So I've been dabbling with resin a bit. My experience now extends over the vast range of five whole months! I'm a freaking professional! NOT. So how do I make these shiny objects look almost professional? I'll tell you in two words: Art Resin.
Because Art Resin makes a quality product and gives great advice on how to use it, I can pass as a professional. Not only that, they add a personal touch by reaching out, asking for feedback, and interviewing artists who use their product. (Check out those interviews!)
Why do I use Art Resin? Well, as many artists know, if you make your beautiful painting or drawing on paper rather than canvas, you have to contend with framing. I love doing works on paper. I hate frames. In my search for a way to show my work without the use of a frame, resin presented a compelling solution. Because Art Resin designs resin specifically for the delicate nature of preserving art, I did my trial run with their product and haven't looked back.
Are you curious about how I get those painting on paper under a pretty layer of resin? Keep reading!
Rough Start to Satin Finish
In brief, my current process starts by making a painting or drawing on a piece of paper. I then cut out the painting and glue it to a panel (which I custom make rather than purchase). Once the glue has cured I cover the panel and paper with one or two layers of resin. Scroll through the following steps for a simple walk through.
Step 1:
Make a painting!
Here is a painting I made.
Step 2:
Cut out the painting!
I use scissors and/or an exacto knife.
Step 3:
Glue the cut out piece to the panel!
You can draw on the panel for added depth, as I did here, or leave it a solid color. It looks great both ways!
Glued and ready for a resin topcoat!
Step 4:
Get your supplies ready!
I use disposable latex gloves, an Art Resin reusable stir stick and spreader. You can use any plastic measuring cup, as resin can be removed from plastic surfaces once it dries. I lay down a latex plastic sheet to catch drips (a shower curtain does the trick). This is an easy, reusable method to keep your surfaces free from resin droplets!
Step 5:
Let it pour!
Once I've stirred the 1-to-1 parts of resin for 3 minutes, I pour it over my panel. My panel is raised on a small plastic container to keep it from sticking to the latex and having weird edges. It's also not perfectly level, which is why the resin is dripping off one side. Unlike me, use a level!
There is blue painter's tape on the back side of the piece to keep drips from drying there. I use my resin spreader to ensure the whole surface is covered, then run a (gloved!) finger along each of the sides to smooth out drips. I do this as many times as needed. I use a culinary torch to pop bubbles.
My work tends to have extra bubbles as air releases from between the paper and the panel. I have found that using a liquid glue like PH Neutral PVA helps reduce these kinds of bubbles. For this reason I don't recommend using a spray adhesive.
Step 6:
Box it up!
Once I'm satisfied there are no excessive drips or bubbles to babysit I cover my piece and let it cure. If my paper is higher than the resin level (you can see it poke up above the resin) I add a second coat 3-5 hours after my first coat. If the surface looks smooth and unobstructed I leave it alone.
Step 7:
Christmas Morning!
I feel like a kid opening a present when I take the box off the next day. If I missed a big dust spec, cat hair, or bubble, I lightly sand the surface and do a second (or third) coat. There's nothing quite like that final, satin sheen!
Finally, while I absolutely love finishing my artwork with resin, I am conscious of its drawbacks. I am looking for ways to be an environmentally conscious artist and want to be careful with my artistic choices. If you're curious about following my exploration in this and other areas, check out my website or sign up for my newsletter. Cheers!