How to save money while creating Resin art

Creating resin art is Expensive !!!. If you decide to start resin art as a hobby you will realize that its not just resin you have to invest in. You need pigments, tools like hot gun or blow torch, silicone molds, mdf bases, embellishments and so much more.

So is there any way you can save a little money???

There are a few ways to save money when creating resin art:

1. Use less expensive materials: Instead of using more expensive materials like gold leaf or crushed gemstones, try using less expensive alternatives like glitter or acrylic paint.

2. Buy in bulk: Buying larger quantities of resin and pigments can save you money in the long run as opposed to buying small bottles.

3. Create your own molds: Creating your own molds can be a cost-effective way to make multiple pieces of resin art.

4. Use recycled materials: If you can use materials you already have, such as old bottles or jars, rather than buying new ones.

5. Make your own pigments: Instead of buying premade pigments, you can make your own by mixing acrylic paint or food coloring with resin. Personally i believe that using good quality resin pigment coloring is always worth it for the long term quality of the product but if you are just starting out you can go for good quality acrylic paints that can also be used for other hobby's like painting, etc

6. Use smaller quantities of resin: If you're making small pieces, use less resin and less pigments to save money.

7. Don't be afraid to experiment: Practice different techniques, and use different materials and methods to find the most cost-effective way to create your resin art.

8. Look for sales or discounts: Many art supply stores offer sales or discounts on resin and pigments, so keep an eye out for those deals.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can create beautiful resin art while also saving money.

#resinart #resinhacks #savingmoney

Trending Resin Art

Some popular and trending resin art techniques include:

• Ocean-inspired art, such as creating beachy scenes with shells, sand, and other natural elements embedded in resin.

• Galaxy art, where resin is poured over a dark surface and pigments, glitter and inclusions are added to create a marbled effect that resembles a galaxy.

• Geode art, where resin is poured over a surface and pigments are added to create a crystal-like effect.

• Wood resin art, where resin is poured over wood surfaces to create unique and eye-catching designs.

• Resin and alcohol ink art, where alcohol ink is added to resin to create a fluid art effect.

• Resin and epoxy art, where epoxy and resin are combined to create a 3D effect, for example for river tables, coasters, and even for floors.

• Resin and concrete art, where resin is added to concrete to create a unique, modern look.

It's important to note that these are just a few examples and the possibilities with resin art are endless, new techniques and new styles are always emerging. 

#resinart #resinartideas

Resin art ideas

 Resin art can be used in a variety of ways to create unique and beautiful pieces. Some ideas for resin art include:

1. Creating a river table by pouring resin over live edge wood slabs
2. Embedding objects, such as shells or flowers, in resin to create a 3D effect
3. Using resin to fill in the gaps of a broken vase or other ceramics, creating a new design
4. Creating a geode effect by adding pigments and mica powders to the resin before pouring it into a mold
5. Layering different colors of resin to create a marbled effect
6. Using resin to make a jewelry, like pendants, rings, and earrings.
7. Creating a painting by pouring resin over a flat surface and manipulating it with tools to create a textured design
8. Using resin to make a sculpture.
9. Creating a coasters by pouring resin over a surface and adding pigments or inclusions.

These are just a few of the many possibilities with resin art, the creativity is endless.

#resinart #resinartideas

Step-by-Step tutorial to make a resin beach coaster

 

How to make a 3d flower with resin

Follow the video tutorial to see how to make a 3d flower with resin

Getting the lacing effect in Resin

The Ocean, Beach, Sea theme in resin coasters is very popular. What makes it even more popular is the lacing. The part that makes the waves on the sea. Those perfect cells. 
When i first started to work on the sea theme it was very difficult to achieve those cells. Most of the time it was just a cloudy white. Still looked like the sea but no cells. I did follow a few tutorials but could not get those cells. 
I have seen people use something called 'Resi Blast', silicone oil, isopropyl alcohol and special resin pigments that are made just to get the lacing. 
Here in India there is no Resi Blast, silicone oil spreads the cells everywhere. I did not find isopropyl alcohol helpful and special resin lacing pigments are really costly.

I think there are different factors that go into getting the lacing effect.
1. The density of the resin, it should not be too thin nor too thick.
2. Temperature factor. I think it is easier to get the lacing effect in a warmer climate than a colder one.
3. Color Pigment that you use in the resin. I use a pigment from Alpha Systems that i bought from Amazon here in India. Before i used to use a white pigment from a different brand and the lacing effect did not work with it. So i think the brand also matters.
But the technique or the method that you follow is pretty much the same. If not cells you will certainly achieve the wave pattern.
So here is mine.

1. So once you have got the color of the water(Blue pigments) blended in put a layer of clear resin over the part you want the waves to form.

2. Next take very little resin and mix the white pigment in it. Keep the consistency slightly thick,not too much, just a bit more than the usual. Place the white just below or at the edge of the clear resin as shown below.

3. Using the heat gun first use the low setting and blow towards where the waves need to go. Once it starts to flow use the higher heat setting to blow until you are satisfied with the formation. So i achieve the cells at this stage and with just the heat gun. I have seen people use the blow torch to get even better lacing. But i prefer just the heat gun.

There it is. Perfect lacing.

Guys do let me know how you achieve yours in the comments below. Is there any other way to do this.

Alpha system opaque resin pigments: https://amzn.to/2W0iYLN

Epoke art resin: https://amzn.to/30XMMZV

ItsyBitsy resin: https://itsybitsy.in/collections/all/products/clear-resin-and-hardener100ml

* Note – As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to make a Silicone Mold for Casting

I have used Silicone Rubber from a brand called Siloczest. I would recommend using LSR-2. They have a different kinds, some which cures fast and some which cure slowly. This variety that i used is not food grade. You cannot bake food in it.

