In this blog post, we will be exploring just how to create captivating resin art with minimal supplies, whilst focusing on utilising items, tools, and accessories you may already have at home.

Planning and Preparation – Before diving into the resin art process, it’s essential to plan and prepare your workspace area. Choose a well-ventilated area with a smooth, level and dust-free surface. Lay down a protective covering, such as a plastic sheet, to prevent any accidental spills or messes. If you’ve got a painter in the family, then you can utilise painters plastic or painters tarps.

Additionally, silicone mats – like baking mats, anti-slip mats, or even pet mats – can also be used as a protective surface. The beauty of silicone is that resin won’t stick to the surface. So the resin will easily peel off once hardened and will be ready to reuse over and over again.

Tools and Accessories – While there are specific tools designed for resin art, you can also get creative and utilise everyday items found in your home. Here are some of our favourite examples:

• Mixing Resin & Colours: Wooden craft sticks, pop-sticks, or even plastic or bamboo cutlery. If you’ve ever had a party at home and had leftover ‘throw-away’ cutlery or maybe if you’re like my grandfather – that LOVED Paddle Pops (ice cream) and collected the pop-sticks – then you can easily give these items a new purpose with your resin art projects.
• Measuring & Pouring: Disposable measuring or drinking cups or even plastic shot glasses can be used to measure or mix your colours in.

Top Tip: Not only can the disposable cups be use for mixing your resin or pigments, they can also double as board stands. If you still have plastic disposable cups, then these can actually be cleaned out and re-used. But if you are using paper or perhaps couldn’t clean the plastic cups then they make for solid bases to help prop up your artworks.

• Spreading & Bubble Dispersing – You may need to raid hubby’s tool shed here, but to eliminate air bubbles and create interesting effects, a heat gun, craft gun, butane torch or culinary torch can be used to apply heat to the resin surface. Hair dryers can work, but won’t create the best movement, as it won’t heat the resin the same way a heat gun would.
• Levelling – An old credit card, or even a silicone spatula can be put to use to spread and level the resin on your chosen surface.
• Designing – Baking paper or a palette knife (for any artists or cake bakers out there), can help to create great effects in resin. You can read one of our previous blogs, where we shared how to use baking paper to create. READ HERE.

Top Tip: Baking paper can be fantastic for creating designs, but it can also be a great option for protecting your table surfaces. If you are only creating small projects like jewellery or working in moulds, then baking paper will work perfect, as the resin can easily peel off.

Pigments and Colourants – Now there are thousands of pigments available on the market that have been specifically designed for use in epoxy resin. Given they have been designed for this specific use, they will give you the best finishes. However, there are an abundance of other options for you to experiment with if you are still learning or not ready to invest in the more expensive specialised pigment products.
When it comes to colourants, you can try: Food Colouring, Alcohol Inks, Acrylic Paints, Face Paints, Clothes Dyes, Crayons, Eye Shadows, Blushes, Embossing Powders and so much more. Experiment with combinations and ratios to achieve different levels of depth or transparency.

It is important to note here, that whilst these products can be used, we would always recommend testing each type/colour in small amounts first before using in large quantities or on special/ custom pieces. As these products are designed for other specific uses, they may react with the resin you are using. Products with high water or oil contents (like acrylic paints) are likely to repel when mixed in resin which will create various reactions. It’s not to say they won’t work, but definitely test first!

Top Tip: Whilst still learning and experimenting with different colourants, we would always recommend investing in 1 specific epoxy pigment – white. A good quality white Pigment Paste like Pure White or Iceland White will always give you a good finish as well as encourage the creation of cells/lacing and other effects.

Surfaces and Moulds – Resin Art can offer a wide range of possibilities when it comes to choosing surfaces and moulds. Take a look around your home for items that can serve as unique canvases or moulds. Some items that could be ‘repurposed’ include: picture frames, wooden panels, canvases, ceramic tiles, cheeseboards, wood or ceramic canisters, timber stools or even recycled containers. The key is to experiment and unleash the artist within! The creative potential is endless, especially with unconventional surfaces.

Epoxy Resin – This is the foundation of the ‘Resin Art’ project. Whilst we may be (a little) bias, we would always recommend looking for a high-quality resin and hardener that is suitable for art applications – Much like our epoxy resin systems. There are various types of resin available each with its unique characteristics. It is important to choose a resin that fits your artistic vision and budget. No matter what brand, it is extremely important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper safety, mixing ratios and curing times. It’s crucial to prioritise safety. Resin and hardener can be toxic or irritants, so make sure to work in a well-ventilated area, wear appropriate protective gear such as gloves and goggles, and follow the safety guidelines provided by the manufacturer.

Whilst creating stunning resin art can be a costly endeavour, we hope you found some gems of information or items that you have floating around the house, that you can now repurpose for your art. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can achieve captivating results using minimal supplies. By repurposing items you already have at home, you can save money and the environment all whilst expressing your artistic vision. Embrace the endless possibilities of resin art and let your imagination soar! Start creating your own unique resin art pieces today, and enjoy the beauty and satisfaction of bringing your ideas to life without breaking the bank.

NOTE:
It is important to note that if you do decide to ‘repurpose’ tools from your kitchen or around your house, that once they are used for resin they should remain resin tools. For example, if you use a silicone spatula from your kitchen to mix resin, DO NOT try to wash the spatula and use it again in the kitchen.
Additionally, always test colours or additives or surfaces on a small scale before completing on a larger scale. This will allow you to troubleshoot, should anything not work or end up reacting with the resin. Every resin system is formulated differently, so a reaction may occur with some and not others.
ALWAYS follow the specific working and safety instructions that are provided with whichever brand of resin you decide to work with.