Creating Art with Resin: What Is It, History, & Uses
“The process of adding resin to my paintings is a grueling, but rewarding process! It requires so much focus, a hefty breathing mask, and a lot of patience! But the end result is spectacular. It brings out the perfectionist side of me. It’s such a special finishing touch, and it feels like the cherry on top of my finished paintings with that magical glossy sheen!” -Edna Pines
Resin art is an accessible medium that’s easy to learn about and experiment with. Highly versatile and durable, resin art can produce luminous visual effects in addition to creating depth and interest on multiple surfaces.
What Is Resin?
Resin is a highly durable substance that starts out as a liquid and after undergoing a chemical reaction, hardens into a solid, sturdy material. The resulting medium is easy to work with and can withstand sanding and drilling.
The two main types of resin are natural and synthetic.
Natural Resin
Plants excrete a natural resin to protect and heal themselves. Plant-based resin is thick and sticky and hardens into a transparent substance used to make jewelry, varnish, and lacquer. However, it’s challenging to obtain and typically costly.
Synthetic Resin
Synthetic resin, also known as epoxy resin, is a manufactured resin material. It usually consists of polyester, polyurethane, or silicone. It’s more economical and versatile for artists working with resin, and its properties mimic natural resin.
Synthetic resin requires a hardener to solidify. Epoxy resin becomes durable and shiny within a few hours once it hardens.
History of Resin Art
Artists have created works made with natural resin for centuries, including amber jewelry and ornaments. Epoxy resin was first discovered in the 1930s and soon made its way into art.
Creating Art with Resin
Artists can create a wide range of pieces using resin, including jewelry, coasters, paintings, tables, cutting boards, and sculptures. Resin produces different visual characteristics depending on the molds, pigments, and additives used.
Most artists work with synthetic resin in one of two ways:
Deep Pour Resin
Deep pour epoxy resin has a lower viscosity, making it a better option to fill a large or deep space without becoming too dense. It’s often used in molds for jewelry, river tables, or other large pieces. Features of deep pour resin include:
Slow curing
Thin consistency
Long working time
Quick and easy color mixing
Best for filling gaps and cavities
Artists using deep pour resin can add color pigment, paste, or alcohol ink to create different shades and tones.
Additionally, artists can create thicker layers by pouring one layer, removing bubbles with a heat gun or blow torch, and curing the resin before starting the next layer.
Surface Coating Resin
Surface coating, or surface pour, resin produces a durable coating on surfaces and results in art that is resistant to damage and has a high-gloss sheen. Surface resin is thicker and faster curing than its deep pour counterpart.
Both deep pour and surface coating resin can create durable, beautiful art. However, the process of creating with epoxy resin requires significant preparation. The more accustomed you become to using the medium, the easier it is to create striking new pieces.