In the video tutorial i used LSR. The details came out beautifully as you can see in the video but when i 
cast resin in it the final cast did not come out easily. So i would recommend using some kind of mold release spray before pouring resin in it. The plaster of paris cast came out beautifully without any mold release.

Watch the Video tutorial below:

Resin Colorants

There are different kinds of materials you can use to add color to Resin. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.
Resin by itself will mostly be clear. You can use this to coat surfaces or your paintings. When you add colors you can use it for casting or creating resin art.

These are the different kinds of colorants that i have personally used

1. Acrylic
One of the most popular and cheapest way to color your resin is Acrylic paints. Make sure that the acrylic you use does not contain any water. Acrylic will give an opaque and matte finish to your resin piece. If you want the final piece to be glossy you will have to put another coat of resin over the finished product.
I have also observed that acrylic does not work with some brands of Resin. It just sinks to the bottom. So always test a small batch to see if it mixes properly with the Resin. 

2. Alcohol inks
Alcohol ink will mix well with resin and will give the resin piece a transparent look.One thing we have to remember while using Alcohol inks is that it is flammable. So once you put the alcohol inks into the resin you cannot use any type of flammable items like lighter or heat gun on it.

3. Resin pigment
These are special colorants made for Resin. They can be either transparent or opaque.

Click here for a Video Tutorial

Removing bubbles from Resin

When you mix the Resin and Hardener you will get air bubbles. You need to eliminate these air bubbles or atleast minimize the amount or else once the resin has cured they will be visible or might create dents on the surface.

These are the ways i use to try and eliminate bubbles

1. Stir gently
The first way is to mix the clear and hardener gently. You need to make sure both have incorporated well together but mix gently and slowly for about a minute.

2. Use a flame lighter
This is one of the most affordable and common method to get rid of bubbles. After mixing use a flame lighter on the surface. All surface bubbles will pop.

3. Work in a warm room
Sometimes the temperature also affects the mixture. Here in India i do not have that issue. You can maybe run the heater for a while in the room if its too cold and make an ambient temperature for casting

4. Warm the resin and hardener before casting
Sometimes i use this method for my 1:1 resin since it is very viscous. I place both the resin and hardener bottle in warm water. Make sure the water is just warm and not boiling and do not keep the bottles for too long, just until you feel the liquid inside is moving more freely. Once the liquids are more fluid you will be able to mix it more easily thus giving you less bubbles.

5. Heat gun
This works similar to a flame lighter but with more heat and intensity. Use it over the resin surface for about 30 seconds. Using it for too long will affect the curing process.

These are some of the methods that i use. Apart from this there is another one. Putting the resin mix in a pressure pot. This is usually used for large castings. When you put the mix inside the pressure pot it creates pressure which makes the bubbles smaller and thus gets rid of them.

How to mix the Resin

Different brands of Resin have different ratio of clear and hardener mixing. The amount is mentioned in the label of the bottle. 
I have used three different brands of Resin and have observed the following
A resin that cures very fast like within an hour has a very short working time as opposed to one that takes 24hrs to cure. A fast curing resin will be more viscous and a slow curing one will be very fluid in the beginning.
Temperature also affects the curing process. If the room is very cold it would be a good idea to dip the clear and the hardener bottle in some warm water with the bottle cap closed to make it more fluid. 

Use a weighing scale to measure the amount of Clear and Resin. Once you pour both the liquid in a paper cup use a popsicle stick to mix it well. Mix slowly and gently to avoid getting a lot of air bubbles. The slow curing resins usually are easy to mix and give less bubbles.
To remove bubbles use a flame lighter or a heat gun and go over the surface where you have poured the resin for about 5-6 seconds. Do not use it for long as it will affect the curing process.

Precautions to take before using Resin

When the Hardener and Clear part of the resin are mixed together it causes a chemical reaction which heats up the Resin slowly and turns the liquid into a solid. While mixing the two liquid there may be a lot of bubbles and to remove them you might use a lighter or a heat gun. Heating the resin might give rise to fumes which could be harmful. Its always better to take a few precautions while using Resin

1. Use Nitrile gloves

Resin is messy. It is difficult to remove from the hands since it is very sticky and could also cause allergic reaction. I recommend everyone to use gloves always while working with Resin.Try and use Nitrile gloves and not plastic gloves. Nitrile gloves are used by medical professionals mostly.If you touch the resin with these gloves they do not react with it hence allowing the normal curing to take place. You can wipe the resin with a tissue and it can be used again later. 

Get your's here:

2. Use a Respirator

Many resin mixes have a odor which makes it difficult to breathe. Use a respirator to protect yourself from the odor and fumes from the resin

3. Work in a ventilated area

To avoid the odor and the fumes from affecting you work in a well ventilated area

4. Protect your working surface

Once the resin cures it will become hard and is difficult to remove. Protect your working surface by covering it with a craft sheet or plastic cover of some kind

* As an Amazon Associate i will earn from qualifying purchases.

What is Resin

Resin or Epoxy Resin is a a two part component consisting of Resin and Hardener. When we mix the two in the required proportion a chemical reaction takes place that slowly turns the liquid into a solid. The solid will be a high gloss clear surface. Resin is known for its adhesive qualities. It can be used on wood, glass, acrylic or even metal. 

It can be used as an adhesive, as a sealant, in electrical systems and even in paintings and art.

Using Resin in Art

I use Resin mostly in Art. You can use resin to create depth and clarity in your art. Resin can also be used for casting.It is usually used with Silicone molds to produce art pieces. Different color pigments, glitters, etc can be added to the resin.